Last night’s WWE Friday Night SmackDown took over the blazing heat of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, igniting the Kingdom Arena on the eve of the highly anticipated Night of Champions premium live event. With the grandeur of the setting matched only by the stakes, SmackDown delivered a spectacle that blurred the line between television and pay-per-view. Championships were defended, rivalries exploded, and the final countdown to the King and Queen of the Ring tournament came to a head—just hours before the royal coronation unfolds on PLE.
In a night that felt like a main event showcase in its own right, former NXT Women’s Champion Giulia made history by dethroning Zelina Vega to become only the third-ever WWE Women’s United States Champion, planting her flag firmly on the main roster with gold around her waist. Over in the tag team division, chaos continued to boil over as DIY attempted to rally a fractured locker room against the eerie dominance of The Wyatt Sicks, only to find themselves in a surprise match-of-the-night contender against the high-octane duo of Andrade and Rey Fenix.
But the biggest shock came in the main event—and it wasn’t just in the ring. Tiffany Stratton solidified her reign by surviving “The Irresistible Force” Nia Jax in a brutal Last Woman Standing Match, putting an emphatic exclamation mark on her title run heading into SummerSlam season. Then came the moment that broke the timeline—2002 came crashing into 2025 as CM Punk swaggered to the ring not as the straight-edge savior, but as the loud-mouthed, chain-wearing “Punk Life,” a biting parody of John Cena’s legendary Doctor of Thuganomics persona. But this wasn’t flattery—it was mockery. With every bar, Punk shredded nostalgia, dragged Cena’s legacy through verbal fire, and dared anyone to try and stop him.
Now, with tensions boiling, eyes turn to today’s Night of Champions—a card already loaded, now amplified by last night’s chaos. Will Cody Rhodes finally ascend to the throne by defeating his former Legacy ally Randy Orton, or will the Viper prove there’s still venom in his fangs? And in the Queen’s Final, will the Empress Asuka reclaim her place atop the women’s division, or will Jade Cargill’s aura become immortalized with a crown? Titles, pride, and future main events hang in the balance. And after last night, one thing is clear: the road to SummerSlam has never felt more dangerous—or more royal.
Here are the full results:
Just like last week Cody can’t get a word out
Randy vowed to not have a repeat of last year’s finals
The American Nightmare is confident he will become King Nightmare
Who can say Solo isn’t a generous and patient man?
JC Mateo defeated “Big Jim” Jimmy Uso
No means no Solo
Jacob Fatu repaying the favor from last week
Giulia defeated Zelina Vega to become the NEW Women’s United States Champion
Alexa is offering a partnership of convenience not a friendship
Is Jade Cargill REALLY ready for Asuka?
Naomi with the reminder that SHE holds all the power not the Queen of the Ring
Is Aldis trying to help or hinder Ron?
Andrade and Rey Fenix defeated DIY
BLACK MASS
Damian Priest with some sage advice
The Street Profits vs The Wyatt Sicks ends in No Contest (WWE Tag Team Championship)
Tiffany kept the match between her and Nia
Tiffany Stratton defeated Nia Jax to retain the WWE Women’s Championship (Last Woman Standing Match)
Punk Life
Current WWE Night of Champions Card:
John Cena (c) vs CM Punk (Undisputed WWE Championship)
Jacob Fatu (c) vs Solo Sioka (United States Championship)
Rhea Ripley vs WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Raquel Rodriguez (Street Fight)
Randy Orton vs Cody Rhodes (King of the Ring Finals)
Jade Cargill vs Asuka (Queen of the Ring Finals)
Sami Zayn vs Karrion Kross w/Scarlett
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