Reported Reason WWE Put the Undisputed Championship Back on Sami Zayn

Sami Zayn’s shocking victory over CM Punk may have been designed to set up one of WWE’s biggest matches of the year.

Zayn defeated Punk during the main event of the September 11, 2026, episode of SmackDown in Mexico City, becoming Undisputed WWE Champion for the second time.

According to a new report, WWE made the title change because it wants Zayn to face Roman Reigns at Crown Jewel in November.

Sami Zayn Regains the Championship in Mexico City

The championship match descended into chaos after Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae appeared at ringside.

Gargano attempted to strike Punk with the championship, but Punk avoided the attack and hit him with the GTS. Kevin Owens then entered and tried to prevent Zayn from using the title.

However, Owens accidentally struck Punk with the championship when Zayn moved out of the way.

Zayn capitalized by connecting with the Helluva Kick and pinning Punk to begin his second reign as Undisputed WWE Champion. WWE’s official recap confirms the complete sequence.

Despite the controversial ending, the title change reportedly serves a larger creative purpose.

Roman Reigns vs. Sami Zayn Reportedly Planned

PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reports that multiple sources indicated WWE wants Zayn to face World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns in the main event of Crown Jewel.

WWE has officially announced that the premium live event will take place Saturday, November 7, at Riyadh Season Stadium in Saudi Arabia. The company has not officially announced Zayn versus Reigns.

Recent Crown Jewel events have featured matches between WWE’s men’s and women’s world champions. If that format continues, Zayn’s victory places him directly across from Reigns as the current champion of the opposite brand.

That would turn the title change from a surprise television moment into the beginning of another major chapter in one of WWE’s most important modern stories.

Zayn and Reigns Have Unfinished Business

Sami Zayn’s history with Roman Reigns stretches back to his time as the “Honorary Uce” in The Bloodline.

What originally appeared to be a comedic role gradually developed into one of WWE’s most emotional storylines. Zayn earned the trust of Reigns and The Bloodline before finally turning against the group at the 2023 Royal Rumble.

Their rivalry produced a memorable championship match at Elimination Chamber in Montreal, where Zayn came close to dethroning Reigns in front of his hometown audience.

A Crown Jewel match would revisit that history under entirely different circumstances.

Zayn would enter as a world champion rather than an underdog desperately chasing Reigns’ title. Reigns would also be representing the opposing brand as World Heavyweight Champion, allowing WWE to present the match as a battle between equals.

WWE Can Delay Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk

The reported direction also allows WWE to avoid immediately returning to Roman Reigns versus CM Punk.

Reigns and Punk have already shared WWE’s biggest stage, and another singles match remains valuable enough to save for a future premium live event. Removing the championship from Punk gives WWE a logical reason to delay that rematch without removing him from the main-event picture.

Punk can now pursue Zayn, address the interference that cost him the championship or enter another major rivalry while Reigns moves toward Crown Jewel.

That creates several possible challengers for Zayn before November. Johnny Gargano, Kevin Owens and Punk all have reasons to target the new champion following the chaotic conclusion in Mexico City.

Is Sami Zayn’s Second Reign Built to Last?

The Crown Jewel report suggests Zayn’s championship victory was not simply a temporary decision made to create a shocking television moment.

WWE reportedly wants him positioned as champion for a major international main event against one of the company’s biggest stars. That could give Zayn’s second reign more direction and importance than his first.

However, plans in professional wrestling can always change. Zayn may still need to survive multiple challengers before Crown Jewel, and WWE has not officially confirmed that the champion-versus-champion format will return in 2026.

For now, the clearest reported destination is Sami Zayn versus Roman Reigns—a match built on championship stakes, years of Bloodline history and unfinished business between two former allies.

How do you feel about WWE putting the championship back on Sami Zayn? Let us know whether his second reign should continue beyond Crown Jewel.