Having a triple main event at the first Saudi Arabia Night Of Champions speaks volumes about WWE‘s commitment to Vision 2030. In spite of the strap-line’s hyperbolic nature, the company clearly wanted the card to feel as important as any other domestic B-Show.
As Cody Rhodes is still at the top of the United States boxing game, his ongoing partnership with Brock Lesnar has diverted attention from the devastating WrestleMania 39 event. Backlash’s booking wasn’t perfect – Rhodes running away positioned him as lucky rather than heroic – but their series remained heated thanks to both of them elevating middling material.
When Cody failed to win the belts and split them up organically, Triple H unveiled the WWE World Heavyweight Championship with Seth Rollins battling AJ Styles. There are no two men better at faking it until they’re making it than the ‘Drip God’ and the ‘Phenomenal One’, who seem to know he’s beneath the prize while the latter has virtually admitted it.
Roman Reigns will headline, uniquely positioned to wield even more power over his Bloodline, yet risking mutiny and implosion if he fails.
It wouldn’t be successful if there wasn’t considerable action and consequence. But WWE has graciously extended similar weight to the undercard as well…
Mustafa Ali vs. Gunther (c)
There is a strong case to be made that Gunther is the greatest Intercontinental Champion in history.
The ‘Ring General’s matches will be hotter than ever when the Honky Tonk Man’s 454-day record creeps up soon enough, but it’s not about numbers (though the Honky Tonk Man’s record will creep up soon enough), but the incredible quality of his work since he secured the title in 2022 has surpassed all expectations that would have once been placed on his broad shoulders.
Gunther and Mustafa Ali haven’t been given the most engaging story on television, but as far as “it’ll be alright on the night” bangers go, few rivalries across Raw or SmackDown are as captivating as this one. While Ali’s loss is inevitable, this should be a failure of a giant-killing ripper. Just look at Gunther’s victories over the past year and you’ll see just how well that’ll go.
The already-exhausted Positive-Ali looked shelved on the go-home Raw when the challenger was completely emasculated by a passing Brock Lesnar. The on-fire Intercontinental Champion might end Ali’s character once and for all, freeing her up to leave and setting the stage for the summer series with Matt Riddle to launch.
