The Rush to Raw and the Riyadh Fallout

Professional wrestling bookings thrive on patience, but WWE is currently sprinting toward a cliff. On the coming Monday, July 6, 2026, Sami Zayn will defend his newly won Undisputed Championship against Cody Rhodes on Raw. This championship rematch comes just nine days after Zayn ended Rhodes' historic title run in Riyadh, leaving the fan base in a state of whiplash.

The championship change at Night of Champions was a mechanical masterpiece that lasted exactly 18:40. The triple-threat match protected GUNTHER, leaving Rhodes to take the pinfall after a series of chaotic reversals. Yet, instead of letting that massive shift breathe, the creative team has hot-shotted the rematch for a weekly television broadcast.

This sudden television booking represents a questionable long-term strategy for the company's flagship show. Rematches of this magnitude deserve the grand stage of a premium live event, not a mid-summer episode of Raw. Hot-shotting the company's biggest match feels like a panicked response to television viewership pressures.

The rush to settle this score raises serious doubts about the long-term planning for SummerSlam in Minneapolis. With CM Punk scheduled to return on the very same night, the main-event scene is becoming dangerously crowded. By rushing this rematch, WWE risks burning through its most compelling story before the summer even peaks.

Wrestling fans have learned to be skeptical of such sudden creative shifts. We have seen how rapid booking changes can derail the momentum of full-time workhorses. The decision to run this match on television suggests a lack of confidence in the weekly product's ability to draw without a championship gimmick.

The Managerial Ghost of Cody Rhodes

To understand why this rush is a mistake, we must look at how Rhodes' creative choices have shaped locker rooms before. Cody’s departure from AEW in 2022 did not just affect the active roster; it left veteran managers stranded. Hall of Famer Arn Anderson recently shared his thoughts on the fallout of that transition.

Speaking on a recent episode of the ARN Show podcast, Anderson explained the creative void left behind. He admitted that his entire purpose in the company was tied to Rhodes' presentation. Once the star departed, the booking team had no coherent plan for the veterans.

“I’ve got to be honest with you. I was brought in to be Tully’s trainer, manager, manager, force of reason — whatever you want to call me. And when he left, he kind of took the angle with him.”

This quote highlights the danger of building entire presentation packages around a single talent. When Rhodes left, Anderson was left in creative limbo, demonstrating how quickly a promotion's plans can disintegrate. AEW attempted to resolve this by pairing him with other stars, but the results were mediocre.

Specifically, the pairing of Anderson with Wardlow was a complete creative failure. The veteran manager felt the pairing lacked any logical foundation. In his interview detailing his AEW departure in 2024, Anderson did not hold back his criticism of the booking.

“But the angle with Cody — he took it with him, and it was just a matter of time because, you know, I did a couple of shows with… what’s the guy that was the big jacked-up guy? Wardlow. And, you know, it was just kind of out of left field, out of nowhere.”

This historical lesson should serve as a warning to WWE's current creative team. Rushing Rhodes back into a championship match without a clear narrative path mirrors the disorganized booking that plagued his final months in Jacksonville. The company must avoid turning its top babyface into a directionless character.

The Workhorse vs. The Polish

The upcoming clash on Raw presents a fascinating stylistic battle between two distinct schools of wrestling. Zayn represents the physical, high-tempo workhorse style, relying on endurance and sudden bursts of emotional energy. Rhodes operates with a highly polished, classical main-event style that favors structured melodrama.

In their Riyadh encounter, this stylistic contrast was the driving engine of the match. Zayn's victory was not a fluke; he opportunistically countered a Cross Rhodes to secure the pinfall. This mechanical precision is why a rushed rematch on television feels so cheap.

We saw this play out when Zayn won the title, securing backstage approval across the entire company. According to Arn Anderson's recent comments, backstage respect is earned through consistent work. Zayn has spent decades building that respect, and his coronation was a reward for that dedication.

But Rhodes is a competitor who does not accept defeat lightly. His babyface character is built on the idea of finishing the story, a narrative that is diluted by a quick television rematch. If Rhodes wins, Zayn's crowning moment is erased; if Rhodes loses, his credibility is severely damaged.

Our primary negative observation centers on this booking trap. By placing the match on Raw, WWE has created a scenario where there is no satisfying narrative resolution. They have trapped their two biggest babyfaces in a booking corner that benefits neither athlete.

Furthermore, the physical toll of these consecutive matches will limit their in-ring performance. Zayn's hard-hitting style requires recovery time, especially after the grueling triple threat in Riyadh. Asking these competitors to deliver another classic on short notice is a recipe for physical exhaustion.

The SummerSlam Picture and the CM Punk Threat

The broader issue is how this match affects the upcoming SummerSlam card in Minneapolis. Original reports suggested that WWE was planning a massive championship clash between Rhodes and CM Punk. That matchup represents a box-office draw that does not need the title to succeed.

However, by putting the title on Zayn, the company has disrupted those long-term plans. Now, they must decide whether to pivot back to Rhodes or keep the gold on Zayn through the summer. The return of CM Punk on Monday will likely force their hand.

Punk has been a shadow over the championship scene since his return to television. He commands massive audience attention, and his promos can shift the direction of a feud in a single night. If Punk interferes in the Raw main event, the championship will be surrounded by chaos.

We must also consider the television ratings factor. The flagships need active, full-time champions to sustain their weekly viewership. Zayn is a workhorse who can carry the show, but he needs to defend the title in structured, long-term programs.

Hot-shotting a title match on Raw might boost the ratings for a single night, but it leaves the creative team with fewer options for the upcoming pay-per-views. WWE must resist the temptation of short-term television gains at the expense of premium live event buys. The summer season requires a more disciplined approach.

Prediction: The Return of the Shadow

The upcoming main event on Raw is a tactical minefield for both competitors. Rhodes will look to control the pace early, utilizing his amateur background to ground the champion. Zayn will counter with his relentless energy, aiming to hit the Helluva Kick before Rhodes can organize his offense.

We predict a chaotic finish that will leave the championship picture in complete disarray. The match will go exactly 17 minutes and 30 seconds of physical, back-and-forth action. Rhodes will hit two consecutive Cross Rhodes and cover the champion.

Just as the referee is about to count the three, CM Punk’s music will hit, causing a distraction at ringside. Punk will make his return, pulling the referee out of the ring to prevent the title change. This will trigger a massive post-match brawl between Rhodes, Punk, and Zayn.

Sami Zayn will retain the Undisputed Championship via disqualification, keeping the gold around his waist. This booking choice protects Rhodes' physical dominance while setting up a massive triple-threat match for SummerSlam. The champion walks out with the gold, but the shadow of CM Punk will hang over the entire summer.