Add as a preferred source on Google Triple H may not have made a popular decision by ending Sami Zayn’s title reign after just nine days, but it is hard to argue that the execution was poorly handled.
WWE had a clear problem on its hands. Sami won the Undisputed WWE Championship at Night of Champions in a Triple Threat Match against Cody Rhodes and Gunther, then arrived on RAW this week for his first title defense. The company, however, apparently never viewed his reign as something long-term.
Dave Meltzer reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that Zayn is not seen internally as a “money player” for WWE’s top men’s titles.
If that was the mindset, the question became something else: how do you take the title off Sami without turning Cody Rhodes into the villain of the story?
The answer came on Monday Night RAW in Chicago. Gunther attacked Cody Rhodes backstage, taking him out of the advertised match against Zayn. CM Punk then returned, replaced Rhodes, and defeated Sami to win the Undisputed WWE Championship in front of his hometown crowd. WWE itself confirmed that Punk won after escaping a Helluva Kick, using Zayn’s own move, and finishing the match with the Go to Sleep.
It was a cold choice, but a functional one.
Cody was protected. He was not the person who ended Sami’s reign, he did not receive the immediate backlash from the audience, and he was still given a reason to continue complaining about the title shot he lost. Zayn, on the other hand, lost to someone who was never likely to be booed in that building. Punk in Chicago is almost automatic cover for any controversial creative decision.
The most interesting part is that, if the end goal was already CM Punk vs. Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam, the path Triple H chose was the cleanest possible option within an uncomfortable situation. Reports indicate that Punk vs. Rhodes remains planned for the event, which is scheduled for Aug. 1 and Aug. 2 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
The problem is Sami. His win at Night of Champions created a strong moment, especially because he is one of the most respected wrestlers among both fans and the locker room. Ending it all after nine days only reinforces the feeling that WWE used Zayn as a bridge between bigger plans.
Still, Triple H managed to avoid the worst possible scenario for Cody. Instead of making Rhodes the man who stole Sami’s dream, he put Punk in the right place, in the right city, at the right time.
I do not fully agree with the decision. Sami deserved more time. But within the logic of WWE’s current direction, Triple H executed the plan with precision.