Reviews

The John Report: WWE Night of Champions 2026 Review

By John Canton • Published Jun 27, 2026 17:01 EDT
WWE Night Of Champions Review 2026
WWE Night Of Champions Review 2026 - Images via @WWE on X

This is a review of WWE’s Night of Champions featuring a Cody Rhodes-Gunther-Sami Zayn match for the WWE Title, plus the King & Queen of the Ring Finals.

The Night of Champions PLE is here with the King and Queen of the Ring Finals set to take place, along with just three title matches. Even though there are 11 titles on the WWE main roster, this 6-match show only has three title matches. I don’t book it, my friends. I just review it. I think the match quality will be strong, but I think they should have added another title match or two. At least there are six matches instead of just five at some WWE Premium Live Events.

There was a two-hour Night of Champions Countdown Show on WWE’s YouTube channel, but I don’t review those shows. I’m watching on Netflix in Canada with a 1 p.m. ET start time.

It has been announced that the Oba Femi-Jey Uso match in the King of the Ring finals will open the show. The Queen of the Ring finals will be the second match. Let’s get to the main show.

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WWE Night of Champions
From Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Saturday, June 27, 2026

They showed some pre-show superstar walking of Seth Rollins, Bron Breakker, Liv Morgan, Iyo Sky, Ricky Saints, Trick Williams, Sami Zayn, Gunther, and the WWE Champion Cody Rhodes was shown last. It was a packed house in the Kingdom Arena.

A video package aired to set up the Night of Champions PLE featuring the wrestlers competing on the show. Triple H narrated the video so the people who hate him can have something to complain about. Great video as usual.

It was Michael Cole and Corey Graves on commentary. Wade Barrett is usually on the PLE’s with Cole, but I like Graves too. They are all good to me, including Joe Tessitore. Mark Nash was the ring announcer.

The King of the Ring crown was in the ring as Jey Uso made his entrance in the crowd. The crown was removed from the ring as Jey was Yeeting on his way to the ring, and the fans showed him love. The Yeeting took a while.

Oba Femi got a huge pop with the fans shouting for his entrance and chanting “Oba” for his strut on the way to the ring. It’s one of the coolest entrances in WWE, and it’s so simple. That’s a nice reminder that the simplest things can work very well in pro wrestling. You don’t need to overcomplicate it.

King of the Ring Finals: Jey Uso vs. Oba Femi

The winner is crowned King of the Ring and gets a WWE Title or World Heavyweight Title match at SummerSlam.

Femi tossed Jey into the turnbuckle, but then Jey came back with punches that didn’t even stun Femi. Femi hit a shoulder tackle to knock Jey down. Femi charged, so Jey bailed to the floor. Jey was able to get the advantage on the floor, and he hit two suicide dives in a row to send Femi into the barricade. Femi was still on his feet and stopped a suicide dive with a forearm to the face. Femi gave Jey a shoulderbreaker onto the thigh. Femi sent Jey hard into the turnbuckle. Femi whipped Jey into the turnbuckle again. Femi tried Fall From Grace, but Jey slipped behind and hit Femi with two kicks to the head. Jey went up top and hit a Uso Splash, but didn’t even get a one count on the cover. Femi hit a massive Chokeslam for a two count. Femi charged and Jey stopped him with three superkicks in a row. Jey hit a shoulder tackle against the turnbuckle. Jey followed up with a Spear. Jey went up top and hit a Uso Splash, but he couldn’t cover. Jey rolled off Femi without doing a cover. Jey went up top and hit another Uso Splash, and this time it got a two count. Jey applied the Sleeper hold and applied a body scissors around the waist. Femi’s eyes got big and he got back to his feet. Femi actually hit the mat a few times, but it was not a tap out. Femi hit two running uppercuts to knock Jey down. Femi picked up Jey and tossed him across the ring. Femi hit Fall From Grace for the pinfall win. It went 7:55.

Winner by pinfall: Oba Femi

Analysis: *** I thought the match was good, but it was also kept short instead of being a long, drag out fight where they kicked out of a lot of finishers. Jey Uso did hit his Uso Splash a few times, but Femi was able to kick out and finish off Jey quickly after that. When Femi was in NXT, he did great in longer matches, but I think on the main roster, WWE wants him to win more decisively, and that’s what we saw here. I’m certainly happy that Femi won and not Jey Uso. I know people predicted Brock Lesnar would cost Femi the match, but I’m glad that didn’t happen either.

