Sami Zayn was shoehorned into the title picture after the Undisputed WWE Championship match between Cody Rhodes and Gunther devolved into chaos.
In the latest episode of “SmackDown”, Rhodes defended his title against Gunther with Zayn as a special guest referee on the challenger’s request.
Things got heated between allies Rhodes and Zayn throughout the match, as the special guest referee employed strict enforcement of the rules.
At one point, Zayn stopped Rhodes’ illegal offence but Gunther capitalised the situation as he blindsided the champion off the distraction.
However, Gunther and Zayn butted heads when the referee physically pulled the Austrian away from the champion from a “Sleeper Hold” during a rope break.
Gunther shoved Zayn, as the latter responded with a slap to the face.
“The Ring General” did not take the slap kindly, as he hit Zayn with a “Powerbomb”.
Another referee was called to the match as Zayn was knocked out.
But Zayn got back up and pulled the second referee out during a pin attempt by Gunther.
Zayn then assisted Rhodes and did a fast count to help the champion retain his belt.
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Match restart
After a controversial ending to the match, “SmackDown” General Manager Nick Aldis argued with the three men backstage, and restarted the championship match on Rhodes’ request with a different referee as Gunther attacked Zayn once again.
As the two competitors went back to the ring and traded “Sleeper Holds”, Zayn also returned and hit Gunther with a “Helluva Kick”, ending the restarted match on a disqualification.
Zayn grabbed the WWE Championship belt and punched the referee.
He then hit Rhodes with the belt on accident, as Zayn exited the ring with a distraught look on his face.
After the chaos of the opening match, Aldis confronted Zayn backstage.
Zayn argued that he officiated the match fairly before Gunther attacked him, adding that Rhodes should be “thanking me because I’m the reason he is still WWE Champion”.
Triple threat at ‘Night of Champions’
In another backstage segment, Aldis apologised to Rhodes and said that he is “working on a solution”.
Rhodes said that there is only one solution to this fiasco, stating that he wants to beat both Zayn and Gunther.
Aldis agreed, and made a triple threat match official as Rhodes will defend his WWE Championship against one of his closest allies and an irate Austrian.
The match is set for “Night of Champions” on Saturday at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
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