The dream match between WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus and Becky Lynch will indeed be happening at Night of Champions 2023. As seen on Raw, the Smackdown Women’s Champion will go through her second title defense at the show. Also, the top match featuring Brock Lesnar could be totally off the card after what transpired on Raw.
During WWE Raw this week, Smackdown Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley featured a backstage promo segment where she addressed her current rival Natalya. After talking a little smack about the Hart Dungeon-trained athlete, Ripley confirmed that she will defend her Women’s Title against Natalya at Night of Champions 2023.
Despite fans giving negative reactions to this matchup, the feud featuring Natalya and Ripley continued over the past couple of weeks. It started after Natalya stopped Ripley from a beatdown at Dana Brooke. Ripley won the Smackdown Women’s Title at Wrestlemania 39 against Charlotte Flair while she successfully defended the belt at Backlash, earlier this month against Zelina Vega. Thus, Night of Champions 2023 will mark her second title defense.
The ongoing feud between Trish Stratus and Becky Lynch will also produce a singles contest at Night of Champions 2023. The two appeared in a contract signing segment and put their signatures on the dotted lines to make things, official. Becky taunted Trish with her ‘barking like a dog segment’ from the Attitude Era as a furious Trish flipped the table on Becky.
In more news for Night of Champions 2023, Brock Lesnar vs. Cody Rhodes could be off the card. Lesnar brutally assaulted Rhodes backstage to kick off this week’s Raw and injured his arm using a steel can. Afterward in the ring, Lesnar declared that Rhodes will not be facing him, this Sunday night due to the injury. Rhodes still appeared and got his hands punished with Kimura Lock. WWE is keeping the match intact for the PLE, as of this writing but Rhodes’ availability in the match is in doubt.
WWE Night of Champions 2023 PLE Match Card
WWE Night of Champions 2023 Premium Live Event takes place Saturday, May 27, 2023, at the Jeddah Super Dome in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The current match card for the PLE goes as follows,
– Brock Lesnar vs. Cody Rhodes
– Tournament Final to crown new WWE World Heavyweight Champion: Seth Rollins vs. AJ Styles
– Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Match: Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn (c) vs. The Bloodline (Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns & Solo Sikoa)
– Trish Stratus vs. Becky Lynch
– Intercontinental Championship Match: Gunther (c) vs. Mustafa Ali
– Raw Women’s Championship Match: Bianca Belair (c) vs. Asuka
– SmackDown Women’s Championship Match: Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Natalya