Oba Femi celebrated as the WWE King of the Ring and has earned a shot at the World Heavyweight Title or WWE Championship at SummerSlam. SmackDown GM Nick Aldis presented Oba Femi with the King of the Ring crown.

Oba Femi was interviewed by Byron Saxton in the ring. Femi said that it feels so good to be The Ruler and become The King. Femi said that Jey Uso couldn’t beat fate or destiny, and most importantly, you couldn’t beat Femi. Femi said that he is the mountain that you cannot conquer. Femi said he’s the one, the chosen one…the King of the Ring…Oba Femi.

Analysis: A simple speech for the new King of the Ring, Oba Femi. I think they’ll put him against Roman Reigns at SummerSlam, but it wouldn’t surprise me if Femi faced Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam night one, too.

A commercial aired for Club WWE, featuring John Cena.

They had 4 minutes of ads, so on Netflix, we got moving graphics of WWE superstars with graphics saying, “We’ll be right back.”

There was a commercial for SummerSlam on August 1 & August 2, which is five weeks away.

Let’s Hear from Danhausen

Danhausen made his entrance for a very evil and very nice promo on the stage. Danhausen said hello to Riyadhausen. Danhausen claimed he wanted to continue doing his experiments because he recently came across some human monies.

Liv Morgan made her entrance as the Women’s World Champion. Liv told Danhausen he owes The Judgment Day some money, and he has to give it back to them. Danhausen said he doesn’t know what money she’s talking about, and the only person who is in “trouble, trouble” is her because she is cursed. Liv responded to that by slapping Danhausen in the face.

Analysis: A dreaded curse by Danhausen. Poor Liv.

Liv Morgan continued her entrance for the Queen of the Ring Finals. Iyo Sky was up next, and the fans loved her as usual.

Queen of the Ring Finals: Liv Morgan vs. Iyo Sky

The winner is crowned Queen of the Ring, and if Sky wins, then she gets a WWE Women’s Title or Women’s World Title match at SummerSlam. If Morgan wins as the Women’s World Champion, she gets a shot at the WWE Women’s Title. I should point out also that Liv hasn’t defended the Women’s World Title since winning it at WrestleMania over two months ago. Just saying.

Sky connected with a hiptoss. Liv responded with a hurricanrana, a running back splash, and a running knee. Sky tripped up Liv and hit a basement dropkick to knock Liv down. Sky hit a shoulder tackle while Liv was on the apron. Sky tried a sunset flip onto the floor, but Liv countered that by stomping on Sky. Sky went onto the barricade and hit a cross body block on Liv on the floor. Sky broke the referee’s count and went back out to the floor, so Liv sent Sky face first into the ring post. Liv was in control in the ring with a running knee against the turnbuckle. Liv jumped off the turnbuckle with a facebuster into the mat. Liv hit the Three Amigos vertical suplex. Liv hit a jumping enziguri kick to the head for two. Sky was able to get some offense going with a boot to the face. When Sky tried a missile dropkick, Sky caught her, and Liv tried a Boston Crab, but Sky was able to get out of it and stomped on Liv’s body. Sky hit a flapjack into the mat and she pulled on Liv’s arm by the ropes. Sky hit the Bullet Train attack (double knees) against the turnbuckle for two. Liv countered a move by Sky and hit a Backstabber double knees to the back. Liv went for a dive, but Sky stopped that with a punch. Sky hit a springboard moonsault from the middle rope onto Liv on the floor.

