Latest news with #NightofChampions
Leaders
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Leaders
Tickets Available Now for WWE 'SmackDown', 'Night of Champions' in Riyadh via Webook
Riyadh is gearing up to host two blockbuster WWE events as part of the city's ever-expanding entertainment lineup. On Friday, June 27, 2025, the Saudi capital will welcome its first-ever SmackDown , followed by Night of Champions on Saturday, June 28. Both events will be held at the Kingdom Arena and are organized in collaboration with Riyadh Season and WWE, with sponsorship from the Esports World Cup. Fans around the world are eagerly awaiting this action-packed weekend, especially with the confirmed appearance of wrestling legend John Cena, making what promises to be one of the most unforgettable moments of his storied career. Tickets are now available for purchase through the Webook platform. SmackDown will showcase a star-studded card featuring Cody Rhodes, Omos, Bianca Belair, and Charlotte Flair, and will be broadcast live on USA Network in the United States. Moreover, Night of Champions will stream exclusively on Peacock in the U.S., while viewers in Saudi Arabia and most international regions can catch both events live on Netflix, thanks to WWE's recent partnership with the streaming giant. These high-profile shows are a major part of Riyadh Season, the entertainment festival launched in 2019 that has quickly become one of the largest of its kind globally, drawing millions of visitors for world-class sports, music, and entertainment events. Related Topics : IMC is the medical partner for City Walk for 2nd year in a row Discover King Salman Stadium: Stunning Sports Architectural Icon in Saudi Arabia Jeddah Season 2024 Launches Exciting Events Calendar Will Smith Spotted in Jeddah City, KSA Short link : Post Views: 6
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Throwback to Seth Rollins' historic World Heavyweight Championship reign
Seth Rollins and AJ Styles (Image Via WWE) Two years ago, Seth Rollins made WWE history when he became the very first World Heavyweight Champion in the new era. This occurred at Night of Champions 2023, where he went head-to-head with AJ Styles in a match that fans had been eagerly waiting for. The new title was important for WWE , and Rollins' victory started a long and memorable reign that lasted 316 days. Rollins did not just win the belt and forget about it. He worked hard to keep the championship feeling important. Throughout his reign, he faced many tough opponents and showed why he was one of RAW's top stars. The night of the champions match that changed everything The match between Seth Rollins and AJ Styles was very close and had a lot of exciting moments. Both wrestlers wanted to make history as the first World Heavyweight Champion. AJ Styles is known for his quick moves and great skill, while Rollins brought power and smart tactics to the ring. The crowd was on the edge of their seats as near-falls kept happening and the momentum turned many times. Rollins and Styles each had their moments to shine, but in the end, Rollins landed his finishing move, the Stomp, and pinned Styles to win the match. This was a huge moment, not just for Rollins but for the new championship itself. THE ABSOLUTE BEST OF 2023 – Rollins vs. Styles – World Heavyweight Title Match: Night of Champions This match was not just about winning a belt. It was the start of something new for WWE, a new world title with a fresh legacy. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Rollins made sure the World Heavyweight Championship counted from day one. Seth Rollins' long reign and new challenges Seth Rollins' 316-day reign was full of big matches and tough challengers. He defended the title against top wrestlers like Finn Balor, Drew McIntyre , Shinsuke Nakamura , and Damian Priest . Whether on regular RAW shows or at big pay-per-view events, he kept the title in the spotlight. What made Rollins' reign special was not just his matches. It was his attitude. Rollins wore the championship proudly, and fans respected how hard he worked. His promos and overall presence made him one of WWE's most interesting champions in recent years. Seth Rollins takes down Sami Zayn and Finn Bálor to qualify: Raw highlights, May 26, 2025 Rollins is still going strong in WWE. Recently, on Monday Night RAW in Tampa, Florida, he took part in a triple threat match against Sami Zayn and Finn Balor . This was a qualifier for the Money in the Bank ladder match, set for June 7, 2025, in Inglewood, California. With some help from his friends, Rollins pinned Bálor and earned his spot in the Money in the Bank match. Right now, the Money in the Bank ladder match has LA Knight, Solo Sikoa , Penta, and Seth Rollins confirmed, with two spots still open. Rollins continues to show why he is one of WWE's biggest stars, ready to fight for more gold. Also Read: Bronson Reed returns with a bang, joins Seth Rollins' power-packed WWE faction Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
CM Punk responds to criticism over Saudi Arabia remarks ahead of major WWE event
