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BREAKING: Sami Zayn Dethrones Cody Rhodes At WWE Night Of Champions

By Faiz Ahmed • Published Jun 27, 2026 15:56 EDT
Sami Zayn WWE Promo Smackdown
Sami Zayn WWE Promo Smackdown - Image via WWE.com

The main event of WWE Night of Champions featured an intense triple threat clash for the Undisputed WWE Championship between Gunther, Sami Zayn, and the champion, Cody Rhodes.

Gunther and Rhodes fought for the title on SmackDown last week while Zayn served as the Guest Referee, but he executed a fast count to cost the Ring General the title once again.

Both Cody and Gunther agreed to a rematch on the spot, but Zayn interfered in that match as well, causing it to end in a no-contest. This led the SmackDown General Manager, Nick Aldis, to announce a triple threat match for tonight.

Gunther began the match by immediately taking Zayn out with a kick to the head, leading to a short singles match with Cody as Sami recovered on the outside.

The Ring General began dominating the match from the get-go, taking care of both Cody and Sami simultaneously. The champion took the fight to Gunther and got back in the match with a Cody Cutter to the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion.

He then hit him with a Powerslam and then followed it up with a double Cody Cutter to both Gunther and Sami. Cody looked to get the pin with a Sunset Flip powerbomb, but Gunther recovered and got back in the match.

His pin attempt was broken by Sami, who took him out of the equation and hit a Blue Thunder Bomb on Cody for a two-count. He had Cody set up for a Helluva Kick, but Gunther dragged Sami by his legs and into the ringpost crotch-first.

He then continued his brawl with Cody, but the Champion hit a CrossRhodes on the Ring General. Cody came agonisingly close to winning, but Sami pulled the referee out of the ring, costing Cody the match.

Sami Zayn creates history at WWE Night of Champions

These two friends-turned-enemies then began fighting with each other, and Zayn hit a massive Brainbuster on Cody. His pin attempt was broken by Gunther with a Splash, who then hit a powerbomb each on Cody and Zayn.

He went for another powerbomb on Zayn, but he reversed it into the Sunset Flip powerbomb for a two-count on Gunther. Zayn then hit a Helluva Kick on Gunther, and this time Cody pulled the referee out of the ring to deny Sami the win.

The two men then began brawling on the outside, and Sami tried to hit a Package Piledriver onto the announce table, but the American Nightmare hit a back body drop on Zayn through the announce table.

This allowed Gunther to get back into the match. and he hit Cody with two massive powerbombs through the other announce table. He then dragged Cody into the ring and locked in the Sleeper Hold on Cody.

Rhodes got out of the hold somehow, but Gunther was locked in the hold again almost immediately. Cody was about to pass out, but Zayn grabbed his arm, forcing Gunther to let go of the hold.

Zayn brawled with Gunther and hit him with the Helluva Kick to win the match, but Gunther kicked out at the last second to deny him his first WWE World Championship. A recovered Cody then hit Gunther with a Cody Cutter from the top rope.

He then grabbed Sami in the CrossRhodes, but Zayn turned it around and hit Cody with his own move. He was about to hit another Helluva Kick, but Gunther grabbed him in the Sleeper Hold. Cody then hit a double CrossRhodes on both of them.

He held Zayn in position as Gunther went out of the ring. However, Zayn reversed the attempt and caught Cody in a quick roll-up pin and pinned Rhodes to become the new Undisputed WWE Champion.

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