Live Night of Champions Discussion Thread - Saturday May 27th 2023

[Y2Jayne]

As I mentioned in the other thread. This is the same day Roman hits 1000 days as champ

Can't believe I'm ok with this but I am. It's been a great ride so far, I just wish Sami had been in the Bloodline longer.

 

[Tg11]

I'm sick of 1000 days sick of Roman as Champion sick of him in general

 

[Y2Jayne]

I'm sick of 1000 days sick of Roman as Champion sick of him in general

It's ok, as long as you acknowledge your tribal chief.

 

[Chris]

For the first time since 2014, Sami Zayn is set to wrestle in Saudi Arabia.

Zayn and Kevin Owens are scheduled to defend the WWE tag titles against Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa at Night of Champions from Jeddah on May 27.

In 2019, our own Dave Meltzer reported that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia requested Zayn not be on WWE shows from the country due to his Syrian heritage. Zayn's parents immigrated to Canada from Syria in the 1970s before he was born.

Diplomatic relations between Syria and Saudi Arabia broke down in 2011 following the Arab Spring movement and the Syrian civil war. The Arab League suspended Syria's membership on November 16, 2011 and Syrians were prevented from traveling to Saudi Arabia.

Sami took part in a house show tour from the region in 2014 but has not performed in the country since WWE and The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia entered a multi-year agreement in 2018.

Earlier this month, The Arab League voted to reinstate the Syria's membership. Syrians, including Zayn, are once again permitted to travel to Saudi Arabia, opening the door for him to perform on WWE shows from the region.

Our own Dave Meltzer provided an update on the situation on Wrestling Observer Radio.

Meltzer said:

Kevin and Sami are wrestling Roman and Solo Sikoa and that's going to be one of the two main events for the Saudi show on the 27th. And what basically happened there was, I guess, Saudi Arabia has opened up to where Syrians can come in, so, Sami can come in and decided that he would go and when Sami decided he would go, Kevin decided that if Sami is going to go he'll go too.

Owens was entered into 2018's Greatest Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia but hasn't performed in the country since.

Meltzer continued:

When the thing started, women weren't allowed to go. It's not just WWE but it's with other products as well. As more western products have gone to Saudi Arabia, they have allowed them to be what they are and WWE being no different.

https://www.f4wonline.com/news/wwe/update-on-zayn-owens-wrestling-in-saudi-arabia-at-wwe-night-of-champions

 

[Grimoire Lenin]

Hate Saudi Arabia but God damn if this isn't shaping up to be another stormer.

 

[Dale]

The timing of Sami being cleared to go lined up all too conveniently for me. Just feels likes a bit of a stretch because the story progression has felt like it's following it's natural course and they haven't just done a big pivot because Sami is cleared to go.

Looking back on them announcing SmackDown guys for the WHC tournament it actually makes sense to me as it gave those guys something to focus on for the few weeks running from Backlash to NOC.

 

[Dale]

Intercontinental Champion Gunther vs. Mustafa Ali​

Gunther has been looking for a worthy challenger since being drafted by Raw.

At WWE Night of Champions, Gunther will receive his wish as he goes up against Mustafa Ali for the first time.

Ali received this title opportunity after winning a thrilling Battle Royal, albeit with some help from The Ring General himself. As Matt Riddle was looking strong, Gunther enacted his vicious tactics, signaling to Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser to eliminate The Original Bro from the matchup.

Ali has been trying to see the positive outlook in life in recent weeks, and nothing could be more positive than a match with Gunther for the Intercontinental Title in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Can Ali finally win his first championship in WWE, or will The Ring General continue his incredible reign?
​

 

[Sabretooth]

Damn how do you book this tag match? I don’t think they wanna take the belts off Sami and KO so soon but you also can’t have Roman and Solo lose????

I feel like maybe The Usos cost Roman and Solo the match and The Bloodline finally breaks up.

 

[Dale]

Definitely Uso's interference

 

[Chris]

Yeah I think they might actually pull the trigger on it too

 

[JakeYourBooty]

How I think the match will end
Roman get double super kicked, stunned, helluva kicked and pinned


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[Sabretooth]

This is Roman’s 1000th day as champion too. Never thought I’d see that in my life

 

[Cwalker]

How I think the match will end
Roman get double super kicked, stunned, helluva kicked and pinned


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You don’t pin Roman til he loses the title.

Solo takes the fall

 

[Chris]

 

[Jimmy King]

I see The Usos accidentally causing Roman and Solo to lose after they try to help to get back in Roman’s good graces, but it backfires on them and it leads to them being removed from The Bloodline.