Sami Zayn is the Undisputed WWE Champion once again after a chaotic main event on "Friday Night SmackDown." The championship match saw CM Punk put his title on the line against Zayn, just weeks after Punk had defeated him for the belt on "Monday Night Raw."
Zayn secured the victory following a series of distractions and missteps at ringside. Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae initially appeared to be in Zayn's corner. LeRae's distraction of the referee led to Gargano attempting to strike Punk with the championship belt, but he missed and was subsequently hit with Punk's "Go to Sleep" finisher. As the referee attended to Gargano outside the ring, Kevin Owens emerged and attempted to interfere, accidentally hitting CM Punk with the belt instead. Owens then focused his attention on Zayn before being struck with a low blow. Punk, disoriented, was then vulnerable to Zayn's "Helluva Kick," which secured the pinfall and the championship for Zayn.
This marks Zayn's second reign as Undisputed WWE Champion this year. His previous reign lasted only nine days. The title has changed hands five times in 2026. Drew McIntyre initially won the championship in January, followed by Cody Rhodes in March. Zayn defeated Rhodes in June, then lost to Punk in July. Zayn's latest championship win in September comes with several major events on the horizon that could impact the title picture.
The championship landscape appears uncertain, with several potential challengers for Zayn's new reign. CM Punk, Kevin Owens, Cody Rhodes, Johnny Gargano, and Randy Orton are all positioned as immediate contenders. Drew McIntyre, who has been out of action for months, could also become a factor upon his return to the ring.