WWE has announced that its talent has arrived in Saudi Arabia for significant upcoming events this weekend, including Night of Champions 2025 and Friday Night SmackDown.
The Night of Champions is set to take place on Saturday, June 28th, 2025, at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, featuring wrestlers from both the Raw and SmackDown brands. This premium live event marks an important occasion, as it will be John Cena’s final night as an active in-ring competitor, with his retirement planned at the end of 2025. It will also be the last WWE pay-per-view held in Saudi Arabia to feature Cena. The event will be available for streaming on Netflix in the US via Peacock and for international audiences, furthering WWE’s global reach.
The event will showcase the finals of two historic tournaments: the 24th King of the Ring and the third Queen of the Ring. The winners of these tournaments will earn championship matches at SummerSlam. The King of the Ring final will be an all-SmackDown face-off between Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes, while the Queen of the Ring final will see Low Asuka battle Jade Cargill.
In the main event, John Cena will defend the undisputed WWE Championship against CM Punk. This title match was set after Punk challenged Cena on a recent episode of Raw, putting the championship on the line in Saudi Arabia.
Another headline match includes Solo Sikoa defending the WWE US Championship against his cousin Jacob Fatu, culminating a family rivalry filled with tension and betrayal. This storyline has been ongoing, with significant dramatic developments over the past year.
WWE’s decision to proceed with the Saudi show followed careful planning amid ongoing Middle Eastern tensions. Although some production crew faced initial travel delays in Qatar due to local conflicts, WWE successfully coordinated travel for all talent and staff.
Night of Champions 2025 marks WWE’s 11th pay-per-view event and the 13th event held in Saudi Arabia as part of its ongoing partnership with the Kingdom. This weekend’s Friday Night SmackDown will also be broadcast from the Kingdom Arena, setting the stage for the major event on Saturday.
With major championship bouts, tournament finals determining SummerSlam contenders, and John Cena’s farewell tour, Night of Champions 2025 is poised to be a landmark occasion for WWE and its global audience.
Fan Take: This event is a pivotal moment for WWE, blending high-stakes competition with emotional farewells, particularly John Cena’s retirement. For fans, it promises unforgettable matchups and could reshape WWE’s landscape heading into the future.
