Sami Zayn taking the WWE Championship from CM Punk wasn’t a decision everyone backstage was apparently ready to get behind. WWE went through with the title change anyway, and the reason is tied to a storyline that isn’t supposed to completely make sense just yet.
Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer reported that Zayn’s September 11 win was simply part of WWE’s creative plans rather than the result of an injury or another issue involving Punk. The idea is that the reasoning behind the switch should become clearer as the story plays out.
“With the Sami Zayn thing, the basic gist was they have a storyline that will make sense when you look back on it, is what I was told. When it’s all said and done this will all make sense.”
That doesn’t mean the decision went through without resistance. Meltzer added that there were people who didn’t want WWE to make the switch, although their objections ultimately didn’t change the plan.
“There was certainly people who were against it but they did it. And that was that.”
WWE certainly gave itself plenty to work with when Zayn actually won the championship on SmackDown. CM Punk had Zayn trapped in the Anaconda Vice and got him to tap, but Candice LeRae distracted the referee before the submission could be seen.
Johnny Gargano and Kevin Owens then became involved, with Owens accidentally hitting Punk with the WWE Championship while trying to attack Zayn. Zayn eventually capitalized with a Helluva Kick to become WWE Champion for the second time.
Gargano had already told Zayn earlier in the night that he wanted the first championship opportunity if Zayn won. Punk also has an obvious reason to want his title back after losing it through interference, while Owens now has his own part in how the championship changed hands.
Exactly where all of that is heading remains unclear, and that appears to be the point. WWE reportedly has an endgame in mind for putting the championship back on Zayn, even if some people behind the scenes would have preferred Punk to leave Mexico City with the title.
Do you think WWE made the right call putting the WWE Championship back on Sami Zayn? Let us know in the comments.
