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CM Punk interfered in the main event, striking Owens with the championship before Zayn hit the Helluva Kick to retain the title. After the match, Punk hit both Zayn and Owens with a GTS, leaving the situation far from over.
With SmackDown returning to Indianapolis, WWE has several directions it could take with Zayn. To that end, here’s what WWE Champion Sami Zayn can do on this week’s edition of the Blue Brand.
#5. Sami Zayn could finally stand up to Nick Aldis
Sami Zayn has an increasingly complicated relationship with SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis.
The tension between Zayn and Aldis has been building for weeks, with the two repeatedly disagreeing over matches and opportunities. This recently escalated when Zayn took things a step further and put his hands on the SmackDown GM. Aldis, meanwhile, hasn’t made things any easier for the champ.
During the September 18 edition of SmackDown, Aldis announced that Zayn would defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against Kevin Owens later that night. Zayn ultimately retained the title, but the victory turned controversial after CM Punk interfered and attacked Owens with the championship belt. That situation gives Zayn plenty of reason to question Aldis’ handling of his championship reign.
#4. Sami Zayn could address Johnny Gargano
Johnny Gargano is another name Sami Zayn could address on the September 25 edition of SmackDown, given how closely the former has been connected to the events surrounding Zayn’s championship.
The connection goes back to September 4, when CM Punk defended the disputed WWE Championship against Gargano. Sami Zayn became involved in the match, creating chaos that eventually brought several other Superstars into the situation, including Kevin Owens, Gunther, and Finn Balor. That night helped set the stage for the championship situation that followed.
That could give this week’s SmackDown an interesting direction. Rather than immediately putting Gargano into another championship match, Creative could have him confront Zayn and question why the reigning champion felt the need to interfere in his opportunity against Punk.
Another interesting element is Candice LeRae. Gargano’s wife has also been involved in recent SmackDown developments, giving WWE another way to expand the story if it chooses to revisit the events from September 4.
#3. Finn Balor could confront or attack the champ on SmackDown
Finn Balor has a legit reason to go after Sami Zayn on this week’s SmackDown, and WWE has already laid the groundwork for that encounter.
The issue between the two dates back to August 28, when Balor competed against Kevin Owens and Gunther in a Triple Threat match to determine the next challenger for the Undisputed Championship. The match ended in a no contest after Zayn interfered. Zayn pulled Balor out of the ring after Balor hit The Ring General with the Coup de Grace, and he later attacked a second referee.
With that in mind, Creative could take an aggressive route and have Balor attack Zayn unexpectedly. That would fit the history between the two. Balor has already tried to get his hands on Zayn after the August 28 incident. An attack could also happen backstage, during an interview, or even after Zayn’s confrontation with another superstar.
#2. Cross paths with Gunther
Gunther is another superstar with a recent history involving Sami Zayn.
During the September 4 edition of the Blue Brand, Gunther joined Kevin Owens and Finn Balor, trying to get their hands on Sami Zayn after the champion disrupted Punk’s match with Johnny Gargano. The three WWE Superstars were indeed seeking payback. Gunther is also advertised for the September 25 episode of SmackDown, making him another possible obstacle for Zayn.
A confrontation between the two would immediately create a major championship-related angle without requiring WWE to announce a match between them.
#1. Sami Zayn could address CM Punk
Another obvious option is for Sami Zayn to confront CM Punk.
Punk has been closely connected to Zayn’s championship story for weeks. Zayn first interfered in Punk’s title match against Johnny Gargano on September 4, creating chaos involving Kevin Owens, Gunther, and Finn Balor.
As mentioned, Zayn defeated Punk in Mexico City to win the championship, only for the Second City Saint to get involved in Zayn’s title defense against Owens one week later. That gives Creative a straightforward story for SmackDown. They could open the show by addressing Punk’s actions and make it clear he doesn’t want to keep relying on outside interference to determine what happens to his championship.
Like Gunther, Punk is also one of the superstars officially advertised for the September 25 show of the Blue Brand. It would be interesting to see what happens when they finally face each other in the ring after everything that happened between them.
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