WWE Night Of Champions 2025 Results As Cody Rhodes Wins King Of The Ring
At WWE Night of Champions 2025, Cody Rhodes punched his ticket to SummerSlam and a potential rematch against John Cena.
In the finals of the 2025 King of the Ring tournament and a true dream match for WWE fans, Rhodes defeated his former mentor Randy Orton via Cross Rhodes in a strong show-opener. Capping off a stellar match between two of WWE's most beloved babyfaces, Rhodes was able to capitalize on Orton's own decision to expose a turnbuckle to earn himself a WWE Championship match at SummerSlam in August.
Among the key highlights of the match were:
Now, Rhodes is the 2025 WWE King of the Ring winner and slated for another major WWE title match at SummerSlam.
WWE Night of Champions 2025 Results for Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton
At WWE Night of Champions 2025, Orton and Rhodes battled in their first singles match since 2013, only this time with a shot at WWE's most coveted title at stake, and the crowd was solidly behind Orton.
But Orton couldn't get past his former protege.
For the second straight year, 'The Viper' fell short in his quest to become WWE's King of the Ring. In 2024, he also lost the finals of the KOTR tournament in an epic match with Gunther. This year, both Rhodes and Orton were hoping to pick up a major victory and earn another shot at John Cena or whoever is holding the WWE title come SummerSlam.
It was just last month at WWE Backlash 2025 that Orton lost to Cena under controversial circumstances, one month after Rhodes lost his WWE title to the newly heel Cena as well. But with WWE billing Orton vs. Cena as 'One Last Time,' it became clear that Rhodes was likely going to win in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
And win, he did.
At WWE Night of Champions, Rhodes blasted Orton with a devastating Cross Rhodes finisher to win the King of the Tournament and secure a WWE Championship rematch at SummerSlam that could get Rhodes back on the WWE mountain top.
Cody Rhodes Vs. John Cena Rematch Likely For WWE SummerSlam 2025
Rhodes' resounding victory over Orton at WWE Night of Champions 2025 seemingly confirmed what is coming at SummerSlam: Rhodes vs. Cena II.
WWE reportedly recently rejected The Rock's creative pitch to turn Rhodes heel, with WWE officials noting the positive effect Rhodes has had on viewership, ticket sales and merchandise sales. Instead of Rhodes moving to the dark side, the most obvious direction for Rhodes is winning back the WWE title that he lost in controversial fashion at WrestleMania 41.
In fact, WWE is indeed planning on running back Rhodes vs. Cena at SummerSlam, though Cena must first get past CM Punk today at Night of Champions.
Cena's widely criticized win over Rhodes at WrestleMania accomplished its goal of giving Cena his record-breaking 17th world title win. But Cena's overall run as a villain has been, well, pretty bad, and the endgame of Rhodes' character arc should be a second WWE title win at SummerSlam.
If Cena can defeat Punk as expected at Night of Champions 2025, then WWE should move full steam ahead with Rhodes vs. Cena and the recrowning of Rhodes as its top champion.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Why Dua Lipa Spent a Lot of Time 'Being Guarded' Before Relationship with Fiancé Callum Turner
Lipa confirmed their engagement in June 2025 after first sparking romance rumors in January 2024 NEED TO KNOW Dua Lipa opened up about "being guarded" before her relationship with Callum Turner 'That vulnerability is so scary, but I feel so lucky to get to feel it," she told Harper's BAZAAR of her experience being in love Lipa confirmed her engagement to Turner in June 2025 Dua Lipa opened up about her love life before Callum Turner. In a cover story with Harper's BAZAAR published on Tuesday, Aug. 19, the pop star reflected on her relationships before meeting her fiancé, 35. Lipa, 29, who met Turner through the poet and singer Mustafa, discussed how incredible falling in love has been for her. 'I love love. It is a beautiful thing,' she told the publication, adding. 'It's a really inspiring thing. You find yourself so intensely falling all the time in the best way possible.' Added Lipa: 'That vulnerability is so scary, but I feel so lucky to get to feel it. I've spent a lot of time being guarded or protecting my heart, and so I'm letting go of that feeling and just being like, 'Okay, if I'm supposed to get hurt, then this is what's going to happen.' I have to just allow love.' Of her relationship with Turner, the "Training Season" musician said she was "happier than ever." "So it feels like I'm doing a disservice by not talking about it," Lipa said of their romance. She noted that her personal life is "very vulnerable" as a public person. "It's not like I don't want to share it," said Lipa. The "New Rules" hitmaker confirmed her engagement to Turner in a June interview with British Vogue. 'Yeah, we're engaged. It's very exciting," she told the outlet. Lipa also told the publication that her engagement ring was made after Turner spoke with her best friends and her sister. 'I'm obsessed with it. It's so me," she said. "It's nice to know the person that you're going to spend the rest of your life with knows you very well.' At the time, according to Lipa, the pair hadn't begun wedding planning. 'I want to finish my tour, Callum's shooting, so we're just enjoying this period," Lipa said. "I've never been someone who's really thought about a wedding, or dreamt about what kind of bride I would be. All of a sudden I'm like: 'Oh, what would I wear?'" The "Levitating" artist didn't understand the "weight" of getting married before it happened. 'This decision to grow old together, to see a life and just, I don't know, be best friends forever – it's a really special feeling," said Lipa. Lipa and Turner initially sparked romance rumors in January 2024 when they were first spotted together at the Masters of Air afterparty following its London premiere. At the time, the duo were captured in a video slow dancing. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
6 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Alabama football is no longer 'a Jalen Milroe offense.' What Ryan Grubb means