They were back in the ring with Sky hitting a double underhook backbreaker for two. Sky went up top, but Liv shoved Sky and Sky hit the steel steps. Sky was screaming in pain and grabbing her left knee. Liv left the ring and slammed Sky’s leg into the mat. Liv applied the Half Crab submission on the left leg. Liv had the submission locked in very tight, but Sky was able to get out of it. Liv and Sky exchanged punches, Liv kicked the left leg and then Sky hit an uppercut punch. Sky crumbled to the mat, so Liv jumped off the ropes with a Codebreaker knee attack for two. Sky trapped Liv against the ropes, so then Liv held onto the ropes and waited for Sky to jump off the turnbuckle. Sky jumped off, Liv moved and Sky hit the mat, so Sky was selling the left knee injury again. Liv went up top, Sky hit her with an uppercut and Sky went after Liv with a Spanish Fly off the top. Sky went up top and hit Over The Moonsault for the pinfall win at 14:55. Cole said that Sky is the Queen of the Ring and the Queen of the Sky.

Winner by pinfall: Iyo Sky

Analysis: ***1/2 I liked the match. Sky did a great job selling the left knee injury, Morgan attacked it aggressively, and then Sky overcame it all to get the win. Sky has already been a Women’s World Champion, so it’s not like a push for her is new, but I like Sky a lot, and so do the fans. She’s fun to watch. Morgan is very good at being a cocky heel. I thought the crowd would be more invested in it with Sky as a face and Morgan as a heel, but they weren’t reacting that loudly to it. It sounds like they had an issue with the announcers’ microphones, so maybe it’s affecting the ring too. I don’t know.

Iyo Sky was presented with the Queen of the Ring trophy by SmackDown GM Nick Aldis. Sky was asked by Byron Saxton how it felt, so Sky said, “I am the Queen!” Sky told Liv she’ll see her at SummerSlam.

Analysis: That’s the match that I figured would happen at SummerSlam. We know Triple H loves booking Iyo Sky strongly, so having her in a major title match at SummerSlam isn’t a surprise. We’ve seen Iyo as the champ before, but I’m not sure if she’ll beat Liv again.

A video package aired to set up the Cody Rhodes-Sami Zayn-Gunther match that is the main event.

The Seth Rollins-Bron Breakker match was up next as the Steel Cage was lowered.

There were 4-minutes of ads for some fans. On Netflix, we got a clip of Hulk Hogan’s documentary on Netflix, and then “We’ll be Right Back” was after that.

The commentary team of Cole and Graves gave a shoutout to the Arabic announce team at the start of hour two.

Seth “Freakin” Rollins made his entrance first with the fans singing his theme song on the way to the ring. When Rollins got to ringside, he put some kendo sticks, chairs and two tables in the ring.

Bron Breakker was all alone for his entrance because his manager, Paul Heyman, was injured by Breakker with a Spear through the barricade. The announcers mentioned that other members of The Vision were not there either. Breakker also brought some weapons into the cage – three chairs, two kendo sticks, and a trash can.

Steel Cage Match: Seth Rollins vs. Bron Breakker

The “only” ways to win are by pinfall, submission, exiting the cage door, or climbing out of the cage. In my opinion, it should be pinfall or submission only, or climbing out of the cage only. No winning by going through a door. But hey, it’s not up to me.

Rollins told Bron he’ll beat his ass in the center of the ring. Rollins said we’ll find out what kind of man Bron is. The announcers kept talking about how this was the end of the feud. Rollins tackled Bron and hit him with some punches. Bron slipped Rollins and hit a German Suplex. Bron hit two more German Suplexes across the ring. Bron sent Rollins into the cage a few times. Bron gave Rollins a Gorilla Press slam into the cage. Bron hit Rollins with a kendo stick to the back. Bron gave Rollins a backbreaker onto a steel chair that was opened up in the ring. Bron put Rollins on his shoulder and sent Rollins into the steel. Rollins hit a forearm, Bron went for a jumping attack, and Rollins caught him, leading to a Powerbomb. Bron and Rollins exchanged punches, which led to Rollins hitting some forearms and a running clothesline to knock Bron down. Rollins hit Bron in the back with a kendo stick. Rollins sent Bron into the cage three times in a row. Rollins rammed Bron’s head/side into the cage a few times, and Rollins splashed Bron against the cage. Rollins continued the attack by throwing three chairs at Bron. Rollins put a few chairs on Bron’s body and Rollins wanted to do more damage, but Bron was back up. Rollins knocked Bron down and Bron jumped back up with a Frankensteiner that sent Rollins landing on some chairs, which led to Bron getting a two count. Bron went up top, jumped off, and hit a clothesline on Rollins, who was on a chair, so Rollins was sent to the mat. Bron got a two count out of that.