Image via WWE WWE Superstar CM Punk has responded to the perception that he disapproves of wrestling in Saudi Arabia, clarifying during a recent Instagram Live session that he has never even visited the country. "I've never been to Saudi. I don't hate coming to Saudi," Punk said in response to a fan's question, aiming to shut down long-standing speculation around his reluctance to be part of WWE's events in the region. Backlash over deleted tweet rekindled The controversy stems from a now-deleted 2020 tweet in which Punk fired back at fellow wrestler The Miz, telling him to 'go suck a blood money covered d**k in Saudi Arabia.' The remark was made while Punk was a panelist on WWE Backstage, a FOX studio show, and drew heavy criticism for its harsh tone and implications. Though Punk later apologized privately to Miz, the sentiment lingered in the minds of fans - many of whom still associate Punk with a firm anti-Saudi stance. — sagesurge (@sagesurge) by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo Now, with Punk being advertised for WWE's upcoming Night of Champions event in Riyadh on June 28, speculation has reignited over whether he has softened his stance. His brief but pointed reply on Instagram suggests he is distancing himself from past statements and reframing his narrative in line with WWE's current global expansion strategy. Fans have taken to social media, with reactions ranging from support to accusations of hypocrisy. One user wrote, "What a hypocrite. That blood money speaking loud" while another called him out for backtracking on his earlier moral stand. Despite the criticism, others pointed out that several top stars - including John Cena and Kevin Owens, had similar reservations in the past but eventually chose to participate in Saudi shows. What's next for CM Punk in WWE? Punk's potential return to the Saudi stage marks another milestone in his current WWE run, which has been nothing short of eventful. He recently main-evented Night One of WrestleMania 41 in a Triple Threat match against Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins, fulfilling a long-standing personal goal. Currently, he is scheduled to team with Sami Zayn in a tag match at Saturday Night's Main Event on May 24, with rumors swirling about a possible heel turn from Zayn - potentially setting up a one-on-one clash between the two at Night of Champions. As WWE continues to push into international markets, Punk's evolving position signals a broader shift in the company's culture - and perhaps, in the values of its most outspoken performers. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Is heel John Cena finally starting to work? WWE Backlash undid some of the WrestleMania damage
Have I been too quick to write off the John Cena heel turn? Given how quickly things can move in professional wrestling, I wouldn't want to U-turn just yet. But there's no denying that, for at least 30 minutes Saturday night at WWE Backlash 2025, the whole "evil Cena" concept actually clicked in a way that it hasn't done so far. Cena vs. Orton wasn't the perfect match, admittedly — we could have done without stacking up refs like cannon fodder — but it was a massive improvement on Cena vs. Cody Rhodes. Between the near-falls, supersized finishers and over-the-top RKO antics featuring Nick Aldis and R-Truth, there was a sense of drama that felt frustratingly absent in Las Vegas. More importantly, though, it was the first time that Cena being heel actually added something to the dynamic — as opposed to just running back Cena vs. Orton for old time's sake. Let's start with the basics. From the moment the main event was called, you could tell that, unlike at WrestleMania 41, there was absolutely zero ambiguity as to who the crowd wanted to win. Sure, Orton being the hometown boy likely played a role, but WWE still deserves credit for drawing that kind of reaction out of a match that we all knew was a foregone conclusion. In terms of the match itself, it was the first time that Cena actually looked like the bad guy. From that false handshake at the start to the immobilizing table spots, you actually got a sense that Cena wanted to undermine his opponent. It didn't quite reach the heights of the Roman Reigns run, but it was infinitely better than last time around. Even the slightly contrived stuff where Cena does a deliberately slow rendition of his old moveset — part of the whole 'ruin wrestling' gimmick — seemed to go over better. Maybe it's one of those wrestling things that grow on the audience with time, or maybe Cena just worked harder. What could have been improved? I would have liked to see a more imaginative finish than another low blow — a spot that very rarely lands when it involves two guys who are already enemies. But on the whole, it was a successful outing for two of WWE's most legendary rivals. As for the future of heel Cena, I definitely felt a flutter of excitement at the end of the evening, when the man himself took to the mic to throw down the gauntlet to future challengers. Who will take on Cena at the recently announced Night of Champions in Riyadh, for example — or at Money in the Bank in June? This time last week, I'm not sure I'd have cared. After last night, you can officially color me curious. Aside from the record-breaking champ, Backlash gave another boost to some of the other 'Mania winners. Lyra Valkyria put on a technical masterclass, while Dominik Mysterio got another big stage win. Jacob Fatu came out of that four-way situationship for the U.S. Championship looking stronger than ever — before ending up in a tense moment with a debuting Jeff Cobb. Even the more controversial match — Gunther vs. Pat McAfee — managed to be entertaining. These celebrity tie-in matches are always a