The finish to Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens’ Undisputed WWE Title match was not supposed to look like that.
WrestleVotes reports for Fightful Select that sources called the ending “absolutely blundered.”
The plan was straightforward. CM Punk would hit Owens with the title belt, Zayn would cover him, and the match would be over.
Owens kicked out instead, which was not part of it. With the bell never ringing, Zayn had to improvise and finish Owens with a Helluva Kick.
A number of people backstage were said to be unhappy afterward, feeling the original idea was not executed as designed.
The bigger complaint was what it cost the story. Punk’s involvement was viewed internally as a vital part of what WWE was building toward, and some felt the improvised ending stripped that out of the picture.
Punk has his own history with that belt. He lost the title to Zayn on the September 11 SmackDown in Mexico City after Owens accidentally hit him with it.
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