Bron tried to smash Rollins’ head with a chair, but Rollins obviously avoided that and hit two superkicks. Rollins hit a superkick into a chair into Bron’s head. Rollins charged and Bron connected with a Spear for just two. There’s the first finisher kicked out of in the match. Bron put Rollins on a table. Bron went up top, but then he decided to climb the cage, so Rollins got off the cage and fought Bron on the top of the cage. Rollins gouged Bron’s eyes while they were on top of the cage. Rollins was standing on the top turnbuckle and gave Bron a superplex through the table in the ring. Bron was bleeding from the left eye because it looked like a piece of the table had hit Bron in the head. Rollins was back up and charged, but Bron hit a brutal clothesline. Bron ran the ropes quickly and hit another Spear for two. Bron tried to climb out the door to win the match, but Rollins held onto him. Rollins grabbed Bron in a Sleeper by the ropes and told Bron to finish the fight like a man, so Bron shut the door on Seth’s head. Back in the ring, Bron tried a Spear, Rollins moved, and Bron went crashing through a table. Rollins hit a Pedigree and The Stomp for one…two…no! Breakker kicked out. Rollins charged for The Stomp, but Bron sat up and put his left hand up to stop him. Rollins backed into the corner, Bron put his hands together, and as if he was going to snap, so then Rollins went to the middle turnbuckle and hit an Avalanche Stomp for the 1…2…3. Rollins gets the win. It went 19:05.

Winner by pinfall: Seth Rollins

Analysis: ***3/4 It was another nearly 4-star level match between Rollins and Breakker. While there was a part of me that thought Breakker might win as the younger guy in the rivalry, I did pick Rollins to win because it made more sense for the story to have Rollins avenge being turned on by Bron and The Vision, so having Rollins is a logical booking move. They kicked out of finishers, and it took Rollins to go to the next level with his Stomp for the win. I don’t think Breakker will be hurt by losing this feud, but I understand if fans complain about Rollins winning. I don’t think Seth “needs” to win feuds like this, but I assume there’s some plan in place to give him a push, which I certainly don’t mind.

Sami Zayn was shown getting ready for his match by taping his hands/wrists.

The US Title match was next. They did another 3:30 of ads and a “We’ll be right back” break.

It was Ricky Saints up first for his first match at a WWE Saudi Arabia PLE. Trick Williams was cheered heavily with the fans chanting “Whoop That Trick” for him as usual. Trick wasn’t in a rush to make his entrance with Lil Yachty by his side.

United States Championship: Trick Williams (w/Lil Yachty) vs. Ricky Saints

Ricky attacked Trick before the bell rang, but Trick was able to come back quickly with a leaping lariat. Trick worked over Ricky with punches. Trick stomped on Ricky by the ropes so the fans could chant “Whoop That Trick,” but I couldn’t hear this crowd doing it. Trick hit a spin kick. Ricky grabbed Yachty’s kendo stick, then hit the steel steps with it and tossed it back to Yachty. That’s the classic Eddie Guerrero move. Referee Adrian Butler reacted to it by sending Yachty to the back. Ricky sent Trick into the barricade and into the steel steps. They went back into the ring with Ricky working over Trick with strikes. Ricky ran the ropes and hit a clothesline. Ricky did a rope walk, followed by a forearm to the back. Ricky hit a belly-to-back suplex on Trick, and Ricky posed after that, so Cole wondered why he didn’t try to cover. Ricky got a sunset flip for two. Ricky hit an uppercut for two. Ricky connected with a snap suplex. Trick countered Ricky into a suplex of his own. Trick connected with two spin kicks and a flapjack into the mat. Trick looked at his hand like Booker T and that led to a backhand to the face. Trick hit a Book End for a two count. Trick charged with a kick, Ricky avoided it and Ricky hit a clothesline off the turnbuckle. Ricky hit a spinning neckbreaker for a two count. Trick countered a Ricky move with a back body drop.

