Sami Zayn retained the Undisputed WWE Championship against Kevin Owens in a chaotic, interference-filled main event on SmackDown that featured a confusing near-finish, a Go To Sleep from CM Punk, and enough outside interference to fill two matches.
A Brutal, Personal Battle
Kevin Owens wasted no time going after Zayn from the opening bell, sending the champion rolling out of the ring before connecting with a clothesline and a running senton. The brawl spilled outside, with Owens landing a thunderous chop before the action returned to the ring, where he hung Zayn on the top rope. Zayn fired back, targeting Owens’ shoulder and unloading a series of strikes before sending him hard into the corner, with Owens visibly favoring his neck afterward.
The match continued to swing back and forth — Zayn attempted a top-rope move only for Owens to cut him off, leading to Zayn poking him in the eye and Owens responding with a superkick that left both men down. Owens found another gear, hitting a series of running sentons and a cannonball in the corner before connecting with an Attitude Adjustment for a near-fall. Zayn countered a Pop-up Powerbomb attempt with a Blue Thunder Bomb of his own, also for a near-fall, before surviving a big boot exchange that left Owens visibly frustrated.
Interference Turns the Tide
As the match intensified, Zayn landed a sharp elbow before both men battled on the top rope, with Owens connecting with a headbutt and a Swanton Bomb for yet another near-fall. That’s when the outside chaos began in earnest — Johnny Gargano got on the apron to distract Owens, allowing Candice LeRae to blindside him with a DDT. Zayn capitalized with a Helluva Kick, but Owens somehow kicked out at two.
Owens answered back with a Pop-up Powerbomb, only for Gargano to sneak Zayn’s foot onto the ropes to save the match. The brawl spilled to the outside again, with Owens sending Gargano into the barricade and clearing the announce desk before Zayn leapt into the fray — only to be put through the table by Owens’ Prizefighter.
A Confusing Finish and CM Punk’s Return
As Gargano attempted to hit Owens with the championship belt, Owens turned the tables with a Stunner — only for CM Punk to suddenly appear and clock Owens with the title belt himself. Zayn shoved Punk off the apron and fell into a cover on Owens, with the referee controversially counting to three without ringing the bell, creating a genuinely confusing moment that left it unclear whether the match had actually ended.
Moments later, Zayn connected with a clean Helluva Kick on Owens to secure the pinfall for real, retaining his Undisputed WWE Championship. But the chaos didn’t stop there — immediately after the bell, CM Punk unloaded on Zayn, eventually planting him with a Go to Sleep to stand tall over the champion as the show went off the air.
What It Means
Between Gargano and LeRae’s continued interference and CM Punk inserting himself directly into the finish, Zayn’s reign remains far from secure despite retaining the title. With Punk now making his intentions violently clear, a rematch between the two former champions feels all but inevitable — and after tonight’s chaos, WWE has plenty of directions to take this rivalry next.
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