Nine days. That’s all Sami Zayn got with the Undisputed WWE Championship before CM Punk took it from him in Chicago on Monday night, and the internet has been on fire ever since. Look, Punk winning the title in his hometown at the Allstate Arena is a genuinely great visual β the man is one of the best the business has ever produced β but nine days is a burial dressed up as a celebration, and WWE’s creative team owes Zayn’s fanbase better than that. The reign felt less like a story and more like a placeholder, and when Lars Sullivan crawled out from whatever rock he lives under to make disgusting comments about Zayn’s supporters online, it put an ugly exclamation mark on an already frustrating 48 hours. The match itself clocked in at 20:27 per the F4W stats, which at least tells us they tried to give Sami a proper send-off on the way out β but effort in the ring doesn’t fix what was clearly a short-sighted booking decision at the top.
Bayley And Lyra Valkyria To Meet Face-to-Face; Sol Ruca Retains With An Assist From IYO SKY
The Bayley and Lyra Valkyria programme continues to simmer, and honestly, it’s one of the more compelling women’s stories on Raw right now β Valkyria’s heel turn in London had genuine shock value and Bayley’s response has felt authentic rather than scripted. Meanwhile, Brie Bella and Paige are your women’s tag champions, which is a sentence that still takes a moment to process in 2026, but the division is clearly leaning into legacy names alongside the new blood. Sol Ruca getting a boost from IYO SKY suggests WWE hasn’t forgotten about the Damage CTRL ecosystem even as it evolves, and keeping SKY involved in the title picture in some form is never a bad call.
Jack Perry’s AEW Future Uncertain
Bryan Alvarez flagging that Jack Perry hasn’t re-signed and is “very shortly” out of contract is the kind of news that should have AEW fans paying close attention, because Perry has quietly become one of the most compelling characters in the company. Whether this is leverage play, genuine uncertainty, or a quiet goodbye remains to be seen β but the fact that nothing is done yet, with the clock apparently ticking loudly, suggests this isn’t just routine negotiation. If he walks, the question of where he lands next becomes one of the most interesting free agency stories of the year.
AEW’s Gabe Kidd Wins Title In NJPW, Spits In Hiroshi Tanahashi’s Face
Gabe Kidd is operating at a level of unhinged that very few people on the planet can pull off convincingly, and spitting in the face of Hiroshi Tanahashi β a man who is essentially Japanese wrestling royalty β is either the most committed character work in the business right now or the fastest way to get yourself quietly blacklisted from a Tokyo arena. Either way, it’s gold around his waist and heat in abundance, and the AEW-NJPW working relationship continues to produce genuinely interesting cross-promotional moments. Kidd is a name you should be paying attention to if you aren’t already.
WWE’s Current Stance on Japan Expansion Plans Revealed
So WWE would *like* to expand into Japan but isn’t exactly rushing to plant a flag β which, translated from corporate speak, means they see the opportunity but respect the complexity of a market where NJPW and STARDOM have deep cultural roots that don’t just evaporate because Vince McMahon’s successor wants a Tokyo dome date. The Gabe Kidd situation and the ongoing AEW-NJPW relationship mean the landscape over there is already crowded with compelling product. WWE tiptoeing around Japan rather than bulldozing in might actually be the smartest thing they do this year.
The Great Khali Confirms He’s Retired from Full-Time Wrestling
Khali confirming retirement is hardly a shock β the man’s knees have been sending that memo for years β but there’s something genuinely touching about a WWE Hall of Famer closing that chapter officially rather than just fading out. He left the door open for a nostalgia appearance, which feels right; a WrestleMania moment or a Hall of Fame evening where he towers over the crowd one more time would be a fine send-off. Credit to him for knowing when the story is over.
Podcast Movement Voting Session Open, Vote For Fightful Personality
Fightful’s Kate is pitching a session at Podcast Movement 2026 and wants your votes, which is genuinely worth a few seconds of your time if you appreciate the behind-the-scenes craft of building an audience. This is technically a housekeeping item rather than breaking news, but the wrestling media ecosystem is part of the fabric of this industry and the people doing it well deserve their flowers. Go vote if you’re inclined.
Possible Spoiler On Sheamus’ Name After End Of WWE Run
S. Farrelly appearing on Sheamus’s social media accounts is the kind of breadcrumb that tells you a man is thinking about life after a character he’s inhabited for nearly two decades. Whether that means indie dates, a NJPW run, or something entirely outside wrestling, Stephen Farrelly has more than earned the right to write his next chapter on his own terms. The Celtic Warrior gimmick was special β here’s hoping whatever comes next lets him show a different side.
Lars Sullivan Says Only Muslims and Virgins Want Sami Zayn After WWE Title Loss
There’s no dressing this up β Lars Sullivan making bigoted, dehumanising comments about Sami Zayn’s fanbase is reprehensible, and it doesn’t become less so because he’s a fringe figure shouting into the void. It poured petrol onto an already frustrated fanbase and gave the worst corners of wrestling Twitter exactly the chaos they wanted. This doesn’t need a hot take β it just needs to be called what it is: ugly, stupid, and beneath the dignity of anyone who claims to love this industry.
WWE Raw July 6, 2026 Stats, Match Times And More
Nearly 49 minutes of in-ring action across four matches is a solid number for a three-hour Raw, and the Punk-Zayn main event getting 20-plus minutes shows WWE understood the assignment at least in execution. The tag title match on the shorter end of the card suggests the women’s and midcard matches filled out the middle sensibly enough. Whatever the booking frustrations, the production and match quality on Raw remains genuinely strong week to week.
Jack Perry’s Current AEW Status as Contract Deadline Nears
Doubling down on the Perry situation because it warrants it β Alvarez’s language has shifted from “uncertain” to “clock is running out fast,” which is a meaningful escalation in tone for someone who chooses his words carefully. AEW losing Perry right now, given how much momentum his character has built, would sting. Tony Khan has shown he can keep talent happy when he wants to; the question is whether both sides want the same future badly enough to make it happen before the buzzer.
π€ The WAW Take
That’s your Tuesday wrapped β a dethroned champion, a spitting incident in Tokyo, and a contract situation that could reshape the roster landscape before the week is out. Wrestling never really lets you catch your breath, which is exactly why we keep showing up. Stay loud, stay informed, and for the love of everything sacred, give Sami Zayn a proper reign next time.