Trick and Ricky exchanged strikes. Trick connected with a rising kick to the face and a neckbreaker for two. Trick went for the Trick Shot, Ricky moved, and Ricky hit the Revolution DDT. Ricky went up top and hit an elbow drop for a two count. Ricky has used the Revolution DDT as a finisher. Trick got back up, went for a Book End again, but Ricky got out of it. Ricky hit a knee. Ricky went for the Revolution DDT, Trick avoided that and Trick hit a Trick Shot knee for the pinfall win at 10:50.

Winner by pinfall: Trick Williams

Analysis: *** They worked hard, and it was a solid match, but it really didn’t excite me much. The fans were quiet for a lot of it, which has been happening throughout this show. Ricky hit some of his big moves and got some nearfalls, but I don’t think anybody watching this thought there would be a title change. A clean win for Trick was the right way to go.

After the match, Trick Williams celebrated with the US Title. It looked like Ricky was going to attack, so Lil Yachty showed up in the ring. Yachty hit Ricky with a kendo stick a few times. Yachty bounced off the ropes and hit a People’s Elbow on Ricky. Cole was screaming about it, but the fans barely reacted.

Analysis: I don’t think most of the audience knows or cares about Lil Yacthy. The pairing with Trick would be better if they were heels. It doesn’t work as well when they are faces.

The Women’s US Title match was next as we saw Jade Cargill and the champion Tiffany Stratton walking backstage. The “We’ll Be Right Back” ads were back again.

A video aired about WrestleMania 43 in Saudi Arabia next April. I hope the microphones on the crowd are better.

It was announced that Roman Reigns will return for Monday Night Raw, which has a 6 p.m. ET start this time this week.

Jade Cargill made her entrance first as the challenger for her match. Tiffany Stratton was up next as the Women’s US Champion, and she got a mild ovation for her entrance.

Women’s United States Championship: Tiffany Stratton vs. Jade Cargill

Stratton got a sunset flip pin attempt for two early on. Jade hit Stratton with a strike and tried a slam, but Stratton landed on her feet. Stratton hit a running splash on Jade against the ropes. Jade caught Stratton doing a dive and Jade hit a knee to the face. Jade caught Stratton and hit a sitout Powerbomb for two. Jade sent Stratton into the turnbuckle and Jade did some push-ups. Jade got a hold of Stratton and hit a Black Hole Slam for a two count. Stratton hit a back elbow and a kick to create separation. Jade went for a move, but Stratton hit a dropkick. Jade caught Stratton and went for Jaded, but Stratton got out of it and hit a low dropkick for a two count. Stratton hit a headscissors to send Jade into the turnbuckle. Stratton hit a rolling senton and a Prettiest Moonsault Ever attempt, but Jade countered it with the knees. Jade hit a spinning slam off the shoulders called the Sandstorm for a two count. Stratton countered a Jaded attempt and hit a forearm. Stratton took down Jade with a Crucifix Driver for a two count. B-Fab made her way to ringside and Michin was there as well to shove Stratton off the top rope. Jade hit a Chokeslam on Stratton for a two count. Chelsea Green was under the ring, she tripped up B-Fab on the apron and sent Michin into the steel steps. Green threw B-Fab into the podium that the title was on. Green looked at the title that she used to have. Stratton got a rollup on Jade for two. Jade hit a pump kick. Jade brought Green into the ring. Charlotte Flair was at ringside, she grabbed the Women’s US Title and hit Jade in the head. The referee was looking at Green. Stratton went up top and hit Prettiest Moonsault Ever on Jade for the pinfall win at 7:38.

Winner by pinfall: Tiffany Stratton

Analysis: **3/4 It was just an average match with the chaos at ringside and the cheap shot with the Women’s US Title by Flair to cost Jade the match. That plays into the story between Flair and Jade that will set them up for SummerSlam. The fans barely reacted to a lot of things in this match, but once again, I don’t know if that’s because of the event being poorly mic’d or if the fans simply didn’t care that much. Stratton retaining is fine with me because I didn’t think Jade would win this title anyway.

Cody Rhodes was shown getting ready in an empty ring. The main event is coming up next.

It was time for more ads as we got another Hulk Hogan documentary clip, and then some “We’ll Be Right Back” graphics.

The announcers plugged SummerSlam and the match with Liv Morgan defending the Women’s World Title against Queen of the Ring, Iyo Sky.

