‘WWE Night of Champions 2023’ PPV Review

Welcome to this review of the WWE’s Night of Champions pay-per-view, which this time takes place in Saudi Arabi and sees the final of the Heavyweight Championship take place as well as the eagerly anticipated tag match between Roman Reigns/Solo Sikoa and Sami Zayn/Kevin Owens… and yes, this is the first appearance of Zayn in Saudi Arabi since the WWE’s contract with the country began. Let’s get into it!

Match #1: World Heavyweight Championship – Seth “Freakin” Rollins def. AJ Styles

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Styles took it to Rollins early, delivering a brutal suplex into the turnbuckle. Styles followed up with a spellbinding reverse DDT, but Rollins kicked out at two. Styles looked to target the neck of Rollins, hitting a superb modified neckbreaker that left The Visionary reeling. Styles went for a huge Styles Clash from the second rope, but The Architect countered by hurling Styles across the ring with a hurricanrana. Rollins fired back by hitting Styles with a top-rope reverse suplex followed by a reverse DDT that left Styles in shambles. In a test of will, The Phenomenal One hit an other-worldly suplex on Rollins straight onto the ring apron. After Styles tried to end the match with the Phenomenal Forearm, The Visionary countered, then flew through the ropes to hit a dive to the outside. Unfortunately for Rollins, The Visionary’s knee was tweaked on the landing, and Styles immediately targeted it by locking in the Calf Crusher. In a blistering back-and-forth, Rollins evaded the first Pele Kick, but Styles connected with the second and shocked the WWE Universe by landing a Pedigree on Rollins for a long two-count. Rollins again countered the Phenomenal Forearm with a huge superkick. But as Rollins was about to go for the Stomp, his knee buckled, allowing Styles to lock on another Calf Crusher. Rollins fought through the pain, escaping to hit a Pedigree followed by the Stomp to become the new World Heavyweight Champion.

My Score: 4 out of 5

Match #2: Trish Stratus def. Becky Lynch

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In a dream match for the ages, Becky Lynch and Trish Stratus collided for the first time after Trish Stratus betrayed Lynch and cost her the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles a few months ago. Despite being in her first singles match in more than four years, Trish Stratus was all over The Man, overwhelming Lynch with top-rope headlocks and repeatedly slamming her face-first into the announce table. Trish Stratus continued the onslaught, even ruthlessly prying at Lynch’s mouth. Lynch was able to withstand the punishment, hitting Trish Stratus with whirlwind offense, including a massive Exploder Suplex. The Man almost had the match won after hitting diamond dust and a top-rope leg drop. When she went for the Manhandle Slam, Trish Stratus rolled through and attempted to lock on the Sharpshooter, but Lynch craftily evaded. Lynch then put Trish Stratus in a submission attempt of her own, dragging her adversary to the middle of the ring in a Boston Crab. After barely beating the 10-count, Lynch rushed into the ring only to be greeted with the Chick Kick. Lynch showed great resolve, kicking out at two and angering Trish Stratus. The WWE Hall of Famer took too long berating Lynch, allowing The Man to snap on the Dis-Arm-Her, but Trish Stratus escaped. In a shocking moment, Zoey Stark appeared from the under the ring to hit Lynch with the Z-360, allowing Trish Stratus to blast Lynch with Stratusfaction for the three-count.

My Score: 3.5 out of 5

Match #3: Intercontinental Championship – Gunther def. Mustafa Ali

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After winning a Battle Royal on Raw to earn a title match, Mustafa Ali stood toe-to-toe with Intercontinental Champion Gunther. Ali had to withstand Gunther’s impactful offense, surviving multiple body slams and chops. The Ring General had no mercy on Ali, throwing the valiant Superstar into the ring post with shocking speed. Ali managed to shock Gunther with a neckbreaker, but The Ring General cut off Ali with a splintering chop with authority. Withstanding the pain, Ali connected with a powerbomb, then a huge 450 Splash that had the Jeddah Superdome rocking and starting to believe that Ali could capture the title. Ali again stunned Gunther with a superkick and attempted another 450 Splash, but Gunther rolled out of the way and hit an earth-shaking dropkick. Gunther wrapped up the game Ali with a scintillating Powerbomb to retain the Intercontinental Title.

My Score: 3.5 out of 5

Match #4: Raw Women’s Championship – Asuka def. Bianca Belair

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In a WrestleMania rematch, Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair took on an increasingly more deadly version of Asuka. Asuka had The EST’s number from the start, with The Empress of Tomorrow weakening the arm of Belair with kicks. Belair answered with a moonsault and used her strength to take down Asuka with a vicious spinebuster, but Asuka continued to fight. Asuka quickly applied the Asuka Lock, but Belair wisely went for a pinning attempt for a close two. As the WWE Official was trying to get Belair to back off from Asuka, The Empress of Tomorrow went for a mist attack, but The EST ducked out of the way. While on the apron, Asuka spit her devastating mist into her hand. Seconds later, Belair lifted Asuka for a K.O.D. attempt, but The Empress of Tomorrow dug her fingers into Belair, blinding The EST with the mist. Asuka quickly followed with a savage kick and pinned Belair to win the Raw Women’s Title, snapping Belair’s record-breaking reign.

