Add as a preferred source on Google CM Punk’s win over Sami Zayn on the latest Monday Night Raw continues to generate strong discussion among WWE fans, especially because of the way the Canadian’s short reign came to an end.
Zayn had won the Undisputed WWE Championship at Night of Champions on June 27, defeating Cody Rhodes and Gunther in a Triple Threat Match. On this week’s Raw in Chicago, he was set to make his first title defense against Rhodes.
However, Rhodes was attacked by Gunther backstage and was pulled from the match. Adam Pearce kept the title defense in the main event and announced Punk as the surprise replacement.
In the end, Punk defeated Zayn after hitting a Helluva Kick, followed by a GTS, capturing the title in his hometown.
During another edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer commented on the frustration from part of the audience and said the outcome was expected under WWE’s current logic.
“I saw a lot of people upset about it. This is what it was going to be. The 2 major men’s titles are in the hands of the people who the perception is ‘are the money players’ and Sami’s not in their mind one of those people.”
Meltzer’s assessment is that Sami was never viewed internally as someone meant to carry one of the company’s two top men’s titles for very long. He also noted that, while Zayn could have been positioned at that level at another point, WWE’s perception did not change.