4 Reasons why putting The Undisputed WWE Championship on Sami Zayn was a bad idea

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That said, in this article, we look at four reasons why putting the Undisputed WWE Championship on Sami Zayn may have been the wrong decision.

#4. The chase was surprisingly underwhelming

One of WWE’s greatest strengths has always been building long championship chases. Daniel Bryan’s road to WrestleMania XXX, Kofi Kingston’s rise before WrestleMania 35, and Cody Rhodes’ redemption story all succeeded because fans watched every obstacle before the eventual payoff. However, Sami Zayn’s championship story didn’t receive that same treatment.

Instead of months of carefully crafted momentum, WWE largely inserted Zayn into the Night of Champions Triple Threat after the rivalry between Cody Rhodes and Gunther had already become the central focus. Given this, the emotional payoff came more from Sami’s decade-long career than from the storyline immediately leading into the match.

That isn’t necessarily a bad thing. However, it meant the title victory lacked the week-to-week anticipation that usually accompanies a beloved underdog finally winning the biggest prize.

Even after the victory, the celebration barely had time to breathe before new challengers and fresh threats immediately surrounded the new champion.

The moment itself was fantastic. The journey leading directly into it simply wasn’t as compelling as it could have been.

#3. Gunther’s credibility continues to take unnecessary hits

Few WWE stars have been protected as carefully over the past several years as Gunther. He dominated as Intercontinental Champion and held the World Heavyweight Championship. Thus, establishing himself as one of the most believable wrestlers on the entire roster.

However, recently, WWE has repeatedly placed The Ring General in major title matches only for him to come up short.

At Clash in Italy, Gunther controversially failed to defeat Cody Rhodes after the referee missed his foot on the bottom rope. WWE immediately turned that controversy into the Night of Champions Triple Threat. Instead of finally giving The Ring General redemption, the company had Sami Zayn pin Cody Rhodes to leave Saudi Arabia as champion.

Although Gunther technically wasn’t pinned, another world title opportunity slipped away. Eventually, repeated near-misses begin to affect how audiences perceive even the strongest performers. Fans no longer view someone as inevitable if they consistently lose on the biggest stages.

The Ring General still feels like an elite main-event attraction. However, WWE risks diminishing his aura by constantly using him as the dominant threat who ultimately fails to leave with the championship. Hence, protecting Sami Zayn came at the expense of one of the company’s most credible villains.

#2. Sami Zayn should have won as the ultimate babyface

There’s no debating Sami Zayn’s popularity. Fans desperately wanted to see him become world champion. Hence, Night of Champions delivered that payoff. Perhaps the problem is how WWE positioned the victory.

For years, Zayn’s greatest strength has been his authenticity. Whether fighting against The Bloodline or overcoming impossible odds, fans connected with him because he represented perseverance and heart.

Those qualities work best when the audience watches a babyface overcome a single dominant villain.

Instead, Sami captured the title in a Triple Threat Match where Cody Rhodes and Gunther were arguably the bigger focal points throughout the build. He capitalized on the chaos rather than conquering one unbeatable champion in a definitive one-on-one showdown.

Imagine the emotional impact if WWE had built an entire SummerSlam or WrestleMania story around Sami finally defeating one dominant heel after months of setbacks. Perhaps that would have elevated both the championship and Sami’s legacy.

Instead, although the victory was memorable, it arguably didn’t maximize the emotional investment fans had spent years building toward. Sometimes the right ending arrives at the wrong time.

#1. Rumored short title reign

The biggest concern surrounding Sami Zayn’s championship isn’t how he won it. Perhaps it is how long he may keep the title.

Multiple reports and widespread speculation suggest WWE could already be planning for Sami to lose the championship before or at SummerSlam as the company pivots toward larger marquee matches.

If that happens, the entire championship victory risks becoming little more than a feel-good moment. Transitional champions certainly have their place in wrestling. However, Sami Zayn feels like the wrong performer for that role.

Fans waited years to see Zayn finally hold WWE’s richest prize. Thus, if he loses it after only a handful of defenses, the accomplishment immediately becomes less meaningful than it should have been.