WWE Night of Champions 2026 is in the history books, and Riyadh witnessed a historic show. The initial reaction is positive, with many fans praising the surprises. As the last major pitstop on the road to SummerSlam, it was expected to be a noteworthy PLE with major ramifications.
Several high-profile talents, including Cody Rhodes, Seth “Freakin” Rollins, and Gunther, were booked in prominent positions on the card. The show was a departure from Triple H’s classic “5 match formula,” with 6 matches scheduled for Night of Champions. The finals of the King and Queen of the Tournament were announced, as was a massive Triple Threat bout for the WWE Title.
Hence, there was considerable hype heading into Riyadh. Fortunately, Triple H and his creative team delivered a noteworthy PLE that didn’t disappoint. On that note, let’s look at 4 things WWE got right at Night of Champions 2026.
#4. The Ruler Got His Crown at Night of Champions
The King of the Ring finals opened Night of Champions 2026. Oba Femi took on Jey Uso in the high-stakes bout. While Femi was clearly the favorite, Jey’s recent singles push meant that the Bloodline member had a fighting chance. However, as expected, the Ruler marched to a comfortable victory, which was the correct decision.
Riyadh was on its feet for the former NXT Champion, who soaked in the love and adulation of thousands of screaming fans chanting “Oba” at the top of their lungs. The WWE Universe wants to see Femi in the spotlight, and they would not have tolerated any other star in the same position.
Furthermore, having Femi lose consecutively on PLE would also have been controversial. The Ruler got his crown, and the Bringer of War now has a clear path to SummerSlam. It would be intriguing to see how his overarching arc with Brock Lesnar would factor into his guaranteed World Title match at SummerSlam.
#3. Danhausen’s Involvement in Liv Morgan’s Match Was a Smart Move
Few stars have captivated the audience like Danhausen in recent years. The very nice, very evil character is easily one of the most over stars on the roster, and the WWE Universe enjoys every moment he is on TV. Recently, WWE has been teasing a storyline between Danhausen and Judgment Day.
After inadvertently electrocuting JD McDonagh on RAW this past week, Danhausen cursed Liv Morgan before the Queen of the Ring finals. The curse proved consequential as IYO SKY defeated Morgan to win the tournament at Night of Champions 2026. This interference is significant for a number of reasons.
First and foremost, it furthers the ongoing arc between Danhausen and Judgment Day. It remains to be seen how Dominik Mysterio and Morgan will react to the consequential curse. Furthermore, the curse set up a SummerSlam feud between SKY and Morgan. A common enemy might result in Danhausen and SKY forming a temporary alliance.
#2. Seth “Freakin” Rollins Can Finally Move Past the Vision
The Vision was born on the night after WrestleMania 41. 14 months later, and fans already seem to be tired of the group. The lack of interest is mainly due to repetitive booking decisions and legitimate injuries. However, at Night of Champions 2026, we could feel the end of an old chapter and the dawn of a new arc.
In a brutal and epic Steel cage match, Seth “Freakin” Rollins defeated Bron Breakker clean with a Stomp off the middle rope. This was the exclamation point on a 14-month storyline. While fans might criticize the decision to have the Unbreakable Badass lose clean, Rollins’s winning was an understandable booking decision.
The Visionary was the creator of the Vision. Hence, it makes perfect sense for him to be the ultimate destroyer. With the Vision in his rearview mirror, Rollins can move on to bigger and better things. As for Breakker, this could be a catalyst to make some changes to his character and potentially distance himself from his current allies.
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#1. Sami Zayn Finally Finishes His Story at Night of Champions
The best finishes are usually the ones that no one saw coming. When WWE announced Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther vs. Sami Zayn at Night of Champions, fans were convinced that Zayn was included to take the pinfall. However, we couldn’t have been more wrong.
The Last Real Good Guy finally finished his story. He rolled up Rhodes for the three count, sending Riyadh into a frenzy as Sami Zayn won his first WWE Championship. Although Zayn has behaved in questionable manners recently, his victory felt like a feel-good moment, and Riyadh was the perfect setting for his coronation.
This was a genuine surprise and puts a major dent in our expected match card for SummerSlam. Hopefully, Zayn doesn’t end up becoming another transitional champion, but for now, it feels great to see the WWE Championship on his shoulder.