Sami Zayn made his entrance to a big ovation with the fans singing his song. Cole mentioned Zayn was a proud Muslim, and he was dressed to impress the crowd as the “Last Real Good Guy.” Gunther was up next as the former 2-time World Champion, and he walked down to the ring with confidence as usual.

The Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes was up last. The fans reacted to him loudly as usual. Biggest pop of the show so far, along with Oba Femi, if I had to rate them. The fans liked Zayn, too. Anyway, Mark Nash did the championship introductions. I should point out that babyfaces are 5-0 so far. One match left.

Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes vs. Sami Zayn vs. GUNTHER

The first pinfall or submission wins a WWE triple threat match. There are no countouts and no disqualifications in a triple threat match.

The three wrestlers faced off, and the announcers put over the crowd, which had come alive. It still wasn’t loud enough on television. Zayn was sent out of the ring first and then he sent Gunther out of the ring. Cody connected with his up punch on Zayn to knock him down. Gunther pulled Zayn out of the ring, so that he could work over Cody with chops and punches. When Zayn got back in, Gunther chopped him and sent Zayn out of the ring. Gunther sent Cody sternum-first into the turnbuckle. Gunther hit Cody with a forearm to the back. Gunther chopped Cody, leading to a two count. Zayn tried to attack Gunther, but Gunther hit another chop. Gunther hit a belly-to-back suplex on Zayn. Cody got some offense going with a Cody Cutter on Gunther, and a powerslam. Cody hit a Side Effect (like Matt Hardy) for a two count. Cody jumped off the ropes and hit a Cody Cutter on both opponents. Cody hit a suicide dive on Zayn on the floor. Cody got a sunset flip on Gunther for two. Gunther countered a Cody move and hit a Powerbomb into a pin for two because Zayn made the save. Gunther sent Zayn out of the ring. Zayn sent Gunther into the steel steps. Cody worked over Zayn with punches, but Zayn hit the Blue Thunder Bomb for a two count as usual with that move. Gunther pulled Zayn out of the ring and sent Zayn groin-first into the ring post. Ouch. Gunther attacked Cody with some chops. Gunther and Cody went for moves, but Cody managed to hit Cross Rhodes on Gunther for two because Zayn pulled referee Dan Engler out of the ring.

Cody and Zayn exchanged punches. You could tell the crowd was getting into it, but once again, the microphones were not picking up the noise well. Zayn hit a Brainbuster on Cody. Gunther was back in with a Powerbomb on both guys, including a Powerbomb on Cody onto Zayn on the mat. Gunther picked up Zayn, who flipped over and hit a Sunset Bomb for a two count. Zayn jumped off the top, Gunther moved and Gunther missed a running kick. Gunther was against the turnbuckle, so Zayn hit a Helluva Kick on Gunther for two because Cody pulled the referee out of the ring just like Zayn did earlier. Cody fought with Zayn on the floor, with Cody sending Zayn into the commentary hood, and Cody cleared off the commentary table. Zayn sent Cody into the Arabic commentary table and Zayn cleared the table. Both tables were cleared. Zayn teased a Package Piledriver like Kevin Owens, but Cody fought out of that. Zayn charged at Cody, who hit a back body drop from one table through the English commentary table. Big bump for Zayn. Gunther got back into the mix by giving Cody a Powerbomb onto the Arabic commentary table. The table didn’t break, so Gunther did it again with another Powerbomb and it broke the table. Cole’s audio wasn’t working, so Graves was calling the action. Gunther applied the Sleeper on Cody on the mat. Cole was back on commentary, but it wasn’t working perfectly. Cody was back up with a backpack slam into the mat. Gunther applied the Sleeper again and Graves mentioned no rope breaks in a triple threat. Zayn was back in to prevent Cody’s hand from hitting the mat while in the Sleeper. That’s a classic spot that always works.

