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By Jeremy Hanna
Contributing Sports Writer
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WWE faced massive technical issues on their episode of Friday Night SmackDown before Night of Champions.
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While the show was streaming live for international audiences, the feed suddenly cut out while Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes were having a segment building up their King of the Ring finals match.
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However, the issue doesn't lie with Netflix.
There was a blackout in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, that caused power to go out. This not only affected the livestream, but power at the arena as well.
"To our international audiences watching [SmackDown]," WWE said on social media. "We apologize for any technical difficulties and should be back up and running shortly."
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Fortunately, the scene was resolved within half an hour after WWE released the statement.
According to a report from Fightful Select, SmackDown will air as normal in the United States.
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This moment was particularly frustrating for fans because Orton and Rhodes are two of the most popular wrestlers in WWE today and their match at Night of Champions is one of the most highly anticipated.
Both the sons of legendary professional wrestlers, Orton and Rhodes, were once part of a stable together alongside Ted Dibiase Jr. called The Legacy.
Since then, fans have been eagerly waiting for the two of them to face off.
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The other big draw at Night of Champions is CM Punk challenging John Cena for the Undisputed WWE Championship on his retirement tour.
This is a huge moment because it not only features Cena fighting the greatest rival of his career, but it also marks the first time CM Punk has traveled to Saudi Arabia after speaking out against WWE holding premium live events in the country.
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Other significant matches at Night of Champions include Jacob Fatu defending the United States Championship against Solo Sikoa and Asuka and Jade Cargill battling for the title of Queen of the Ring.
There are also two matches at Night of Champions that aren't for championships. Karrion Kross and Sami Zayn will be facing each other while Rhea Ripley and Raquel Rodriguez will engage in a Street Fight.
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For more WWE and professional wrestling news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
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