Sami Zayn joined a select group in recent WWE history by winning the Undisputed WWE Championship for a second time on the September 11 SmackDown from Arena CDMX in Mexico City.
Zayn defeated CM Punk in the main event, a match that featured interference from Johnny Gargano, Candice LeRae, and Kevin Owens. In the end, Owens accidentally hit Punk with the title, allowing Zayn to pick up the win.
With the victory, Zayn became just the third wrestler since 2020 to win the WWE Championship twice in the same calendar year. Drew McIntyre did it in 2020, while Brock Lesnar matched the feat in 2022.
McIntyre won his first reign that year at WrestleMania 36 and took the title back from Randy Orton on the November 16, 2020 episode of RAW. Lesnar captured the title at Day 1 on January 1, 2022, lost it to Bobby Lashley at the Royal Rumble, and regained it at the Elimination Chamber on February 19.
Zayn’s first title win came at Night of Champions on June 27, when he defeated Cody Rhodes and Gunther in a Triple Threat Match. That first reign lasted nine days. On July 6, Punk replaced Rhodes after a Gunther attack and beat Zayn for the title.
Now, just over two months later, Zayn’s won it back from the man who ended his first reign.