Overview

• Rhodes defeated his former mentor Randy Orton at Night of Champions in Riyadh, using an exposed turnbuckle and targeting Orton’s injured back before landing the decisive Cross Rhodes.
• As 2025 King of the Ring winner, Rhodes has earned a WWE Championship match at August’s SummerSlam, scheduled to be against John Cena if Cena defeats CM Punk later tonight.
• WWE officials reportedly turned down a creative pitch to transform Rhodes into a full heel, opting to keep him on a predominantly babyface trajectory.
• Randy Orton suffered his second straight King of the Ring final loss, following his defeat to Gunther in the 2024 tournament final.
• Fans in Riyadh initially cheered both competitors before booing Rhodes once he shifted to aggressive tactics, underscoring unpredictable crowd reactions.