WWE Night of Champions 2023 review: You can’t have them Roman!

Right, one down, six to go, as I play catch up and return to the wacky world of WWE wrestling Premium Live Event reviews for Roobla. And next up in our wrestling writing time machine we find ourselves at the end of May in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for a Night of Champions! So, let’s not mess about any further and get this show on the road already.

Was WWE’s return to Saudi Arabia, in a year where PLE’s went international quite often, a triumphant one or an utter letdown?

1. WWE World Heavyweight Championship Tournament Finals Match

Seth “Freakin’” Rollins vs. AJ Styles

Finally a World Title that will be on TV! I jest, I jest. Why on earth this new Raw title had Smackdown contestants involved in the tournament to decide it’s holder I don’t know (these brand split hype ups remain bleedin’ pointless). Anyway, as finals go, AJ Styles vs. Seth Rollins is a tantalising start to a new championship’s history. Naturally, the match was as good as you would expect from these two. A back and forth, well wrestled match, between two of the best in ring workers of their respective times. I doubt many cared who won here because both deserved gold. Although Seth was the obvious choice, after so long without a title and all his hard work over the years, and so it would be, as he hit a super kick, then pedigree, then curb stomp for the victory. We have a new champion! And after the match Triple H presented the title to Seth. Great opener.

2. Trish Stratus vs. Becky Lynch

I have to hand it to Trish Stratus, she returned to the fold in WWE effortlessly, and raising some good points about being a trailblazer in an era where it was hard to be. There was heat to this clash between her and Becky Lynch, and though I expected a decent match, and Lynch walking away victorious. I was pleasantly surprised by this one. Trish returned to the ring well, and put on a good showing with Lynch, in a match that had some rough edges but was a great clash of the generations. The real shock came in the closing moments as Trish scored the win with a Stratusfaction, after NXT star Zoey Stark came from under the ring to cost Becky the win. A genuinely surprising result, a really enjoyable match, and a new union formed, not to mention an unexpected rivalry over a one and done match-up. 

3. WWE Intercontinental Championship Match

Gunther (c) vs. Mustafa Ali

This mesh of styles is further proof that Mustafa Ali was so under-appreciated and that Gunther may be incapable of having a bad match. Despite the end result being obvious, WWE did a good job of trying to make you doubt, in a lively affair, that saw Ali get close to turning the tide but Gunther would not be denied and extended his (now) historic title reign after a victory with a vicious power bomb. An energetic nine minute title affair.

Backstage WWE Undisputed Tag Team Champions Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens spoke about their main event title defence with Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa and stated that they will win and make Roman acknowledge them. 

4. WWE Raw Women’s Championship Match

Bianca Belair (c) vs. Asuke

Many (not all) had started turning on Bianca Belair a little at this point, amidst her record setting reign, and felt that the Empress of Tomorrow deserved that title back at WrestleMania. Well, better late than never! As this title encounter saw a more wicked Asuke, inspired by her earlier days and work, make the added difference to her title pursuits. After a good match between these two, it looked like Bianca may get the W again with a Kiss Of Death but after spitting the mist on her hand, Asuke would innovatively make use of the goo, by rubbing it in Belair’s eyes and getting the cheat win with two roundhouse kicks on the blinded champ. New champion, fun match.

5. WWE Smackdown Women’s Championship Match

Rhea Ripley w/ Dominik Mysterio vs. Natalya

Talk about a happy birthday! On her 41st birthday, Natalya would not have a fun night in this little over a minute decimation, that saw Nattie distracted by Dirty Dom and pulverised by Rhea Ripley, who promptly won in a dominant showing with the Riptide. Nothing to see here really but this kind of was what it needed to be.

6. Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar

After their Backlash contest, things only escalated between The Beast and The American Nightmare, with Brock Lesnar breaking Cody Rhodes’ arm, leading to him defying the odds (and doctor’s wishes) to go into this match with a titanium cast! This second meeting between these two in my opinion was a step down from the first but told an effective story of a bold warrior going into a battle with a monster one armed. Cody started strong actually but Brock would eventually where him down and knock him out, winning via Technical Submission with a Kimura Lock that saw Cody pass out before submitting. See ya at Summerslam for Act III. Which is really the full serving for these two.

7. WWE Undisputed Tag Team Championships

Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa w/ Paul Heyman vs. Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens (c)

I will be honest, I actually expected them to give the belts to The Bloodline here. I have learnt that Roman is inevitable and have begun to doubt he’ll ever lose his title(s). Refreshingly though, on this night Zayn was absolutely right, regarding these titles, when he said, “Roman couldn’t have them”. I’ll give them points for storytelling here, as it was nice to see Zayn and Owens get the win here and finally – FINALLY – get the victory over Roman and have The Tribal Chief lose on a PLE! Though, it was a close call as ‘ol sneakers incorporated The Usos got involved and cost Sami the win initially, before a mis-timed super kick by the brothers saw them knock down Solo accidentally. An incensed Roman got in their face and whack! Jimmy laid out Roman, as did Jey, before Owens and Zayn capitalised on the crowd-pleasing moment hitting a helluva kick and stunner combo on Solo for the title retaining win. While a crushed Roman sat ringside afterwards. A long time coming for the champ, in a match that was not anything groundbreaking ring wise but from a story perspective hit the spot.

Overall, Night of Champions was a slight step down from Backlash but benefitted from a long overdue cathartic main event that saw KO/Zayn get their win over The Bloodline, while some of the undercard had some bright spots, and a new World Heavyweight title got off to a good start. Fun show, if maybe lacking in certain areas

And just like that, we are two shows down, as we hop aboard the time machine and leap to London right here in England on July 1st for Money in the Bank.