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 Undisputed WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes on “Monday Night Raw.”

But an attack from Gunther to start the show forced Rhodes off the card as he was left bloodied. WWE officials disqualified Rhodes. Zayn thought he was ready, but Raw General Manager Adam Pearce made it clear to him that he still wants to defend the title.

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

The fans waited with bated breath to see who would go to the ring to take on Zayn. The crowd hoped, guessed, it would be CM Punk. Lo and behold, the garage door opened and Punk walked through it.

It had been months since the professional wrestling world saw him. He had just lost the World Heavyweight Championship to Roman Reigns, and he reminded Rhodes to “get ready because you never know when a championship opportunity will just fall out of the sky.” The sky must have been falling in Chicago and Punk entered as an automatic contender.

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

However, Zayn showed why he was a champion. Although he was thrown out of the ring, he regained the advantage in the match with a series of stomps and a double ax handle from the top rope. Both competitors gave it 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 the 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 drop off the top rope. He then tried to get Zayn to tap out with an Anaconda Vice in the middle of the ring. Zayn showed his ring awareness and slipped out of it. Zayn rolled up Punk and kept him almost clean.

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

Zayn again hit a Go to Sleep and connected it with a Blue Thunder Bomb. Still, Punk kicked out of a pin. “CM Punk” chants broke out after the latest kick-out. An upset Zayn told Punk he was the champion now as he continued to taunt him.

Punk hit Zayn with the Helluva Kick and then the Go to Sleep, with the lip open. He made Zayn become the Undisputed WWE Champion. Zayn’s reign lasted a full nine days.