MEXICO CITY â Sami Zayn is WWE champion again, but the decisive moment was not simply his Helluva Kick. It was Kevin Owens accidentally striking CM Punk with the championship belt during a chaotic SmackDown main event.
Zayn defeated Punk at Arena CDMX on Friday, September 11, to begin his second reign as Undisputed WWE Champion. The victory came little more than two months after Punk ended Zaynâs first reign after only nine days.
The result also produced a historic ending to WWEâs first SmackDown in Mexico City in 15 years. More than 12,000 tickets were reportedly sold for a card featuring four championship matches.
Key details from Zaynâs title victory
* Zayn is now a two-time Undisputed WWE Champion.
* Kevin Owens accidentally hit CM Punk with the title belt.
* Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae also became involved.
* Zaynâs first championship reign lasted only nine days.
* Randy Orton and Gargano have already positioned themselves for title opportunities.
How Kevin Owens Changed the CM PunkâSami Zayn Finish
The match initially developed around two injuries. Punk appeared to hurt his knee early, giving Zayn a target, while Punk repeatedly attacked the wrist Zayn had been protecting with a brace.
Zayn trapped Punk in a Figure Four leglock and later landed a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall. Punk responded by countering the Helluva Kick and connecting with the GTS, but the champion could not finish the match before outside involvement changed everything.
Candice LeRae distracted referee Dan Engler as Johnny Gargano entered the ring. Garganoâs appearance was connected to an earlier conversation in which Zayn indicated that Gargano would receive the first championship opportunity if he defeated Punk.
Punk struck Gargano with a GTS, but Kevin Owens then rushed into the confrontation. Owens attempted to stop Zayn from using the championship belt and instead accidentally struck Punk with it.
Zayn immediately turned on Owens with a low blow. He then hit Punk with the Helluva Kick and secured the three-count, ending Punkâs reign in a finish involving three people who could now influence the new championâs next move.
The complete sequence was also documented in detailed reports from Forbes and Fightful.
Zaynâs Second Reign Already Has Three Possible Challengers
Zayn first captured WWEâs top championship at Night of Champions on June 27, defeating Cody Rhodes and GUNTHER in a Triple Threat match. WWE had presented it as his tenthâand potentially finalâopportunity to become world champion.
That victory also made the Montreal-born wrestler of Syrian descent the first Muslim performer in more than four decades to hold WWEâs leading menâs world championship. His wider rĂŠsumĂŠ now includes four Intercontinental title reigns, two United States title reigns, an NXT Championship and an Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship.
However, the first world-title celebration ended after just nine days when Punk replaced an unavailable Rhodes in a championship match and defeated Zayn in Chicago. WWE later confirmed the circumstances surrounding the sudden title change.
Zayn did not quietly leave the championship picture. He disrupted a No. 1 contender match involving Owens, GUNTHER and Finn BĂĄlor before interfering in Punkâs defense against Gargano. Punk eventually offered him the Mexico City rematch.
Winning the title has not resolved those rivalries. Gargano can argue that Zayn owes him the promised first opportunity, Owens has a fresh grievance after being attacked, and Punk can demand a rematch because he was struck with the belt before being pinned.
Randy Orton added a fourth complication earlier in the show. The 14-time world champion said he would pursue whoever left Mexico City with the title as he attempts to win a 15th world championship.
That leaves Zaynâs second reign in a far different position from his first. He is champion again, but Punk, Owens, Gargano and Orton all emerged from the same night with a reason to come after him.
Sources: WWE, Forbes, Athlon Sports.
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