3 Things WWE got wrong at Night of Champions 2026

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That said, in this article, we look at three things WWE got wrong at Night of Champions 2026.

#3 Cody Rhodes taking the pinfall loss

The main event saw Cody Rhodes defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against Sami Zayn and Gunther in a Triple Threat Match. In the end, Sami pinned Cody to capture the title, bringing an emotional end to the champion’s reign.

Although crowning Sami was undoubtedly a feel-good moment, having Cody take the pin may not have been the smartest decision.

Gunther was already involved in the contest and could have easily been pinned without damaging his credibility. Instead, the company chose to have one of SmackDown’s top stars take the fall.

Rhodes has spent years being presented as one of WWE’s biggest stars. Thus, taking a title-losing pinfall loss immediately removes some of the aura he built during his championship reign. More importantly, it weakens any immediate argument that he deserves an automatic rematch.

Had Gunther absorbed the loss, the company could have protected Cody while still accomplishing the goal of crowning a new champion. Instead, The American Nightmare now enters SummerSlam after losing the title without being fully protected.

It is not impossible for Triple H to rebuild him, but this felt like an unnecessary risk for one of the company’s biggest attractions.

#2 Danhausen cursing Liv Morgan before the WWE Queen of the Ring final

A notable moment at Night of Champions came before the Queen of the Ring Final even began. Danhausen crossed paths with Liv Morgan backstage and declared that she had been cursed. At first, it seemed like a harmless comedic segment. However, after Morgan lost to IYO SKY later that night, the segment gave viewers an easy way to connect the curse to the outcome.

Although Danhausen’s appearance generated plenty of buzz, it somewhat took attention away from what should have been IYO SKY’s biggest victory of the year. Instead of celebrating her achievement and discussing her road to SummerSlam, the story risked shifting focus to whether Danhausen’s curse played into Liv Morgan’s loss.

IYO didn’t need that extra layer of storytelling. She is one of WWE’s most accomplished in-ring performers. Thus, a clean victory over the reigning Women’s World Champion would have done more to establish her as a credible challenger. By adding the curse angle immediately before the match, the company gave fans an alternate explanation for Morgan’s loss.

Sometimes, less is more. Allowing IYO SKY to defeat Liv Morgan without any outside narrative would have made her Queen of the Ring triumph feel even more significant heading into SummerSlam.

#1. Bron Breakker losing to Seth Rollins again

Perhaps the most frustrating booking decision of the night involved Bron Breakker.

The Steel Cage Match against Seth Rollins had the feel of a decisive chapter in their heated rivalry. The stipulation was designed to limit outside interference, seemingly creating the perfect opportunity for Breakker to score the biggest victory of his career.

Instead, Rollins once again defeated the young powerhouse after an exhausting and brutal encounter. This wasn’t just another loss.

Breakker had already defeated Rollins earlier in their rivalry. However, after Rollins returned the defeat on RAW, WWE steadily shifted momentum back in favor of the former World Heavyweight Champion.

Night of Champions felt like the ideal moment to elevate Breakker into the company’s true main-event scene, especially after he and Austin Theory lost the World Tag Team Championship. Instead, Seth Rollins overcame him once more.

Bron Breakker has all the tools to become one of WWE’s defining stars for the next decade. His athleticism, intensity, and charisma have consistently made him look like a future world champion. Unfortunately, repeatedly losing high-profile matches can eventually stall that momentum.

Rollins certainly didn’t need another major victory to solidify his legacy. He is already one of the company’s most accomplished stars. On the other hand, Bron Breakker had far more to gain by winning the decisive match in the rivalry.

Hopefully, WWE has a long-term plan for the former World Tag Team Champion. If not, Night of Champions may be remembered as the event where the company missed a golden opportunity to create its next breakout superstar.

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