My Score: 3 out of 5

Match #5: Rhea Ripley def. Natalya

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On Natalya’s birthday, The Queen of Harts challenged SmackDown Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley. As Dominik Mysterio berated Natalya before the bell, Ripley took advantage, obliterating Natalya into the ring steps. The Nightmare wasted no time demolishing Natalya, hitting the Riptide to win the quick match.

My Score: 1 out of 5

Match #6: Brock Lesnar def. Cody Rhodes

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With a broken hand caused by the brutality of The Beast, Cody Rhodes valiantly took on Brock Lesnar, the man who cost him a chance at the new World Heavyweight Title. Competing while a cast covered his broken arm, The American Nightmare had a bright red target for Lesnar. Rhodes lured Lesnar into the ring, but it backfired as The Beast brutalized Rhodes with three belly-to-belly suplexes. Rhodes realized quickly, however, that he could use his cast to great effect, utilizing it as weapon to blast The Beast in the face. Rhodes hit two Cross Rhodes, but The American Nightmare had to use his broken arm. Lesnar countered a third Cross Rhodes with the Kimura Lock, leaving Rhodes in obvious pain. Rhodes continued to fight through the excruciating agony, eventually reaching the bottom rope to break the submission. After Lesnar’s attempt at an F-5 failed, Rhodes hit a third Cross Rhodes, but The Beast kicked out at two. The American Nightmare then blasted Lesnar’s face with the cast multiple times, but The Beast was able to hit the F-5, which Rhodes survived by kicking out before the three-count. The Beast then slapped on the Kimura, but Rhodes passed out, giving Lesnar the huge victory.

My Score: 3.5 out of 5

Match #7: Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship – Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn def. Roman Reigns & Solo Sikoa

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With The Bloodline seemingly on the verge of collapse, Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa went to the ring without The Usos to challenge Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. The Usos had lost the titles to KO and Zayn in the main event of WrestleMania Saturday, enraging The Tribal Chief and prompting him to take matters into his own hands. In a rocking crowd, Zayn started the match with his former Bloodline alliance leader Reigns but Reigns quickly tagged in Sikoa, much to the chagrin of the Jeddah WWE Universe. While Reigns and Sikoa spent the early portions of the match isolating and punishing Zayn, KO hit the Stunner on The Tribal Chief just as he did Friday on SmackDown, but Reigns used the ropes to hit a bombastic Spear that nearly knocked Owens out of his boots. Zayn soon flew like a falcon over the top rope to wipe out Sikoa on the ringside floor, then followed up with a Blue Thunder Bomb that garnered a two-count. As Sikoa went for the Samoan Spike, Zayn countered to hit an exploder suplex and a Helluva Kick, but The Head of the Table kicked out just in the nick of time to keep the match alive. Reigns attempted a Spear on Zayn, but The Master Strategist moved out of the way, making Reigns hit the WWE Official instead. Zayn then locked, loaded and connected a Superman Punch to stun The Head of the table. Zayn kept up the Reigns mockery, doing Reigns’ signature “ooh-ahh,” but The Tribal Chief connected with a Superman Punch of his own on Zayn. With the referee down, KO attempted to smash Reigns through the table, but The Usos appeared to take out KO with a superkick and buried him under the announce table. The Usos each hit Zayn with a superkick back in the squared circle, but Zayn ducked when they attempted a double superkick, which instead caught Sikoa in the face. An irate Reigns berated his cousins, pie-facing both before Jimmy shocked the WWE Universe by blasting the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion with a superkick while Jey was pleading with Reigns. A crazed Jimmy then connected with a second superkick on The Tribal Chief as he tried to reason with Jey, screaming that he is his brother and not Reigns. With Reigns stunned on the outside of the ring, KO hit the Stunner on Sikoa, and Zayn connected with the Helluva Kick to gain the momentous win and retain the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles.

My Score: 4.5 out of 5

Final Verdict: 4/5

Got to say that this was one of the WWE’s best pay-per-views in some time, across the entire board I mean. Yes, we’ve had PPVs with one or two great matches but this was, apart from the Rhea/Nattie match, solid for the ENTIRE show, with a great opener and an even better closing main event. Night of Champions also felt like something of a reset button for the company, with a new title, a new women’s champ and the end of the Bloodline as we’ve known it. Between that and the Draft I think the WWE is in a whole new place for the Summer of 2023.