CM Punk defeats Sami Zayn for the WWE Undisputed Championship on Raw

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It was supposed to be Sami Zayn defending the WWE Undisputed Championship against Cody Rhodes on “Monday Night Raw.”

But an attack by Gunther to start the show forced Rhodes off the card and left bloodied. WWE officials ruled Rhodes out. Zayn thought he was in a clear situation, but Raw general manager Adam Pearce made it clear to him that he will continue defending the title.

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CM Punk and Sami Zayn face off during Monday Night RAW at Allstate Arena on July 6, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Melina Pizano/WWE via Getty Images)

Fans waited with bated breath to see who would walk to the ring to face Zayn. The crowd hoped, guessed, that it would be CM Punk. Lo and behold, the garage door opened and Punk walked through.

It had been months since the professional wrestling world had seen him. He had just lost the World Heavyweight Championship to Roman Reigns and reminded Rhodes to “be prepared because you never know when a championship opportunity will fall from the sky.” The sky must have been falling in Chicago and Punk came in as an automatic challenger.

Punk took off his shirt and the match began. There were questions about how Punk would fare against Zayn after almost three months off. But he took advantage of the momentum the crowd gave him.

Zayn, however, was showing why he was a champion. Although he was ejected from the ring, he regained the advantage in the match with a series of stomps and a double axehandle from the top rope. Both competitors were giving their all in the main event of the show. Zayn hit Punk with a Blue Thunder Bomb, but Punk wouldn’t stay down.

CM Punk celebrates after winning the Undisputed WWE Championship title during Monday Night RAW at Allstate Arena on July 6, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Melina Pizano/WWE via Getty Images)

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Punk came back with a bulldog and an elbow off the top rope. He then attempted to make Zayn submit with an Anaconda Vice in the middle of the ring. Zayn showed his awareness of the ring and got out of it. Zayn rolled Punk and nearly pinned him.

Punk had Zayn on his shoulders for Go to Sleep. However, Zayn reversed it and hit Punk with his own finisher. But Punk just wouldn’t stay down. Punk avoided a Helluva Kick and hit an exploder suplex in the corner, taking a move out of Zayn’s playbook.

Zayn hit a Go to Sleep again and combined it with a Blue Thunder Bomb. Still, Punk came off a pin. “CM Punk” chants broke out after the final kick. An exasperated Zayn told Punk that he was now the champion as he continued to beat him.

Punk, with a split lip, hit Zayn with the Helluva Kick and then the Go to Sleep. Pinned Zayn to become the undisputed WWE Champion. Zayn’s reign lasted nine days.