What a wild week to be a wrestling fan. WWE Night of Champions in Riyadh delivered massive shocks and backstage drama, resetting the board for the hot summer months ahead. Outside of the WWE bubble, major titles crossed international borders as Arena Mexico hosted a surprising tag team title shift, and NXT stars fought in front of rowdy crowds in Mexico. Let's look at the stories that defined the week.

Sami Zayn Shocks the World in Riyadh

Nobody expected Sami Zayn to walk out of Kingdom Arena with the gold. He entered the Triple Threat main event at Night of Champions as the clear underdog against Cody Rhodes and Gunther. The match lasted 18:42 and featured high-stakes desperation, with Rhodes and Zayn exchanging forearms while Gunther prowled the floor. The drama spiked when Zayn pulled the referee out of the ring to stop Cody's pin, a favor Rhodes returned minutes later when Zayn had the match won.

The finish was sudden. Rhodes hit a double Cross Rhodes on Gunther, but Zayn threw Cody out and stole the pinfall. Backstage, a tearful Zayn fired back at his doubters who claimed he would never win the big one. He noted that he spent ten years chasing the title without recognition, shouting that he finally proved he deserves to be a WWE Champion.

“Some bad and good — and lately, some bad. A lot of folks said I would never win the WWE Championship! But I stand here tonight in front of my people — the WWE Champion! It is hard to believe. Oh my God. Byron… you know I’m not usually at a loss for words, but I… You know what? You’re DAMN RIGHT I deserve it! Twenty-plus years in the game at the highest level — never got the recognition. Ten-plus years chasing this title — never got the recognition. I don’t care what happens to me tomorrow, next week, next month, next year. Forever, I will be Sami Zayn — W-W-E Champion!”

This win represents a major creative shift. Reports suggest management initially wanted to save Sami's coronation for a later Saudi Arabia event, but they pulled the trigger early. This decision immediately injects fresh energy into the main event picture, as detailed in the Night of Champions live results.

Gunther Confronts General Manager Nick Aldis

The drama did not stop after the bell in Riyadh. Gunther was livid after his loss and confronted SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis backstage. Gunther has been hunting for the title since Clash in Italy, where his foot was on the ropes. The big Austrian cornered the GM, calling him a failed wrestler who could never cut it at the highest level.

Things turned physical when Gunther poked Aldis in the chest. Aldis responded by shoving Gunther back hard before referees rushed in to separate them. As they were pulled apart, Aldis yelled that he would see Gunther on SmackDown. This confrontation, which was reported by F4WOnline, suggests that Gunther's path back to the title goes through management.

Physical altercations with authority figures usually result in suspensions. However, Aldis seems more interested in settling this on SmackDown. Gunther is the top heel on the blue brand, and keeping him off television during the build to SummerSlam is not an option. Expect a massive match or a strict ultimatum to be announced this Friday night.

Oba Femi and IYO SKY Reign in Riyadh

Night of Champions also hosted the finals of the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments. On the men's side, Oba Femi pinned Jey Uso in 7:59 to win the crown. Uso tried to lock in a sleeper hold to wear down the massive rookie, but Femi powered out and hit his Fall from Grace powerbomb to cement his rise. Jey Uso clearly underestimated him, and Femi has now upgraded his status from the ruler to the king.

The women's final saw Iyo Sky defeat Liv Morgan in 14:58 to become Queen of the Ring. Sky targeted Morgan's knee throughout the match, surviving a late comeback. Sky hit a Spanish Fly off the top rope before sealing the win with her moonsault. Following her victory, Sky confronted Morgan and promised to take her title at SummerSlam.

With SummerSlam expanding to a two-night event in Minneapolis this August, these victories carry massive weight. Sky has her championship match locked in. Meanwhile, commentators teased that Oba Femi will announce his choice of championship match on Raw, where he can challenge either world champion.

Seth Rollins Beats Bron Breakker in the Cage

Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker settled their rivalry inside a steel cage, but the booking was highly questionable. Rollins threw tables, chairs, and kendo sticks into the cage before the match, which went 19:03. The match featured several high-risk spots, including Breakker hitting a Frankensteiner onto chairs. The turning point came when Rollins superplexed Breakker from the top of the cage, busting him open.

Rollins won the match with a stomp off the middle rope. Breakker dominated the majority of the match, looking like an absolute monster. Rollins spent most of the contest looking beatable and worn down, yet he still walked out with a clean victory.

This is lazy booking that hurts a rising star. Breakker is one of the most exciting powerhouses WWE has produced in years, and he did not need another clean loss. Rollins is already a made man, and this victory does little for him while actively stalling Breakker's momentum. WWE needs to protect its young talent instead of feeding them to the old guard.

Piper Niven Shoots on Jade Cargill's In-Ring Safety

A major social media storm erupted after Night of Champions, with Piper Niven publicly calling out Jade Cargill. Cargill competed in a match against Tiffany Stratton, who retained her title. During the match, Cargill executed a Black Hole Slam on Stratton. After the show, Cargill posted about the move, calling it beautiful, but Niven disagreed and posted a blunt critique.

“5/10 a bit sloppy, you didn’t transfer her weight onto your chest so you never really had her and that’s why she slipped out and you got that double bump effect and her head verberated on the mat.”

Niven did not stop at technical critique. She took a direct shot at Cargill's attitude, writing that Cargill only cared about looking good rather than keeping her opponent safe.

“But you looked great, and who cares who you hurt so long as you’re alright, right?”

This is a serious accusation in an industry built on trust. Niven has used the Black Hole Slam for years and received personal approval from Abyss to use it. Cargill has yet to respond, but Niven's willingness to go public suggests that frustration with Cargill's greenness is reaching a boiling point. If you cannot protect your opponent, you have no business performing high-risk moves.

ROH Tag Team Titles Change Hands at CMLL

Outside of WWE, the Ring of Honor tag team titles changed hands in a surprise main event in Mexico City. Sammy Guevara and The Beast Mortos lost the titles to Mistico and Mascara Dorada at CMLL's Friday show. The finish saw Mascara Dorada hit a shooting star press to the floor on Guevara, while Mistico submitted Mortos with La Mistica to end their 204 days reign.

The title change was prompted by visa issues that have kept Beast Mortos out of the United States. Since Mortos could not travel to defend the titles on ROH television, Guevara had to fly to Mexico to defend the belts in CMLL. Last week, they successfully defended the gold against El Hijo del Villano III and Villano III Jr. However, CMLL's Sky Team ended their reign at Arena Mexico.

This victory sets up a massive match for AEW Forbidden Door this Sunday in San Jose. The new champions are scheduled to compete in a three-way tag team match against the Young Bucks and the team of Shingo Takagi and Titan, as reported in the CMLL Viernes Espectacular report. This sudden title change adds a new layer of intrigue to the event.

Looking Ahead

The fallout from Night of Champions will dominate WWE television this week as the road to SummerSlam begins. Sami Zayn starts his reign as Undisputed WWE Champion, and he will have to watch his back with both Cody Rhodes and Gunther looking for revenge. Meanwhile, AEW Forbidden Door takes over the weekend with international crossovers. The summer heat is officially here, and the booking decisions made this week will shape the industry for months to come.