​Sami Zayn has reached the pinnacle of WWE by overcoming both Gunther and Cody Rhodes at Night of Champions, sealing a long, hard-fought rise that spans more than a decade. His crowning moment unfolded before a thrilled Saudi Arabia crowd, a milestone that ranks among the year’s most significant moments in 2026. Yet, the win caught many by surprise, and apparently WWE didn’t fully anticipate it themselves until late in the planning process. In fact, there was already a plan to have Zayn win the belt, but not at Night of Champions.
WWE’s original plan reportedly targeted a title victory for Zayn at WrestleMania the following year, again in Saudi Arabia. That storyline would have been enormous in its own right. However, according to Cory Hays of False Finish, the sheer scale of intertwining Rhodes and Gunther in the ongoing storyline elevated Zayn’s status even further, pushing him to an even higher peak. This development also opens up fresh directions for WWE, with Rhodes potentially renewing his clash with Roman Reigns while Oba Femi and Sami Zayn could play pivotal roles moving forward.
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