WWE

Sami Zayn Retains WWE Title Over Kevin Owens as CM Punk Interference Finish Draws Criticism

SEPTEMBER 24, 2026 · 2 MIN READ

By WAW NewsroomSource-led reporting

Sami Zayn retained the Undisputed WWE Championship against Kevin Owens in the main event of the September 18, 2026 episode of WWE SmackDown, in a finish that has drawn scrutiny from wrestling media. According to Fightful, the conclusion of the title match saw CM Punk get involved, hitting Owens with the title belt before Zayn covered him for the referee’s three count.

Fightful reported that the finish to the Zayn-Owens match was described as “absolutely blundered,” though the outlet did not specify further details on what went wrong in the execution of the sequence. The report did not detail what has led to CM Punk’s involvement in the Zayn-Owens rivalry or what consequences, if any, might follow from his interference.

SmackDown Ratings for Zayn’s First Title Defense Episode

The September 18 episode marked the first SmackDown broadcast following Zayn’s win of the WWE Championship, and viewership saw a modest uptick. According to Wrestlenomics, as cited by Ringside News, the show drew 1,264,000 viewers on USA Network with a 0.29 rating in the key 18-49 demographic. Wrestling Headlines reported the audience was up approximately four percent from the previous week, though the total still fell below SmackDown’s rolling 10-week average entering the episode.

The uptick came during a week in which other major wrestling programs saw viewership dip. Ringside News reported that AEW Collision on September 19 drew 337,000 viewers on TNT with a 0.04 rating in the 18-49 demographic, a slight drop from the previous week. TNA iMPACT on September 17 drew 207,000 viewers on AMC with a 0.04 rating in the same demographic, which Ringside News characterized as a noticeable drop from the week prior, citing Dave Meltzer.