WWE Night of Champions 2026 Predictions Back Jey Uso, Liv Morgan for 2 Crowns

Q: With two elite challengers, is Cody Rhodes' championship reign facing its greatest threat at Night of Champions?

Yes. Night of Champions presents the most dangerous setup of Cody Rhodes’ current title run, even if he remains the favorite to leave Riyadh as Undisputed WWE Champion. The threat level comes from both the opponents and the stipulation. Gunther has already pushed Rhodes to the edge, including a controversial finish at Clash in Italy that kept the title on Rhodes and strengthened Gunther’s case that he was denied a clean result. That history makes Gunther arguably the strongest one-on-one threat Rhodes has faced in this reign. Sami Zayn adds a different kind of danger. His recent interference, attacks on both men, and increasingly hostile posture toward Rhodes make him the unpredictable factor in the match. In a triple threat, that matters even more because Rhodes does not have to be pinned by both challengers to lose; one opening, one alliance of convenience, or one chaotic sequence can end his reign. At the same time, the broader booking direction points toward Rhodes surviving. Multiple reports and predictions indicate WWE is positioning him for a major SummerSlam program, potentially against King of the Ring favorite Jey Uso. The same forecasts suggest Gunther and Zayn may be headed back into their own feud after Night of Champions. So the answer is twofold: this is likely Rhodes’ toughest title defense yet because of the triple-threat dynamics and the caliber of Gunther and Zayn, but the prevailing expectation is still that he retains.

Q: Will Brock Lesnar’s interference cost a rising star the crown to set up his own final chapter?

Yes—based on the available reporting and predictions, the most likely booking is Brock Lesnar interfering in the King of the Ring final to cost Oba Femi the crown and set up their rubber match at SummerSlam. That scenario fits the broader storyline. Femi and Lesnar are 1-1 after Femi beat Lesnar at WrestleMania 42 and Lesnar answered back at Clash in Italy. With SummerSlam set for Minneapolis and speculation growing that it could be Lesnar’s final match, WWE has a clear incentive to preserve that trilogy bout rather than send Femi into a SummerSlam world-title match as King of the Ring winner. It also aligns with the specific Night of Champions prediction tied to the Jey Uso vs. Oba Femi final. The expectation is that Lesnar’s interference would hand Jey Uso the tournament victory and the guaranteed title shot against Cody Rhodes, a match that has reportedly been in WWE’s long-term plans. In that version of events, Femi loses the crown without being decisively beaten, while Lesnar-Femi III gains immediate stakes and momentum. There is one important caveat: some outside chatter has suggested Lesnar may not travel to Saudi Arabia for the event in Riyadh. If that proves true, the interference angle obviously cannot happen on the night. Still, on the evidence available, Lesnar costing Femi the tournament is the strongest projected outcome—and it would directly serve Lesnar’s presumed final chapter.

Q: Can Liv Morgan make history as a double champion, or will her ambitious quest for more end in failure?

Liv Morgan can make history, but the stronger expectation is that her bid will fall short at Night of Champions. Morgan has openly framed the Queen of the Ring final against IYO SKY as part of her push to “want it all.” As Women’s World Champion, a tournament win would put her in line for another world title match at SummerSlam and keep alive the possibility of becoming a double champion, a path that would invite comparisons to Becky Lynch’s 2019 milestone run. But the weight of expert prediction points the other way. CBS Sports analysts Brent Brookhouse and Shakiel Mahjouri have picked IYO SKY, arguing WWE is unlikely to tie up two top women’s titles around one star when the division needs multiple headline programs. TheSportster’s panel reached the same view, calling it illogical for a reigning world champion to win a tournament designed to create a new challenger. That said, some preview coverage tied to the event has projected Morgan to win, largely because WWE could use the result to build a major SummerSlam story, potentially against Rhea Ripley. Morgan also has momentum, having beaten Charlotte Flair in the semifinal after advancing through a difficult opening four-way. Even so, based on the broader expert consensus and WWE’s likely booking logic, the more probable outcome is that Morgan’s quest for more ends in defeat, with IYO SKY favored to win the Queen of the Ring final.

3 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Jun 26

Jey Uso and Liv Morgan are picked to win the King and Queen of the Ring finals, with both crowns carrying SummerSlam title shots that could shape WWE’s next marquee event.
Three title defenses are also forecast to hold: Cody Rhodes over Gunther and Sami Zayn in the Undisputed WWE Championship match, Tiffany Stratton over Jade Cargill, and Trick Williams over Ricky Saints.
Bron Breakker is projected to beat Seth Rollins in the steel cage match, with outside interference from The Vision and a possible Bronson Reed return seen as the likely swing factor.
The predictions lean on longer-term booking logic, including Rhodes staying on course for a SummerSlam main event and Brock Lesnar potentially costing Oba Femi to set up a trilogy bout.