Sami Zayn Wins the WWE Championship at Night of Champions: Ten Years and a Miracle in Riyadh

[QuantumLeap34]

Sami Zayn is the Undisputed WWE Champion. He pinned Cody Rhodes in the main event of Night of Champions 2026 at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh to capture the title for the first time in his career, in what WWE itself is calling one of the greatest moments in the company's history. The triple threat match with Zayn, Cody Rhodes and Gunther ran 18 minutes and 42 seconds and delivered something close to a masterpiece. The crowd, which had been waving their phones throughout, completely lost it when Zayn flipped his hips on a rollup and the referee counted three. The tearful Zayn held the title up and told the crowd he had been in WWE for ten years and they said he would never do it.

The match itself was built on extraordinary storytelling. Gunther neutralised Zayn early and turned his attention to the champion, battering Rhodes with chops and powerbombs. Rhodes fired back with a double Cody Cutter to both opponents before surviving a Blue Thunder Bomb from Zayn and a powerbomb through a table outside from Gunther. The Ring General locked a sleeper on Rhodes in the ring until Zayn arrived just in time to break it up and hit a Helluva Kick that got a near fall. As Cody set up Cross Rhodes, Zayn grabbed his arm, flipped him over and rolled him up for the win. Rhodes pulled the referee out of the ring at one point, a desperate heel moment from the champion that the crowd noted.

Elsewhere on the card Oba Femi beat Jey Uso to become 2026 King of the Ring, earning a world title match at SummerSlam. IYO SKY defeated Women's World Champion Liv Morgan to claim the Queen of the Ring crown, calling out Morgan for a rematch immediately. Seth Rollins beat Bron Breakker in a steel cage to complete their trilogy. Both Trick Williams and Tiffany Stratton retained their United States Championships.

Night of Champions results: Sami Zayn wins Undisputed WWE titlewww.espn.com

[Matticus]

Ten years in WWE, ten shots at a world title, and he finally did it. The Zayn story is the best long-term WWE storytelling of the modern era. The gingerbread man segment at Royal Rumble 2023 to this moment in Riyadh is one of the best arcs the company has ever produced

[Coastal Otter]

Rhodes pulling the referee out of the ring is the storytelling detail that makes the finish work. The champion showing he would cheat to keep the belt, Zayn not needing to, and the rollup being a callback to Zayn's whole career of being underestimated. Every piece fits

[HitmanMatt53]

Gunther making both men look like they had no answer for him for most of the match and then still losing to a rollup is actually smart booking. He was not pinned. His aura survives. Zayn gets the moment without burying the Ring General

[Adam2]

Oba Femi winning King of the Ring and IYO SKY winning Queen of the Ring gives SummerSlam two guaranteed major matches. WWE's Saudi shows always seem to move the needle in a way domestic shows sometimes do not

[Odd Voyager]

The crowd in Riyadh absolutely losing it for Sami Zayn is the thing I did not expect. Saudi audiences have a reputation for being corporate and reserved. They gave Zayn one of the loudest reactions I have heard in years

[Aura49]

Seth Rollins beating Breakker in the cage was match of the night for about two hours until the main event happened. Rollins at his peak in a cage match is still one of the best things in wrestling

[Merchant94]

Cody Rhodes losing the title he built his entire return around hurts. But it also creates a new story and that is what wrestling lives on. The question of where Rhodes goes from here is now the most interesting booking question WWE has

[Grim Tracey]

Comparing this to Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania 30 is a bit of a stretch, though I get why people are doing it. Bryan fought the actual corporate machine on screen, whereas Sami just played the ultimate underdog card against a babyface champion. Either way, ticket sales for Monday Night Raw are going to be through the roof.