risk (even with a loyal WWE guy like McAfee). But coming so soon after the Travis Scott debacle at WrestleMania, this one had the sword of Damocles hanging over it. As it turns out, we were wrong to worry. Had the matches not been so good, the absence of title changes — combined with the lazy stage design — could have easily given this one a slightly underwhelming vibe, a la Saturday Night's Main Event. Then again, Backlash has always been more of a coda to WrestleMania than a big event in its own right. Last night didn't challenge that perception. What it did well, though, was to actually focus on undoing some of the damage from this year's WrestleMania. Again, let's not get carried away here: It wasn't a total redemption of the overall Cena gambit by any means, but it was streets ahead of what we've become used to lately. If you were to plot Saturday night's efforts on a linear scale of 'Cena heel moments' between Elimination Chamber (good) and Night 2 of 'Mania (bad), it would be much closer to the former than the latter. Considering the circumstances, I'd take that any day of the week.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Is heel John Cena finally starting to work? WWE Backlash undid some of the WrestleMania damage
Have I been too quick to write off the John Cena heel turn? Given how quickly things can move in professional wrestling, I wouldn't want to U-turn just yet. But there's no denying that, for at least 30 minutes Saturday night at WWE Backlash 2025, the whole "evil Cena" concept actually clicked in a way that it hasn't done so far. Cena vs. Orton wasn't the perfect match, admittedly — we could have done without stacking up refs like cannon fodder — but it was a massive improvement on Cena vs. Cody Rhodes. Between the near-falls, supersized finishers, and over-the-top RKO antics featuring Nick Aldis and R-Truth, there was a sense of drama that felt frustratingly absent in Las Vegas. Advertisement More importantly, though, it was the first time that Cena being heel actually added something to the dynamic — as opposed to just running back Cena vs. Orton for old time's sake. Let's start with the basics. From the moment the main event was called, you could tell that, unlike at WrestleMania 41, there was absolutely zero ambiguity as to who the crowd wanted to win. Sure, Orton being the hometown boy likely played a role, but WWE still deserves credit for drawing that kind of reaction out of a match that we all knew was a foregone conclusion. In terms of the match itself, it was the first time that Cena actually looked like the bad guy. From that false handshake at the start to the immobilizing table spots, you actually got a sense that Cena wanted to undermine his opponent. It didn't quite reach the heights of the Roman Reigns run, but it was infinitely better than last time around. Advertisement Even the slightly contrived stuff where Cena does a deliberately slow rendition of his old moveset — part of the whole 'ruin wrestling' gimmick — seemed to go over better. Maybe it's one of those wrestling things that grow on the audience with time, or maybe Cena just worked harder. What could have been improved? I would have liked to see a more imaginative finish than another low blow — a spot that very rarely lands when it involves two guys who are already enemies. But on the whole, it was a successful outing for two of WWE's most legendary rivals. As for the future of heel Cena, I definitely felt a flutter of excitement at the end of the evening, when the man himself took to the mic to throw down the gauntlet to future challengers. Who will take on Cena at the recently announced Night of Champions in Riyadh, for example — or at Money in the Bank in June? This time last week, I'm not sure I'd have cared. After last night, you can officially color me curious. Aside from the record-breaking champ, Backlash gave another boost to some of the other 'Mania winners. Lyra Valkyria put on a technical masterclass, while Dominik Mysterio got another big stage win. Jacob Fatu came out of that four-way situationship for the U.S. Championship looking stronger than ever — before ending up in a tense moment with a debuting Jeff Cobb. Advertisement Even the more controversial match — Gunther vs. Pat McAfee — managed to be entertaining. These celebrity tie-in matches are always a risk (even with a loyal WWE guy like McAfee). But coming so soon after the Travis Scott debacle at WrestleMania, this one had the sword of Damocles hanging over it. As it turns out, we were wrong to worry. Had the matches not been so good, the absence of title changes — combined with the lazy stage design — could have easily given this one a slightly underwhelming vibe, a la Saturday Night's Main Event. Then again, Backlash has always been more of a coda to WrestleMania than a big event in its own right. Last night didn't challenge that perception. What it did well, though, was to actually focus on undoing some of the damage from this year's WrestleMania. Again, let's not get carried away here: It wasn't a total redemption of the overall Cena gambit by any means, but it was streets ahead of what we've become used to lately. If you were to plot Saturday night's efforts on a linear scale of 'Cena heel moments' between Elimination Chamber (good) and Night 2 of 'Mania (bad), it would be much closer to the former than the latter. Considering the circumstances, I'd take that any day of the week.
