The Trap of the Underdog Champion

Sami Zayn won the Undisputed WWE Championship on June 27, 2026, at Night of Champions in Riyadh. He pinned Cody Rhodes in the 28th minute of a grueling Triple Threat match that also featured Gunther.

It was a classic underdog story, complete with Zayn countering a Cross Rhodes into a rollup pin to secure the three-count. But the celebration has a shelf life. The chase is always more compelling than the reign.

Zayn's character relies on struggle, doubt, and fighting from underneath. Once the title is around his waist, the narrative engine stalls. Without a dominant villain to push him to the limit, Zayn's championship run is dead on arrival.

Creative choices must serve the broad audience. A babyface champion needs a monster to fight. We have seen this play out before.

Daniel Bryan's post-WrestleMania 30 run struggled because WWE lacked a top-tier heel to challenge him before his injury. Rey Mysterio's world title reign was treated as a fluke because he lacked credible, menacing opponents. Sami Zayn cannot suffer the same fate.

If WWE wants to preserve Zayn's babyface equity, they need to feed him to a predator. Right now, that predator is hiding in plain sight behind a tailored suit and a bleach-blonde haircut.

The Atlantic City Blueprint

On the July 3, 2026, episode of SmackDown, taped in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Cody Rhodes earned his shot. He defeated Jey Uso in a number-one contender's match in the main event. The match itself was a messy, physical affair.

Jey Uso tweaked his ankle during an outside dive, which forced both men to adjust on the fly. Rhodes hit a final Cross Rhodes in the 18th minute to secure the pinfall. This win secured his title shot for Monday Night Raw in Chicago on July 6.

The post-match reaction was telling. Rhodes did not celebrate. He did not shake Jey Uso's hand or throw his weight belt into the crowd.

Instead, he stared at the camera with a cold, blank expression. The corporate babyface paint is beginning to peel. The fans are starting to feel the exhaustion of the storybook hero who always does the right thing.

During the Atlantic City match, small sections of the crowd began booing Rhodes' comebacks. When he set up for the Cody Cutter, jeers echoed from the upper deck. The audience is ready for a change, even if WWE's creative team is hesitant.

Keeping Rhodes in this current role will only turn the crowd against him organically. We are seeing the early warning signs of the same fan fatigue that derailed John Cena in 2006. WWE must act before the boos become deafening.

The Bischoff Formula for Evil Cody

Eric Bischoff addressed this exact situation on the July 3, 2026, episode of his 83 Weeks podcast. Speaking on the show, Eric Bischoff noted that Rhodes has exhausted his babyface character. The current run has reached its natural conclusion, and a heel turn is the only path forward.

“All he needs is a really good heel, and if Cody Rhodes doesn’t become that really great heel, I’m going to be thoroughly disappointed.”

Bischoff is correct. The modern WWE product lacks a genuine, heat-seeking villain who is willing to be disliked. Most top heels today try to be cool, seeking cheers and merchandise sales.

Bischoff argued that Sami Zayn as champion remains a question mark without the right opponent. He pointed out that WWE needs a different archetype for Rhodes.

“WWE needs a vicious heel, like lie, cheating kind of heel, not a badass heel. You need somebody slippery, somebody greasy.”

Rhodes has the exact tools to pull this off. He has the corporate backing, the tailored suits, and the slow, deliberate promo style that can easily turn condescending. He can become the corporate gatekeeper who believes he is the savior of the company.

It is the character he refused to play in AEW. But it is the role he was born to execute in WWE. It is the only way to save this championship picture.

Chicago is the Perfect Crucible

Monday Night Raw on July 6, 2026, takes place in Chicago. There is no better place to pull the trigger. Chicago crowds are notoriously hostile to corporate babyfaces, and they will boo Rhodes the moment his theme starts.

If WWE wants to pivot, they have the perfect crowd to facilitate the transition. There is also the CM Punk factor. Punk is scheduled to return on the July 6 episode.

For months, reports indicated that Cody Rhodes versus CM Punk for the Undisputed WWE Championship was the planned direction for SummerSlam 2026. That event takes place in Minneapolis on August 1 and 2. Zayn's title win in Riyadh seemed to disrupt those plans, but it actually set up a much better story.

If Rhodes defeats Zayn on Raw by cheating, the entire SummerSlam program falls into place. Picture Cody using a low blow or hitting Zayn with the title belt while the referee's back is turned. He wins the championship back and immediately cements his heel turn.

CM Punk returns to confront the new corporate champion, setting up a classic hero-versus-villain clash for Minneapolis. This decision is not about short-term shock value. It is about maximizing the value of the roster.

A heel Cody Rhodes gives Sami Zayn a mountain to climb and gives CM Punk a perfect foil for the summer. If WWE tries to play it safe and keep Cody as the smiling hero, they will lose the crowd and ruin their biggest summer program. It is time to let Cody Rhodes become the villain he was always meant to be.