The WWE is returning to Saudi Arabia on Saturday for the Night of Champions pay-per-view event. Although this year’s event doesn’t follow the old rules of “every title in WWE will be on the line,” the card is still filled with interesting and important matches.
Five out of the seven matches on the card will have a title up for grabs. This includes the main event, where Roman Reigns, the undisputed WWE universal champion, will team up with Solo Sikoa to take on the undisputed tag team champions Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens. Additionally, the first world heavyweight champion since 2013 will be determined in the match between Seth Rollins and AJ Styles, who will be competing for the recently re-introduced title.
Both women’s titles will also be on the line. Bianca Belair, the Raw women’s champion, will face Asuka, while Rhea Ripley, the SmackDown women’s champ, will go up against Natalya. Finally, Trish Stratus will face Becky Lynch in a clash of legends.
The card also features the return of the dominant intercontinental champion Gunther, as he takes on his latest challenger Mustafa Ali. Gunther has been causing havoc on the SmackDown brand and his move to Raw offers a new set of challengers for him to face. Ali is the first of these challengers after defeating Dolph Ziggler for the opportunity.
Let’s now take a look at the predictions from the CBS Sports experts for each match at Night of Champions, which will be streaming live on Peacock on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.
WWE Night of Champions 2023 predictions
Undisputed Tag Team Championship — Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn (c) vs. Roman Reigns & Solo Sikoa
The experts believe that Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn will retain the titles in this tag team match. They feel that this match presents a unique opportunity for Roman Reigns to go out on his back without jeopardizing his record title run. The experts also believe that a clean loss for Reigns won’t affect his position and will instead elevate the other participants in the match.
Brock Lesnar vs. Cody Rhodes
In this match, the experts predict that Brock Lesnar will come out victorious. They mention that Rhodes’ previous win over Lesnar at Backlash was shocking due to Lesnar being injured and bleeding heavily throughout the match. The experts see Lesnar seeking revenge and getting the win back without harming Rhodes’ standing as a top talent.
World Heavyweight Championship — Seth Rollins vs. AJ Styles
The experts predict that Seth Rollins will win the vacant World Heavyweight Championship. They believe that Rollins is long overdue for a top spot and that Styles’ momentum is currently lacking. They feel that WWE cannot afford to miss the mark again in elevating Rollins and other talents.
Intercontinental Championship — Gunther (c) vs. Mustafa Ali
In the match for the Intercontinental Championship, the experts expect Gunther to retain his title. They see Gunther’s reign continuing and believe that Ali winning the match without a compelling program around the title swap would not make sense.
Raw Women’s Championship — Bianca Belair (c) vs. Asuka
The experts predict that Bianca Belair will retain the Raw Women’s Championship. They mention that this match puts WWE in a difficult position, as Belair is a valuable champion, but Asuka is a legitimate threat. They feel that Asuka has not been booked well enough to dethrone Belair, but improvements should be made to prepare Asuka for a future title run.
SmackDown Women’s Championship — Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Natalya
For the SmackDown Women’s Championship match, the experts believe that Rhea Ripley will retain her title. They see no intrigue in this match, as Natalya is not seen as a potential world champion anymore.
Becky Lynch vs. Trish Stratus
In the clash between Becky Lynch and Trish Stratus, the experts predict that Trish Stratus will come out on top. They feel that WWE wants to extend this story to SummerSlam, and having Stratus win with a cheap victory allows for that possibility.
This match is driven by star power and the dream match status. The experts note that the price tag of the Saudi Arabia shows demands marquee matchups. They appreciate WWE’s attempt to build a story around Lynch vs. Stratus instead of just treating it as a one-off. They expect Becky Lynch to win, setting up an intriguing world title program with Rhea Ripley.
