WWE is back in Saudi Arabia for another explosive Premium Live Event with two noteworthy matches to look forward to on the card: Seth Rollins vs AJ Styles for the new World Heavyweight Championship, and the other is Roman Reigns teaming up with Solo Sikoa to take on the Undisputed Tag Team Champions, Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens.
ROMAN REIGNS LOOKS TO RESTORE THE BLOODLINE'S GOLD
Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, Roman Reigns & Solo Sikoa are set to challenge Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens at WWE Night of Champions in an attempt to take back the gold for The Bloodline.
Since the one-time "Honorary Uce" Zayn split with The Bloodline and reunited with his longtime friend Owens against the dominant faction, Reigns has made it clear that the pair were a problem that must be dealt with. However, Zayn and Owens struck a huge blow to their adversaries at WrestleMania when they ended The Usos' historic title reign and claimed the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles.
Since their loss on The Grandest Stage of Them All, Jimmy & Jey have fought to redeem themselves in the eyes of The Head of the Table. Despite their efforts, The Usos lost a title rematch, and although they overcame Zayn, Owens, and Matt Riddle in a Six-Man Tag Team Match at WWE Backlash, their brother Solo Sikoa picked up the victory.
On the May 12 edition of SmackDown, Reigns returned to SmackDown for the first time since The Showcase of the Immortals and wasted little time voicing his disappointment with The Usos for failing to recapture the gold. Much to Jimmy & Jey's humiliation, he then charged Special Counsel Paul Heyman with declaring that Reigns would join forces with Sikoa to challenge Owens and Zayn for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship at WWE Night of Champions.
.@WWERomanReigns returns to the blue brand to make @WWEUsos take responsibility for their failures. @WWESoloSikoa @HeymanHustle #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/FVuLQPfF4a
— WWE (@WWE) May 14, 2023
WHO WILL BECOME THE NEW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION?
When Triple H announced the new World Heavyweight Title, the possibilities were endless for who could make history by being the first to become champion. After a grueling tournament, two contenders remain, Seth “Freakin” Rollins and AJ Styles, two Superstars with a remarkable championship pedigree.
En route to this history-making match, Rollins had to go through Shinsuke Nakamura and Damian Priest in a Triple Threat Match before defeating Finn Bálor one-on-one. Styles overcame Rey Mysterio and Edge in a Triple Threat Match, then took down Bobby Lashley in a singles clash. At WWE Night of Champions, the tenacity of The Visionary and The Phenomenal One will be put to the test as both try to become World Champion.
Rollins won his first world title in a thrilling moment at WrestleMania 31 when he cashed in his Money in the Bank Contract during the main event between Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns. In total, The Architect has won two WWE Titles and two Universal Championships. Styles, is a two-time world champion, having twice won the WWE Championship, with his second reign becoming one of the longest in recent history.
Rollins and Styles have had their fair share of history as well, memorably batting each other at WWE Money in the Bank 2019 for the Universal Title, with Rollins retaining the championship on that night. The two former world champions have stood toe-to-toe more recently as well, with The Visionary scoring another victory over Styles in June of last year.
Now that the stage is set for a legendary matchup, who will walk out of WWE Night of Champions as the first World Heavyweight Champion?
It's official! ??@AJStylesOrg will battle @WWERollins for the World Heavyweight Championship at #WWENOC! ???? pic.twitter.com/YyUigicqHW
— WWE (@WWE) May 13, 2023
BIANCA DEFENDS HER RAW WOMEN'S TITLE AGAINST ASUKA
Bianca Belair’s impressive run as Raw Women’s Champion seems to show no signs of stopping. After dispatching Asuka at WrestleMania and following up with a stunning victory over IYO SKY at WWE Backlash, Belair is now the longest-reigning women’s champion in the modern era.
To celebrate, The EST held a Championship Celebration in her hometown of Knoxville. Unfortunately for Belair, the festivities were interrupted by Asuka, who sprayed The EST in the face with a toxic mist.
With this attack, Asuka cemented a WrestleMania rematch between the two for WWE Night of Champions. After being drafted to SmackDown, the two have become increasingly vicious, with Belair having an eye for retribution after Asuka’s stunning attack. The two had been partners in the past, even winning the first WWE Women’s WarGames Match at Survivor Series WarGames.
Who will come out the victor when Belair defends her Raw Women’s Championship at WWE Night of Champions?
