Pull up a barstool, order a pint of whatever cheap lager is on tap, and let's talk about the absolute circus that is the WWE championship scene right now. If you've been on the forums this week, you know the boards are in full meltdown mode over a guy who spent a decade getting thrown around like a ragdoll. Four days ago in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Sami Zayn actually did the impossible.

He walked into the Kingdom Arena at Night of Champions, stood in the ring with Cody Rhodes and GUNTHER, and walked out as the Undisputed WWE Champion. He ended a 10-year chase for the top prize in the company. After the bell rang, Zayn grabbed the microphone and let it all out.

"10 years. 10 years in WWE I've been challenging for this championship. They said I would never do it. They said I would never win it. Well here it is"

It was a beautiful, raw moment that made him the first Syrian and Arab world champion in WWE history. This victory was Sami's first-ever world championship win in WWE, achieved on his 10th attempt.

But let's be honest for a second. The party is over, the hangover is setting in, and WWE creative is already booking themselves into a corner for the SummerSlam 2026 premium live event in Minneapolis.

The Midcard King and the Beast

Let's talk about the first massive booking mistake. Oba Femi won the King of the Ring tournament by putting Jey Uso through the canvas in Riyadh. That win gave him a guaranteed world title shot at the biggest event of the summer.

So what does WWE do on Monday Night Raw? They have a returning Brock Lesnar show up, hit an F5, and lay Femi out. Instead of demanding his championship match against Zayn, Femi decides to chase Brock Lesnar in a Hell in a Cell match.

This is absolute nonsense. Who in their right mind turns down a shot at the Undisputed WWE Championship to get locked in a cage with a part-time farm boy? It makes the King of the Ring crown look like a plastic toy from a burger joint. Femi could technically work double duty, but that is a recipe for a blown hamstring.

Femi should be the one tearing Sami's arm off in Minneapolis. Instead, he will be taking German suplexes through a table. It is a waste of a rocket push.

The American Nightmare's Deteriorating Friendship

Then we have Cody Rhodes. The former champion did not even get pinned to lose his title last Saturday. Zayn caught Cody with a quick roll-up after reversing a Cross Rhodes attempt to steal the gold.

Now, Cody is already back in the mix. He beat Jey Uso in a No. 1 Contender match on SmackDown, earning a title shot on the upcoming episode of Monday Night Raw. The tension between these two has been building for months.

Sami has been showing massive jealousy towards Cody's success. He has spent weeks complaining about how Cody gets the red-carpet treatment while he had to claw through the dirt. If Cody wins the title back next Monday, this historic title reign lasts exactly nine days.

Next Monday's Raw is a massive fork in the road. We are looking at three potential outcomes:

  • Cody Rhodes wins the gold back, making Sami a transitional champion.
  • Sami Zayn retains through heel shenanigans, solidifying his descent into jealousy.
  • The match ends in a chaotic no-contest after interference from a third party.

That would be a slap in the face to Sami's fans. But if Cody loses, where does he go? You cannot keep Cody Rhodes out of the main event scene without the crowd turning hostile.

The Ring General is Waiting

You cannot talk about Sami Zayn without talking about GUNTHER. The big Austrian is still furious about the June 19 episode of SmackDown. Cody Rhodes defended the title against GUNTHER, and Sami was the special guest referee.

Sami actively cost GUNTHER the match. He did it twice, slow-counting GUNTHER's pin and getting physically involved. GUNTHER is a man who chops chests until they look like raw hamburger meat, and he does not take kindly to referee interference.

At Night of Champions, GUNTHER was close to winning after hitting a massive powerbomb on Cody. Sami stole the pinfall victory right out from under his nose. GUNTHER has a legitimate claim to a rematch.

A match between Zayn and GUNTHER at SummerSlam would be a physical war. We all remember their classic Intercontinental Championship battles. GUNTHER is the safest bet for a classic five-star match in Minneapolis.

The Bloodline Factor and Jey Uso

Jey Uso is another name floating around the rumor mill. Jey spent the last month trying to win the King of the Ring to bring gold back to his family. He failed at the final hurdle against Oba Femi.

But Jey and Sami have history that goes back years. Their time in the Bloodline was the best television WWE has produced in a decade. Jey has been operating as a top-tier babyface, but he needs a major storyline to keep him relevant.

Challenging Sami would play on their past brotherhood. The emotional promo segments would write themselves. However, a babyface vs. babyface match might split the crowd in a way WWE wants to avoid.

The Ghost of WrestleMania and the Rest of the Pack

Let's look at the outer edge of the roster. Trick Williams has Sami's number. Trick beat Sami for the United States Championship, then beat him again at Backlash 2026.

If Trick has two straight wins over the current Undisputed Champion, he has a logical claim to a title shot. But putting Trick in a SummerSlam main event for the big belt might be too much, too soon. The kid is talented, but he still needs seasoning.

Then there is Drew McIntyre. Drew has been gone since losing to Jacob Fatu in that brutal, unsanctioned match. He has been away filming the Highlander reboot.

Drew actually beat Sami back at the Royal Rumble in January. If he returns to SmackDown, he could easily jump the queue. Drew is a proven main event draw who would bring instant credibility to the champion's first defense.

We also cannot forget Randy Orton. Orton went off the deep end after losing to Cody Rhodes. He hit Cody with a belt shot and followed it with a Punt Kick to the skull.

Orton has been sitting at home, but he is a viper waiting to strike. A heel Randy Orton systematically dismantling Sami Zayn would be incredible television. It would give Sami a massive mountain to climb.

The Best in the World is Watching

Finally, we have the CM Punk situation. On the April 20 WWE Raw, CM Punk stated that he would always stay ready, so that he will not have to get ready. That was a direct warning to the top champions.

Reports are circulating that Punk is healthy and heading to SmackDown. Punk vs. Zayn is a dream match that fans have wanted for fifteen years. It would sell out the stadium in Minneapolis in minutes.

The problem is Punk's health. Can you trust him to get through a physical main event without another muscle tear? If he wins the title, WWE is risking another vacated championship. It is a high-risk, high-reward play.