Night Of Champions 2026

We are back!

What’s up everyone, welcome back to Four Pitches. We have a weekend full of wrestling, and on top of it all - I started up a new character in Dark Souls 2 and that has been eating up waaaaay too much of my free time. But putting the controller down and jumping into this weekend, let’s get right into it!

Cody Rhodes vs Gunther vs Sami Zayn

(For the Undisputed WWE Championship)

I think Sami Zayn is the most interesting character on the show. The ‘last real good guy’ gimmick is amazing and I think it is a more dynamic way of getting to a heel Zayn than a ‘one match double turn’, like I had pitched a few PLEs back. On paper, currently it would appear as if Zayn is a sympathetic babyface and Rhodes is a cold friend of a heel - BUT that’s not the reality of the situation. The audience actually love Rhodes the more grit he has and fierce he is, whereas they hate Zayn the more he (justifiably) vents his issues and frustrations.

I would lay out the closing spot of the match like this: Cody hits Gunther with the Cross Rhodes - only for Sami to grab Cody out of the pinning position and throw him out of the ring. Sami Zayn pins Gunther and becomes the NEW Undisputed WWE Champion. I really like the idea of Zayn finally winning the belt, finally making good on all his promises - all for it to be overshadowed by Rhodes not being happy for his ‘friend’. In fact, it seems no one would be happy since Zayn has lost the mass audience. Gunther is such a key component to this story because it allows the transfer of the belt without pulling the trigger on a full on Sami Zayn. I think it is a huge missed opportunity to have the scene of Zayn hoping for a heroes welcome on Monday Night Raw, only for Rhodes be focused on getting his championship back.

Which brings this pitch out to SummerSlam. Cody Rhodes vs Sami Zayn. One on One - and Cody wins. The following Raw is where it finally happens. Zayn snaps and attacks Rhodes. And I’m not sure when or how, but I would have Zayn win the belt again so he could head into the WrestleMania in Saudi as Undisputed Champion.

Jey Uso vs Oba Femi

(King Of The Ring Finals)

In my predictions post on Instagram, I said that I would be shocked in Brock Lesnar didn’t cost Oba Femi the match. However, Solo Sikoa and his MFT recently cost Jimmy Uso his match against LA Knight. So that got me thinking - what if Solo Sikoa got involved instead? Bloodline vs MFT might actually be the direction they go for SummerSlam… BUT then I read the spoilers for SmackDown since it is pre-taped this week - and wouldn’t you know it, MFT broke up

Oba Femi arrives to Raw as the new King Of The Ring. He cuts a promo and calls out Roman Reigns for the Heavyweight Championship - but before he can finish the promo, he is attacked by Lesnar. After Femi is completely beaten down, Lesnar gets on the mic and says that he promises to make sure Femi doesn’t even make it to the title match at SummerSlam. Femi does not back down; and actually challenges Brock to a match, with the match against Reigns on the line

And so SummerSlam is set. Night One - Oba Femi vs Brock Lesnar. Night Two - The winner vs Roman Reigns.

The Ruler Oba Femi defeats BOTH men. In similar sentiment to ‘Jericho beat Austin and The Rock in one night’, this would be a LEGENDARY moment. “The SummerSlam Oba Femi retired Lesnar and took Reigns championship”. I also think that the second it is announced that Femi is pulling a double duty, all the online fans will think that he beats Lesnar but that results in him losing the next night to ‘keep him strong’. Plus with Bloodline and MFT being in the arena, I really don't think anyone would see this coming. We already got that emotional thrill watching Femi retire Lesnar because that is what we thought we saw at WrestleMania, so to have it done again just feels like there should be a little extra cherry on top with it for this time around.

Iyo Sky vs Liv Morgan

(Queen Of The Ring Finals)

Let’s get right to it - Liv Morgan wins and goes for both belts. This is not an unification match because Liv doesn’t need to put her title on the line (In fact, no more unification matches in WWE ever again, forever). With this, everyone rolls their eyes and goes “well obviously she loses the match then!”... but NO! By golly, Liv Morgan gets it done - the champ champ is here!

SmackDown is lacking some star power and I am getting bored of seeing The Bloodline on both shows every week. Let’s give The Bloodline a break from SmackDown and put that name value into a different faction. The Judgement Day have been around for years now, and honestly - Liv as champion is technically the biggest accolade the group has ever had for an active member. Lets double down on Liv as the greatest ever Judgement Day member and have her get the double champ status. Plus now that WWE has multiple championships for female wrestlers, I would love to see Roxanne and Raquel win the tag titles AND one mid card title each. Has WWE ever had a female faction this dominate?

Trick Williams vs Ricky Saints

(For the WWE United States Championship)

The oppose of the Sami Zayn situation, Trick Williams is basically a babyface without ever really making a definite turn due to his popularity with the mass audience. Ricky Saints being a heel tells me they are basically booking Trick as a babyface anyways. With that being said, I think this match can be used as a storyline beat in character development for both men. This might be an unpopular pitch… but I would have Ricky Saints win this one.

Ricky Saints spends the road to SummerSlam as an OVER THE TOP arrogant and braggadocios little shit - just to lose it to right back to Trick Williams, who spends the road to SummerSlam as a hungry challenger on the hunt for his lost championship. Since Trick became a babyface just through audience reaction, let’s give them babyface scenes to actually get behind him even more. This allows the audience to see that other side of him BUT more importantly, getting the belt back again so soon will be like it never left. So we continue on with Trick as champ, except the audience gets to see him in a different light and the record books reflect another title reign for his legacy. It’s a win-win in the end

And boom does the dynamite

I can’t even lie to you guys - I have been playing so much Dark Souls 2 this past couple of weeks, I completely forgot that at the end of my last pitches, I teased posting a Fantasy Booking and Verdict Club. Honestly all I have to do is the final edit for those articles… but I just keep watching deep dive lore videos instead. Stuff is coming maaaaaaan, I promise lol. I think I am going to spend chuck of time writing a few and getting a back log going yada yada yada but for now, I got Forbidden Door pitches to write!