THE BEAST IS OUT TO DESTROY CODY RHODES
A reckoning is coming to WWE Night of Champions when Cody Rhodes once again steps into the ring with Brock Lesnar in a WWE Backlash rematch.
After his WrestleMania loss against Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, Rhodes was suddenly ambushed by Brock Lesnar just before the two were set to battle Reigns and Solo Sikoa in tag team action on the Raw after WrestleMania. The Beast brutalized The American Nightmare to a stunning and uncomfortable degree, attacking him with steel chairs and everything out in sight.
In a showdown at WWE Backlash, Rhodes miraculously conquered the fury of Lesnar with a crafty pinning combination. However, when he returned to the red brand, he made the mistake of turning his attention away from The Beast and toward the World Heavyweight Championship tournament. Lesnar reemerged from out of nowhere and viciously smashed his adversary through the announce table before making the rematch challenge.
At #WWENOC, @CodyRhodes gets a FIGHT with @BrockLesnar! pic.twitter.com/ru1kLrnVMf
— WWE (@WWE) May 9, 2023
Becky Lynch vs Trish Stratus
At WWE Night of Champions, Becky Lynch will battle WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus in a highly-anticipated dream match.
In a moment that electrified the WWE Universe in February, Trish Stratus suddenly emerged to help her fellow WWE Hall of Famer Lita and Lynch even the odds with Damage CTRL and paved the way for them to win the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles.
The trio then joined forces to defeat Bayley, Dakota Kai, and IYO SKY at WrestleMania. So it came as no surprise when Trish Stratus stepped into a team with The Man in her title defense against Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan after Lita was mysteriously attacked backstage. Moments after she was pinned to lose the gold, however, Trish Stratus suddenly betrayed Lynch when she launched a surprise attack and left her down and out in the ring.
Big Time Becks was not seen for weeks following that attack, and Trish Stratus took every opportunity to mock her in her absence. That was until May 8 when Becky surprised the WWE Hall of Famer on Raw and treated her to the Bexploder. The following week, a determined Lynch challenged her decorated adversary to a showdown at WWE Night of Champions. Following a war of words on the final episode of the red brand before the PLE, that match was made official.
That ???? from @BeckyLynchWWE!#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/E3GNyEJAkG
— WWE (@WWE) May 23, 2023
ALI LOOKS TO END GUNTHER'S DOMINANCE AS IC CHAMPION
Gunther has been looking for a worthy challenger since being drafted by Raw. At WWE Night of Champions, Gunther will receive his wish as he goes up against Mustafa Ali for the first time.
Ali received this title opportunity after winning a thrilling Battle Royal, albeit with some help from The Ring General himself. As Matt Riddle was looking strong, Gunther enacted his vicious tactics, signaling to Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser to eliminate The Original Bro from the matchup.
Ali has been trying to see the positive outlook in life in recent weeks, and nothing could be more positive than a match with Gunther for the Intercontinental Title in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Can Ali finally win his first championship in WWE, or will The Ring General continue his incredible reign?
Rhea Ripley vs Natalya for the SmackDown Women's Championship
SmackDown Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley is set to go to war with Natalya at WWE Night of Champions.
Ripley was already a fierce competitor when she joined The Judgment Day. Since then, however, she has entered a whole new level, both individually and collectively with the dark faction, to become the scourge of the women's locker room. She ripped through the competition to emerge victorious in the Royal Rumble, claimed the SmackDown Women’s Championship with a hard-fought win over Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania, and now stands as a seemingly insurmountable force of nature.
When she chose to make a ruthless statement by attacking Dana Brooke after she already defeated her, though, she drew the ire of The Queen of Harts. Making it clear she was not intimidated by the dominant titleholder, Natalya stood toe-to-toe with her until a smiling Ripley decided to leave.
Natalya was forged in the infamous family dungeon in Calgary and is a two-time Women's Champion as well as a WWE Women's Tag Team Champion, and a showdown between The Queen of Harts and The Eradicator will be a must-see clash.
PLUS:#WWERaw Women's Champion @BiancaBelairWWE vs. @WWEAsuka
— WWE (@WWE) May 23, 2023
Intercontinental Champion @Gunther_AUT defends against @AliWWE
And just announced: @RheaRipley_WWE defends the #SmackDown Women's Title against @NatbyNature this Saturday at #WWENOC! pic.twitter.com/wWcr0xrGgw
Source: WWE