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WWE Night of Champions takeaways: Zayn, Femi and S...

ESPN · Jun 27, 2026, 11:43 PM · Also reported by 4 other sources

Key takeaways

  • Zayn pinned Cody Rhodes in front of a red-hot Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, crowd to win a triple-threat match over Rhodes and Gunther.
  • Despite his uncomfortable and desperate behavior in recent months, the crowd was solidly behind Zayn, as it has been at prior Saudi premium live events.
  • Zayn was the only new titleholder at Night of Champions, but two competitors were crowned, as both King and Queen of the Ring.

Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.

Zayn pinned Cody Rhodes in front of a red-hot Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, crowd to win a triple-threat match over Rhodes and Gunther.

Despite his uncomfortable and desperate behavior in recent months, the crowd was solidly behind Zayn, as it has been at prior Saudi premium live events. Zayn's championship win shakes up the main event picture on "SmackDown," and many rivals will be chasing him, including the two men he shared the ring with at Night of Champions on Saturday.

Zayn was the only new titleholder at Night of Champions, but two competitors were crowned, as both King and Queen of the Ring. Oba Femi, a sensation in his first year on the WWE main roster, defeated Jey Uso in the opening match, while Iyo Sky beat Liv Morgan after an impressive finish and maybe some supernatural help.

Article preview — originally published by ESPN. Full story at the source.
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