The Aftermath: Zayn's Triumph, Rhodes' Future, Ospreay's Alliance, and King Oba's Reign

The recent wrestling weekend was a period of significant change and celebration, particularly for Sami Zayn, who finally secured a world championship after more than a decade on the WWE main roster.

Zayn's Historic Win and Rhodes' Crossroads

Sami Zayn achieved a career milestone by pinning Cody Rhodes in a triple-threat match that also included Gunther at Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia. Zayn’s victory was decisive, requiring no external interference or distractions, and it ignited an ecstatic reaction from the crowd in Riyadh.

This monumental triumph for Zayn now raises questions about Cody Rhodes' trajectory. It marked a rare instance where Rhodes experienced a clean loss, without any outside interference, a point that has been highlighted by wrestling analysts. This clean defeat underscores the dominant run Rhodes has maintained in WWE since his notable return at WrestleMania 38.

Rhodes has experienced a dynamic period over the past ten months. He reclaimed the Undisputed WWE Championship last August by defeating John Cena. He then lost the title to Drew McIntyre in January, only to regain it approximately two months later. His reign extended through WrestleMania 42, where he successfully defended the title against Randy Orton on Night 1. Rhodes had taken the initiative to arrange the Night of Champions triple threat himself, aiming to unequivocally assert his position as the premier WWE superstar.

However, this strategy may have proven shortsighted, as Zayn now stands atop the mountain, leaving Rhodes in a state of surprise, looking up at a competitor he might have underestimated.

Reflecting on the cultural significance of his victory, particularly in Saudi Arabia, Zayn shared his thoughts on the moment:

"I think it’s kinda one of those things that would kinda be hard to process. I truly don’t know. I don’t know how the fans would react," he said. "I hope they would enjoy it but you never know because my character right now is a little polarizing – I truly don’t know. But I don’t know. I think there’s a lot of like cultural and historical kind of significance that would kinda maybe hit me after the fact."

He continued, emphasizing the personal and broader impact:

"From a sentimental point of view, for sure, I think it would be kind of awesome. I think it would be a big cultural moment, actually. I don’t think about it. I kind of dismiss it a lot at this point because we come to Saudi a lot. A lot has been made of the fact that I’m Arab or I’m Muslim or whatever. But growing up, that was not the case. It was not like this was a common thing or something that you could ever even dream. I couldn’t have dreamt that this would happen. So, yeah, that would be a pretty big deal I think."

As Zayn embarks on this new chapter, fans of Rhodes will be keenly observing his next moves.

Ospreay's Alliance with The Death Riders

At Forbidden Door on Sunday night, Will Ospreay secured a significant victory over Swerve Strickland in the Owen Hart Foundation Men’s Tournament final. This win guarantees him a title shot against the current AEW world champion at the upcoming All In event.

While the wrestling community celebrates Ospreay’s impending opportunity, the presence of The Death Riders became increasingly prominent. Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Daniel Garcia, Pac, Yuta Wheeler, and Marina Shafir were all ringside, supporting Ospreay as he defeated Strickland. They joined Ospreay and Alex Windsor in the ring to celebrate his success.

Initially, Ospreay appeared to maintain a degree of distance from The Death Riders, but their alliance seemingly solidified during and after the match. Ospreay utilized some of Moxley’s signature maneuvers to overcome Strickland, and both Moxley and Castagnoli hoisted him onto their shoulders in celebration. Even those who had previously expressed skepticism about Ospreay offered their applause.

Following the celebrations, Ospreay and Windsor ascended the ramp, while The Death Riders departed through the crowd. The evolving dynamic between Ospreay and the faction promises to be a compelling storyline in the two months leading up to All In, raising questions about the level of trust that will develop between them.

King Oba Femi's Ascendance

Oba Femi emerged victorious in the King of the Ring Tournament, defeating Jey Uso in a hard-fought contest. This win grants him a championship opportunity for a world title of his choosing.

Following his triumph, Femi delivered a defiant message during an in-ring interview, asserting his new status:

"It feels so good to go from ‘The Ruler’ to being the king. Jey Uso did not understand what he was up against tonight. He thought he was just fighting one man. You might be able to beat one man but you can’t beat fate and you can’t beat destiny and most importantly, you can’t beat me. I am the ruler, the destroyer, the bringer of war, the mountain that you cannot climb, the mountain that you cannot conquer, the one-of-one, the beast slayer, the one, the chosen one, the king of the ring, Oba Femi!"

Oba Femi is also listed as a co-producer for the event, adding another dimension to his burgeoning career.

The immediate question for Femi is how his character will be booked moving forward. It is widely anticipated that he will set his sights on Roman Reigns, the world heavyweight champion who has established a formidable presence over the Raw roster. This path would likely be the most impactful for Femi’s career progression.

However, another significant challenge looms in the form of Brock Lesnar. Femi’s rivalry with Lesnar is not yet resolved, though Lesnar did not interfere in Femi’s match against Uso. Many wrestling enthusiasts are hoping for a conclusive showdown between Femi and Lesnar, potentially at SummerSlam, which would offer an incredible conclusion to their ongoing narrative.

Such a scenario would also prompt speculation about Femi potentially competing in two matches at SummerSlam. The prospect of him facing both Lesnar and Reigns within a single weekend, or even on the same day, highlights the rapid ascent and significant potential of Oba Femi in the professional wrestling landscape.

Championship Changes at TNA Slammiversary

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) witnessed several championship changes during its Slammiversary event. Nic Nemeth claimed the TNA World Championship, Xia Brookside became the new TNA Knockouts Champion, Rosemary and Allie captured the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship, and The Hardys secured the TNA World Tag Team Championship.

Furthermore, a major announcement was made regarding a new title: the TNA Knockouts TV Championship, which is slated to be defended exclusively on the "Impact" program.

Despite recent discussions surrounding the company, TNA’s Slammiversary show delivered a remarkably solid performance. The upcoming major events are now poised to become essential viewing for wrestling fans.