Cody Rhodes captured the 2025 King of the Ring crown on Saturday, defeating his former mentor Randy Orton in the tournament final to kick off the Night of Champions premium live event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The victory guarantees Rhodes a world championship match at SummerSlam in August.
The contest was a dramatic, back-and-forth encounter that heavily referenced the shared history between the two competitors. After numerous near-falls, the decisive moment came when Orton attempted to use a steel chair. As the referee was occupied with removing the weapon, Orton exposed a top turnbuckle. Rhodes reversed an attempt to be thrown into it, sending Orton into the exposed steel instead. Rhodes then hit a second Cross-Rhodes to secure the pinfall victory.
Key moments in the match highlighted the resilience of both men. Orton survived a Cross-Rhodes earlier in the bout, while Rhodes stunned the crowd by kicking out of a signature RKO. Both wrestlers also utilized a Figure Four Leg Lock during the contest.
The win for Rhodes was an expected outcome according to insider reports leading up to the event, aligning with WWE’s creative direction moving into the summer. With the King of the Ring victory, Rhodes is now positioned for a high-profile championship match.
The identity of his SummerSlam opponent, however, remains to be determined. The situation depends entirely on the outcome of the Night of Champions main event, where CM Punk is scheduled to challenge John Cena for the Undisputed WWE Championship.
Should Punk defeat Cena, it would set the stage for a blockbuster championship match between the new champion and the King of the Ring, Cody Rhodes. This is a main-event encounter that has been described as “WrestleMania-worthy” by fans and analysts for over a year, given the parallel career paths of both stars who famously left WWE only to return as top-tier talents. If Cena retains his title, Rhodes is expected to challenge for a rematch from their main event at WrestleMania 41.
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