Three title matches set for WWE Night of Champions
Three matches are now confirmed for Night of Champions.
On Friday’s SmackDown, it was confirmed that Cody Rhodes would be defending the WWE Championship against Sami Zayn and Gunther in a three-way match at Night of Champions next weekend. Trick Williams will defend the United States title against Ricky Saints, while Tiffany Stratton will defend the women’s United States title against Jade Cargill.
The WWE Championship match on Friday ended in controversy when Sami Zayn fast counted Gunther, costing him the WWE Championship. As the three argued backstage following a commercial break, Rhodes re-entered the ring and demanded the match be restarted. Gunther jumped Zayn backstage and went to continue the match. But Zayn returned to the ring and gave Gunther a helluva kick, throwing the match out via disqualification.
After Rhodes recovered and grabbed Zayn’s shoulder, he responded by attacking Rhodes with the WWE title, leaving both competitors laying. After Gunther complained further backstage and Rhodes offered to put the title on the line at Night of Champions in a three-way, Nick Aldis made the match official.
Two other title matches set
Ricky Saints emerged as the number one contender for the men’s US title on Friday after pinning Carmelo Hayes. The finish had Hayes being sent into an exposed turnbuckle, allowing Saints to score the win. He will now challenge champion Trick Williams in Saudi Arabia next weekend.
Meanwhile, after the two brawled last week, Jade Cargill on Friday issued a challenge to Tiffany Stratton for Night of Champions, saying she’d take the women’s United States title from her. Stratton later in the show accepted the match for Saudi Arabia.
WWE Night of Champions (June 27)
- WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes defends against Sami Zayn and Gunther
- King of the Ring finals: Oba Femi vs. TBA
- Queen of the Ring finals: IYO SKY vs. TBA
- WWE United States Championship: Trick Williams defends against Ricky Saints
- WWE Women’s United States Championship: Tiffany Stratton defends against Jade Cargill (challenge issued)
- Steel Cage match: Seth Rollins vs. Bron Breakker
Bryan Rose is an editor from California that has been covering professional wrestling for well over a decade. He officially joined F4WOnline as an editor in 2017.