Add as a preferred source on Google Sami Zayn was temporarily pulled from WWE programming just four days after losing the Undisputed WWE Championship to CM Punk on the latest Raw.
The wrestler did not appear on this week’s SmackDown, taped at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. Nick Aldis, however, spoke with him by phone during a backstage segment and confirmed that he had approved the leave Zayn had requested. The absence was described as a “mental health break.”
The break comes amid Zayn’s anger over losing the title to Punk. Earlier in the show, Punk said he would be willing to grant Sami a rematch. Shortly after, though, Cody Rhodes showed up and demanded a title opportunity at SummerSlam, scheduled for August 1-2 in Minneapolis.
Zayn won the title on June 27 at Night of Champions, defeating Cody Rhodes and Gunther in a Triple Threat Match. His reign, however, lasted just nine days.
As of now, WWE has not announced how long Zayn will be off television.
Punk’s rematch offer, though, keeps the former champion in the title picture for whenever he returns to programming.