The road to Night of Champions took several dramatic turns on Friday night’s edition of WWE SmackDown as championship controversies, tournament semifinals, and Bloodline tensions dominated the action from the T-Mobile Center.
The night’s biggest story revolved around the Undisputed WWE Championship match between Cody Rhodes and Gunther, with Sami Zayn serving as special guest referee. What began as a highly anticipated title showdown quickly descended into chaos.
Zayn’s officiating became the center of controversy as disagreements over calls frustrated both competitors. Gunther eventually attacked Zayn, leading to confusion, multiple interruptions, and the involvement of additional officials. Amid the turmoil, Rhodes was declared the winner, but the controversy did little to settle the rivalry. Later in the evening, WWE management announced that Rhodes, Gunther, and Zayn will meet in a Triple Threat Match for the Undisputed WWE Championship at Night of Champions.
The King of the Ring semifinals saw Jey Uso continue his impressive tournament run. Facing the explosive Je’Von Evans, Uso survived a spirited challenge before connecting with a Spear and Uso Splash for the victory. The win advances Uso to the King of the Ring Final, where he will meet Oba Femi with a SummerSlam championship opportunity at stake.
In the Queen of the Ring semifinals, Liv Morgan took advantage of an injured Charlotte Flair. Flair entered the match battling a leg injury after a pre-match attack, and Morgan targeted the injury throughout the contest before securing the victory. Morgan now advances to the tournament final against IYO SKY at Night of Champions.
The WWE Tag Team Championship remained with Damian Priest and R-Truth after they successfully defended their titles against Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga. Internal issues within The Bloodline once again proved costly for the challengers, as ongoing tensions continued to fracture the group’s unity.
Elsewhere, Ricky Saints defeated Carmelo Hayes in a United States Championship No. 1 Contender’s Match. The victory earned Saints a future title opportunity against United States Champion Trick Williams.
The women’s division also saw major developments as Jade Cargill challenged Tiffany Stratton for the Women’s United States Championship. Stratton accepted the challenge, officially adding another marquee matchup to the Night of Champions card.
As the show came to a close, rivalries intensified and championship stakes grew higher. With Night of Champions rapidly approaching, Friday’s SmackDown delivered several major developments that could reshape WWE’s championship landscape.
RESULTS
• Cody Rhodes def. Gunther (Undisputed WWE Championship Match – Controversial Decision)
• Damian Priest & R-Truth def. Tama Tonga & Talla Tonga (WWE Tag Team Championship)
• Ricky Saints def. Carmelo Hayes (No. 1 Contender Match)
• Jey Uso def. Je’Von Evans (King of the Ring Semifinal)
• Liv Morgan def. Charlotte Flair (Queen of the Ring Semifinal)
MATCHES ANNOUNCED FOR NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS
• Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther vs. Sami Zayn – Undisputed WWE Championship
• Jey Uso vs. Oba Femi – King of the Ring Final
• Liv Morgan vs. IYO SKY – Queen of the Ring Final
• Tiffany Stratton vs. Jade Cargill – Women’s United States Championship
• Ricky Saints vs. Trick Williams – United States Championship
