With a hard-fought victory over his former mentor Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes was crowned the 2025 King of the Ring in the opening match of WWE Night of Champions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The win not only gives Rhodes the prestigious tournament crown but also guarantees him a world championship match at SummerSlam in August.
The accomplishment places Rhodes in elite historical company. He now joins WWE Hall of Famers Harley Race and Ken Shamrock as one of only three men to have won both the King of the Ring tournament and the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship, which Rhodes captured from Nick Aldis at the All In event in 2018.
The tournament final was a dramatic, back-and-forth encounter that leaned heavily on the history between the two former Legacy stablemates. A notable shift in Rhodes’ demeanor was on full display, as he adopted more aggressive tactics throughout the contest. Rhodes systematically targeted Orton’s surgically repaired lower back, a strategy that drew audible boos from the Riyadh crowd. Commentator Wade Barrett described this as a “very different” version of Rhodes, hinting at a potential change for the top fan-favorite.
The match built to a crescendo with a series of dramatic near-falls. Rhodes survived an RKO, and Orton managed to kick out of a Cross-Rhodes, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. The finish came after Orton attempted to use a steel chair. While the referee was distracted, Orton exposed a turnbuckle, but Rhodes countered, sending Orton into the exposed steel instead. Rhodes capitalized immediately, hitting a second Cross-Rhodes to secure the victory.
Following the match, Rhodes was officially crowned. In his post-match promo, he acknowledged Orton and his semifinal opponent, Jey Uso, before making his future intentions clear.
“I get the ball back!” Rhodes declared.
His statement confirms he will challenge for the Undisputed WWE Championship at SummerSlam. As Rhodes celebrated, a defeated Orton watched from the entrance ramp before making his exit.