Sami Zayn may not have a match scheduled for Friday night’s SmackDown. But if the latest backstage update is accurate, he’ll be the very first person fans see when the show goes on the air.
According to PWInsider, WWE is currently planning for Zayn to open the SummerSlam go-home edition of Friday Night SmackDown with an in-ring promo. While WWE has heavily advertised CM Punk and Cody Rhodes’ final face-to-face before their Undisputed WWE Championship match, it now appears Zayn will be getting things started before either man makes their way to the ring. PWInsider reported that, as things currently stand, Zayn is penciled in for the opening segment.
“A Sami Zayn promo is currently slated to open tonight’s edition of WWE Friday Night SmackDown, PWInsider.com can confirm.”
That immediately raises one obvious question. What’s Zayn going to talk about? The former Undisputed WWE Champion has found himself right in the middle of WWE’s biggest storyline in recent weeks after losing the championship to CM Punk. He then teamed with GUNTHER against Punk and Cody Rhodes at Saturday Night’s Main Event, only to come up short again.
Now, just one night before SummerSlam, Zayn has the first microphone of the night. Whether he’s looking for revenge, calling out Punk, addressing Cody Rhodes or setting his sights on what comes next, fans may get a much clearer picture of where the former champion fits into WWE’s plans after SummerSlam.
The rest of SmackDown is still scheduled to feature CM Punk and Cody Rhodes meeting face-to-face one final time before their championship clash, Damian Priest and R-Truth defending the WWE Tag Team Championship against The War Raiders, and Giulia battling Lash Legend for the final spot in the Interim Women’s Championship Ladder Match.
With SummerSlam less than 24 hours away, WWE appears ready to waste no time getting the biggest stories moving. Be sure to tune in live and follow along with Ringside News for full play-by-play coverage over in our SmackDown results section.
What do you think Sami Zayn will have to say if he opens SmackDown? Let us know in the comments below.
