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

[Kim Jong Umb]

I could see Roman vs. Jimmy vs. Jey vs. Solo match coming

 

[Y2Jayne]

Putting Stark with Trish is a good idea.

 

[Y2Jayne]

That IC match was solid.

 

[Y2Jayne]

I never really cared for Asuka but I'm so fucking happy Belair's finally dropping that damn belt.

 

[Y2Jayne]

Oh wow Rhea obliterated Natalya

 

[Y2Jayne]

I wasn't expecting Brock to win

 

[Y2Jayne]

Jimmy what have you done

 

[Marty McFourth]

Pretty great show, IMO. Thought pretty much every match was quite enjoyable, for sure one of the best Saudi shows they've done. Some decent surprises as well, Bianca I did not think for a second would drop her title on this show but I'm very happy for Asuka. Good on them for doing that, she deserves it

I'm very stoked for Seth holding a World Title again, he's been quite the MVP for the company for quite some time now so it's very much deserved and the match with Styles kicked ass, I loved it and I'd definitely rewatch it again

 

[Chris]

 

[Hidden Blaze]

I do kinda wish Roman took the pin, but I will never complain about this storyline as it really hasn't had a misstep yet.

Not really sure if having Roman being pinned before it’s losing the Titles is a good idea personally. Like when he is pinned he needs to lose it all. Family and titles.

 

[Dale]

Another event they knocked out of the park.

Great story telling, correct winners, surprise of Bianca losing and that ending to the show was just

 

[Dale]

​

 

[Chris]

Sami Zayn has opened up about the hero's welcome he received in Saudi Arabia at Night of Champions.

Before the main event that night, Zayn spoke to the live crowd in Arabic to express pride in his Arabic heritage. It was his first time wrestling in Saudi Arabia since 2014 and his first time performing in the Middle East since a pair of shows from Dubai in 2016.

Zayn told Corey Graves on After the Bell recently that he had been waiting for a while to perform in front of his people.

Zayn said:

I'm Arabic, I'm Muslim, all this stuff and that's my part of the world. I understand those people, those are my people.
When I went there, I got to go to Mecca, which was just a surreal, surreal experience. And then I also saw my Uncles that I hadn't seen in 25 years, I had cousins I hadn't seen in 25 years. I met my Great Uncle I didn't even know who existed.
So, it was pretty heavy in a lot of ways, it had a lot of weight. And then the actual event itself and the reception from the audience, it's kind of what I've been waiting for for a while in a way because, again, I always felt I would have been the natural representative for those shows and I just wasn't. So, it was good to finally be put in that position.

Zayn's parents are from Syria but immigrated to Canada in the 1970s before he was born. Our own Dave Meltzer reported in 2019 that Zayn was not permitted to perform on WWE shows in the country due to his Syrian heritage but that changed earlier this year following Syria being welcomed back into the Arab League.