Sami Zayn made his return on the July 17 episode of WWE SmackDown, ending his short mental health break. The former Undisputed WWE Champion showed up during the main event, attacked CM Punk, and turned the closing moments of the show into complete chaos involving Cody Rhodes and GUNTHER.
Zayn’s return comes at an important time before SummerSlam. At SNME, Cody Rhodes and WWE Champion CM Punk will face Gunther and Sami Zayn in a tag team match. If Gunther and Zayn win, they will both be added to the WWE Championship match at SummerSlam, turning it into a huge Fatal 4-Way.
With so much on the line, tensions were already high on SmackDown.
Sami Zayn returned and disrupted Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther on SmackDown
Even before the main event match began, Rhodes interrupted Gunther’s entrance. He threw him around the entrance area, slammed him into the apron, barricade, and announce table, then finally tossed him into the ring so the match could officially begin.
Once the bell rang, Rhodes stayed in control early. But Gunther fought back by knocking him off the top rope and sending him crashing to the floor.
The Ring General then focused on Rhodes’ leg. Although the American Nightmare managed to hit a Cody Cutter and a snap powerslam, Gunther answered with his powerful chops before going right back to attacking the knee.
As Gunther tried to slam Rhodes’ leg into the ring post, CM Punk ran to the ringside.
Earlier in the show, Punk had warned Rhodes that Gunther might try to injure him before their tag team match on Saturday. Rhodes wanted to handle things on his own, but Punk stepped in when he saw Gunther targeting Rhodes’ leg.
Punk stayed at ringside and cheered Rhodes on. Rhodes fought through Gunther’s submission holds, escaped a half-crab, and made a comeback by attacking Gunther’s leg. He even locked in the Figure Four Leglock.
It looked like the American Nightmare was taking control again.
That all changed when Sami Zayn suddenly appeared.
Wearing a “Justice for Sami” T-shirt, Zayn ran to the ring and immediately attacked Punk. He threw the WWE Champion over the announce desk. It was Zayn’s first appearance since taking a break after losing the WWE Championship to Punk just nine days into his title reign.
While Rhodes escaped Gunther’s Sleeper hold, he turned his attention to Zayn outside the ring and jumped onto Zayn, but the former WWE Champion fought back. He pulled Rhodes off the apron and smashed him face-first into the ring post.
The referee called for a disqualification, giving Cody Rhodes the win. But by that point, it hardly mattered.
After the bell, all four men started fighting around ringside and then in the ring. WWE officials and referees rushed out to separate them, but nobody could stop the chaos.
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