Sami Zayn’s reign as Undisputed WWE Champion has reportedly divided opinion at the highest levels of the company, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Zayn won the title for the second time by defeating CM Punk on the September 11, 2026, episode of SmackDown in Mexico City.
Per the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, as relayed by eWrestlingNews, “When it was reported that Sami Zayn being champion was a heavily debated topic internally,” it pointed to a split within TKO over whether the babyface underdog is the right choice to carry the company’s top title.
Wrestling Inc. and WrestleZone both characterized the internal sentiment as “mixed feelings,” noting that fan reaction to Zayn’s title win has similarly been divided since the Mexico City show. WrestleZone reported that some believe Zayn deserves the spotlight atop the card, while others have questioned whether he is suited to be presented as the top champion.
The reports do not specify which individuals within TKO hold which position, nor do they detail any planned response to the debate, such as a change in creative direction or an upcoming title match. As of the reports’ publication on September 25, 2026, Zayn remains the Undisputed WWE Champion following his win over Punk.
