Sami Zayn will emerge as massive babyface after WWE title loss vs CM Punk, Former World Champion predicts
(Courtesy : WWE.com)
Sami Zayn’s historic first World title reign ended after 9 days.
Sami Zayn was riding high on his historic Undisputed WWE title win over Cody Rhodes in a match also involving Gunther at Night of Champions 2026 last month. However, before the celebrations concluded, Cody Rhodes had already secured a rematch on the July 6 edition of Raw in Chicago.
Before Rhodes could challenge Sami in the main event, he was ambushed by Gunther and was unable to get medical clearance to compete. CM Punk returned for the first time since April in his hometown to replace Rhodes and managed to defeat Zayn, ending his reign at just 9 days.
The shocking title change caught fans off guard, especially those expecting big things from Zayn, who had received widespread praise and a significant boost after becoming a Grand Slam Champion.
Natalya believes Sami Zayn will emerge as a massive babyface
Former Women’s Champion Natalya (Nattie) spoke about Sami’s short-lived title reign in her appearance on the Busted Open Radio.
Natalya said she expects Sami to emerge from his short-lived title reign as an even bigger babyface. She noted that fans can quickly turn on a wrestler just as easily as they can rally behind one.
Nattie added that the perception that Sami was unfairly screwed out of the championship could generate even greater support for him and elevate him to another level.
“I actually think that Sami is going to come out of this thing as a massive, massive babyface. Remember when the fans were booing Sami when he was getting ready to wrestle Trick (Williams) and everybody was kinda turning on him.
Well, just as soon as our fans can turn on someone they can also get behind someone. People think that Sami was screwed, you know that he didn’t have the title for what? How long did he have it for? 10 days! I don’t know. It feels like it could spark something really, really cool for Sami.”
[H/T: Wrestling Observer]
Sami Zayn had a lot to say after the disappointing loss to Punk. The newly crowned champion CM Punk is confirmed to appear on SmackDown tonight in Oklahoma, and with Cody, Sami, and Gunther in the fray, the Blue brand is going to get interesting before SummerSlam.
When and where will WWE SmackDown take place this week?
The upcoming July 10, 2026, edition of SmackDown will air live from the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
When and where will SummerSlam 2026 take place?
The 39th edition will air as a two-night spectacle on Saturday, August 1, and Sunday, August 2, 2026, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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Abhijit Singh is a budding sports journalist with over three years of experience in the field, and a photographer capturing stories through his lens since 2018. With a background in philosophy and political science, he brings a thoughtful, analytical edge to his reporting where every word is guided by curiosity and intent. Whether he's capturing the emotion of a moment or unpacking the deeper narratives within the game, Abhijit’s work is rooted in insight and passion. When he’s not covering sports, he’s often exploring new ideas through reading, traveling or just procrastinating.