Gunther worked over Zayn with chops. Zayn came back with slaps and Cole was back on because Graves gave him his headset. Zayn gave Gunther an Exploder Suplex into the turnbuckle. Zayn hit the Helluva Kick for the 1…2…no! Gunther kicked out. I actually thought that was it, but Gunther got the right shoulder up at the last moment. Zayn was frustrated about what happened. Gunther hit a lariat. Cody was back in the ring with a Super Cody Cutter on Gunther. Cody was going for a Cross Rhodes, but Zayn countered with his own Cross Rhodes on Cody. Zayn charged and Gunther got a hold of Zayn with a Sleeper. Zayn countered it into his own Sleeper. Cody hit a Cross Rhodes on Zayn and Gunther bumped too. Cody went for another one, but Zayn rolled through, Zayn sat on top and Zayn held Cody’s legs for the 1…2…and 3! Sami Zayn did it! Cole: “Miracle! Miracle! Miracle!” It went 18:49.

Winner by pinfall AND NEW Undisputed WWE Champion: Sami Zayn

Analysis: ****1/4 I thought it was a terrific match with an outcome that made me happy, even though I didn’t think WWE would do it. I’m glad that Sami Zayn is the WWE Champion because the story called for a change and I’m glad it happened. Kudos to Cody Rhodes for putting over his good friend Sami clean in the middle of the ring with Zayn sitting on top and holding onto the legs for the win. It wasn’t the Helluva Kick for Zayn, but an impressive counter move that got him the win. Zayn is the kind of wrestler who can win with a move like that because he’s so good technically, so when he finds a way to win with the counter move for the pin, it works as a finish. I also thought Zayn was going to win when he hit the Helluva Kick on Gunther, but Gunther kicked out there. Cody had a great showing in the match and looked as good as ever out there, just like Zayn and Gunther did. It was three great pros putting on an awesome match. I picked Cody Rhodes, but I wasn’t sure of it, and I’m certainly happy to be wrong. Go Sami Zayn!

Sami Zayn celebrated as the Undisputed WWE Champion, and he had a big smile on his face. They showed some replays. Zayn went into the crowd to celebrate with the fans who absolutely love the guy. Cody and Gunther looked dejected around ringside.

Sami Zayn continued to celebrate as the WWE Champion. Cole shouted out Zayn’s best friend, Kevin Owens, who is likely watching with a smile on his face. Zayn held up the WWE Title above his head and the fireworks went off in the stadium.

Zayn spoke into the camera, saying he’s been in WWE for 10 years, they said he’d never do it, and here it is! Zayn posed with the fans again and that was the end of the show.

Analysis: I am genuinely happy for my fellow Canadian, Sami Zayn. I think this was the right place to have him with the WWE Title for the first time, but if it were Montreal, it would be even better. Just saying. Anyway, I’m glad that Zayn had that moment. He truly, absolutely deserves it.

WWE Night of Champions had a runtime of 2:58. WWE Clash in Italy was 2:49.

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Five Stars of the Show

  1. Sami Zayn
  2. Seth Rollins
  3. Iyo Sky
  4. Cody Rhodes, Gunther, Bron Breakker
  5. Oba Femi

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Final Thoughts on WWE Clash in Italy

I’m going 7.25 out of 10 for this show.

I thought it was one of the weaker WWE PLEs overall this year, but it still had good moments. The highlight was clearly Sami Zayn winning the WWE Title for the first time, and I thought that was the best match with Zayn-Rhodes-Gunther. I liked the Rollins-Gunther and Sky-Morgan matches as well. As for the other three, they were just average. I’m happy Oba Femi got the win in his match too.

This crowd seemed quieter than most WWE crowds in Saudi Arabia. I don’t know if it’s because the microphones had issues and didn’t pick up the noise, or if it’s reflective of the WWE product being just okay right now, but not great. I think it’s because the WWE product isn’t that hot at the moment.

It was a predictable card most of the way with babyfaces having a good night, and then Sami Zayn ending the night as heel in most places, but he’s a babyface in front of this crowd.

My WWE PLE Rankings for 2026 so far:

WrestleMania 42 – 7.88 (April 18 & 19)

Backlash – 7.75 (May 9)

Royal Rumble – 7.75 (January 31)

Clash in Italy – 7.5 (May 31)

Elimination Chamber – 7.5 (February 28)

Night of Champions 7.25 (June 27)

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As a reminder, I have a listing of every WWE PPV that I reviewed in order by year. Thank you for supporting us at TJRWrestling. We appreciate you.

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