Ryan Grubb saw progress from all three of Alabama football's scholarship quarterbacks in the Crimson Tide's second scrimmage. All three, he said, made clean and accurate throws, pushing the ball downfield when they could and being smart with their check-down opportunities. To Grubb, it was three quarterbacks running his Alabama offense, one he expects to look a little different than last season. "We're not necessarily a Jalen Milroe offense right now," Grubb said. "Jalen was, obviously, a super talented runner, and that was probably a part of the game plan every week, which was smart last year by the offensive staff." Grubb did not doubt in Alabama starting quarterback Ty Simpson's ability to run the football. Simpson has averaged 5.9 yards on 22 rush attempts with three rushing touchdowns in three collegiate seasons. Grubb described Michael Penix Jr. as a "good runner," one Washington didn't utilize until later because "it's a long season." Grubb needs his quarterback to focus elsewhere. "You're better off with your starter being able to throw the football in this offense than run it," Grubb said. "We'll certainly look for those opportunities because Ty is a good runner. We'll make sure we have things for him. But taking care of him, making sure he's upright is important." Alabama football opens the 2025 season against Florida State Aug. 30. Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@ or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter. This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Ryan Grubb describes Alabama football as no longer a 'Jalen Milroe offense'
Yahoo
6 minutes ago
- Yahoo
NFL holdouts, contract negotiation tracker: Are Cowboys, Micah Parsons really headed for 'divorce?'
NFL training camp season is upon us, which means holdout/hold-in season is too as players seek new contracts. The biggest saga of the summer has been between Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys. Team owner and general manager Jerry Jones opened training camp with a wild, meandering media conference that took shots at Parsons' health, and Parsons has not been shy about voicing his displeasure with both that day and the entire process of trying to get a new deal. Parsons is arguably the NFL's best defender, and he's only 26 years old, so you'd think the Cowboys wouldn't mess around too much with this negotiation. You thought wrong! While the franchise has a history of leaving it late with star player contracts like Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, to its credit, the deals get done. ESPN's Adam Schefter doesn't sound so optimistic about this one. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] "You caan't get a deal done if you're not even talking, and the two sides haven't had any negotiations since late March or early April," he said Tuesday. "It sounds like at this point it's personal. It sounds like each side is dug in." There are, of course, plenty of instances in NFL history where negotiating acrimony was swept aside to get a deal done. Schefter, however, doesn't see that happening here. "I see these two sides headed towards a divorce in time," he said. "The only question is, when is that divorce going to happen, and how is it going to happen? Are they going to trade him now? Are they going to trade him after this year?" There's still over two weeks before the Cowboys open the regular season in Philadelphia against the Eagles on Thursday, Sept. 4. Who knows, maybe Jones wants to steal some thunder from Dallas' bitter rival opening the season as defending Super Bowl champion by getting the Parsons deal across the line a day or two before kickoff. Given the way this is trending, however, it doesn't feel like Parsons will be a Cowboy much longer. That's gloomy. How about the other contract seekers? Is there more gloom, or will there soon be reason to say "boom"? Washington Commanders WR Terry McLaurin: Boom Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson spoke last week on the gulf between McLaurin and the Commanders, and what a deal might look like. "I think if it can get to $27 million to $28 million in annual average value," Robinson said, "if you're getting somewhere between $50 and $60 million in guaranteed money, I don't think either side would be happy, but I think it is the middle ground that gets those two together." Robinson believes the negotiation has gotten to a point where McLaurin's asking for $33 million in average annual value and $60 million guaranteed, similar to DK Metcalf's deal with the Steelers. The Commanders and GM Adam Peters might not be willing to go there, since the history of age-30 receivers delivering after signing a deal like that is short (McLaurin turns 30 in September). Plus, teams reportedly haven't been hammering Washington's phone lines with trade offers, and Jayden Daniels has publicly spoken about wanting McLaurin back in the fold. All told, the momentum here seems to be headed toward a compromise deal, so we'll go boom. Cincinnati Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson: Gloom This situation has heated up again the past couple days. First there were reports over the weekend that the Bengals were listening to trade offers for Hendrickson. Then, the NFL's reigning sack king spoke to ESPN on Monday and said that while he and the Bengals are close on annual salary and the length of his next contract, the team's unwillingness to give him more than one year of guaranteed money remains the sticking point. The Bengals already amended their preferences with regard to guarantee structure twice this offseason, first with All-Pro wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase and then first-round pick Shemar Stewart. They really, really sound like they don't want to do it again, and even though teams know Cincinnati's back is against the wall at the negotiating table, all it might take is one reasonably sweet offer to get a trade done. We're going gloom here. San Francisco 49ers WR Jauan Jennings: Boom Jennings still hasn't practiced since reportedly aggravating a calf injury on July 27, but he did attend the 49ers' preseason game against the Raiders over the weekend, and he's done at least one light workout. We're not going to debate whether the injury is real or not, or if Jennings is maximizing his missed time in an effort to get a deal done. We're simply going to note that this doesn't seem to be a particularly acrimonious situation, and headlines have been sparse on it for weeks. That's usually a good sign. Boom.
