WWE Night of Champions 2025 Review with Match Rating

WWE Night of Champions 2025 Review & Ratings

Men’s King of the Ring Finals: Cody Rhodes vs Randy Orton (2.5/5)

The crowd was molten during this opening match. They serenaded Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes both as they headed to the ring, and injected a ton of life into the first 10 minutes of the match. This match was based more on story than it was action.

Rhodes and Orton are used to working a deliberate pace, but this took it a bit too far. Every move was supposed to mean something, but taking too much time in between dragged the pacing too far down. The action was great when it happened, but it was few and far between.

What saved this match from a lower rating was the heel work put in by Rhodes. There was no obvious turn, but Rhodes leaned into his heel side a lot during this match. You could hear those slight tinges of boos from the crowd when he was attacking Orton’s lower back.

Is there a turn in the future of Cody Rhodes? It was an interesting part of a match that was light on interesting moments.

Street Fight: Rhea Ripley vs Raquel Rodriguez (4/5)

These women have all sorts of history between them, and it showed during this match. It was an evenly matched contest, and the street fight gimmick was used perfectly. It is not often that we see someone who is as physically imposing as Rhea Ripley, but Raquel Rodriguez was up to the challenge.

Ripley and Rodriguez have put together great gimmick matches in the past, and they built off that experience here. There was great use of weapons throughout the match, with Kendo sticks, chairs, and some brutal shots with Rodriguez’s title. It added a very welcome layer of intensity to the match.

The final spot with a Riptide off a table positioned on the top rope was fantastic. It was a creative spot that brought the fans out of their seats. It would have been nice to see Raquel Rodriguez get the win here, but with a finish like that, no one can complain.

Sami Zayn vs Karrion Kross (3/5)

The devil we know angle has been a fantastic slow burn. Karrion Kross has been great as the cackling super villain. While Sami Zayn has been wonderful as the baby face, refusing to listen to the devil on his shoulder.

There was a steadier pace to this match than the opener. Zayn started hot but was soon overwhelmed by Kross. It was a lot of fun seeing Kross use his power moves to maintain the advantage over Zayn.

Zayn needed to play the conquering hero here, and he did just that. Kross was unable to keep the underdog down, and the crowd was loving every second of it.

When Karrion Kross got the advantage, it might have been best to end the match in that area. He was out to prove a point to Sami Zayn, and his losing in the fashion that he did doesn’t help the character.  It was a fun match, but one that could have explored this angle a bit more.

United States Championship Match: Jacob Fatu vs Solo Sikoa (3.25/5)

Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu have built a great angle headed into Night of Champions. It was a telegraphed angle, yes, but one that the audience wanted, and both men played into it very well. Jacob Fatu’s star is on the rise, and this angle showed it.

This was the hard-hitting match that everyone expected it to be. The structure was made for a bit of a slower pace, but every move hit was high impact. It helped to bridge the spots together, showing the impressive skill set of both men.

The fix was in with J.C. Mateo distracting the ref while Tonga Loa made his return to nearly cost Fatu. It was a great diversion, but one that was overshadowed by the debut of Hikuleo. Coming in at the last minute to help Sikoa win the United States Championship was a fun surprise.

Great way to finish this match and give them something to build off of headed towards SummerSlam.

Queen of the Ring Finals: Jade Cargill vs Asuka (2.75/5)

This was a highly anticipated first-time match. Cargill and Asuka are great performers with very different in-ring styles. What the success of the match was going to hinge on was whether Jade Cargill had improved enough.

For the most part, this was a clean match. Asuka is money in the ring, and Jade Cargill was able to match her well. There was some great wrestling and great counters from both women, but there was something about the match that didn’t give it the big match feel.

Whether it be from the crowd or the style of matched work. It just didn’t feel like it had the ambiance that should be surrounding it. The finish was a fun counter, but it was also one that felt rushed.

There seemed like there should have been more to it, and some were maybe shocked that it ended. That could have accounted for the flat reaction. Still, it was a better match than some would have expected.

WWE Championship Match: John Cena vs CM Punk (4.25/5)

This main event was one of the most anticipated in WWE history. Both men have been integral to the success of WWE, and their rivalries have been epic. Anytime they stepped into the ring, the world knew they were about to see something special.

Now, both men’s better days are in the rearview, so matching their old classics was going to be tough. That being said, they did more than an admirable job here.

This was easily the best match of John Cena’s return. There was a ton of great wrestling in the early stages that impressed. Cena and Punk turned the clock back, albeit briefly, and put together some fun chain wrestling that not many expected.

Once this match turned into third gear, things got going. CM Punk and John Cena played all their hits, and we all loved them for it. CM Punk’s unwillingness to relent to the Attitude Adjustment was breathtaking, getting the crowd and this observer riled up.

Most of the time, a bevy of interference can ruin the ending to a match, but it worked so well here. Seth Rollins’ supergroup provided a great out for John Cena, and furthered issues with CM Punk. It was a fun distraction nearing the end of the match and gave us a creative finish.

This was the best match of the night and the best of John Cena’s final run.