Sami Zayn SummerSlam Opponent If He Loses Undisputed WWE Title

WWE

At WWE Night of Champions 2026, Sami Zayn defeated Cody Rhodes and GUNTHER to win the Undisputed WWE Championship.

However, there have been various reports indicating that this title reign for Zayn will not be lasting very long.

Despite WWE SummerSlam 2026 taking place in four weeks, it seems like the company will have to discuss possible opponents for Zayn outside of the Undisputed WWE Championship picture.

Here are seven potential Sami Zayn SummerSlam opponents if he loses the Undisputed WWE Title.

7. Cody Rhodes

Over the past few months, tensions have been rising between Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn.

After he failed to win the Undisputed WWE Championship at Royal Rumble 2026, Zayn has been expressing his frustrations with the perceived preferential treatment that Rhodes has received from the company.

Now that Zayn pinned Rhodes to finally become WWE Champion, it should be interesting to see these former friends feud with or without the title involved.

Considering the star power and name recognition of both men, Rhodes facing Zayn could be a high profile non-title grudge match on the WWE SummerSlam 2026 card.

6. GUNTHER

Back at WWE WrestleMania 40 in 2024, Sami Zayn defeated GUNTHER to win the Intercontinental Championship and end GUNTHER’s record-breaking 666-day reign.

Later that year, Zayn came up short against ‘The Ring General’ for the World Heavyweight Championship.

Following WWE Night of Champions 2026, Zayn has not only cost GUNTHER the title as the special guest referee on the June 19 SmackDown, but he has also won the gold for himself.

If he loses the Undisputed WWE Championship soon, Zayn could face GUNTHER at SummerSlam 2026, who might be responsible for why he loses the title in the first place.

5. Trick Williams

At WWE WrestleMania 42 night two, Trick Williams defeated Sami Zayn to win the United States Championship.

The feud continued into WWE Backlash 2026 where Williams once again overcame Zayn to retain the title.

After spending months trying to deny the rise of Williams, things have gotten intriguing as Zayn was able to capture a world title before the current United States Champion.

In a big time WrestleMania rematch, Trick defending the US Title against Zayn could make for the official blowoff of this rivalry at the WWE SummerSlam 2026 premium live event.

4. Rey Fenix

Over the past year, Sami Zayn and Rey Fenix seemingly formed some sort of friendship on Friday Night SmackDown.

After successfully defending the United States Championship against the luchador, Zayn showed his respect and befriended Fenix where the two even teamed with one another.

However, Fenix was part of the viewing of the Gingerbread Man funeral, which Zayn was not pleased with at all.

Taking out his frustrations on potentially losing the Undisputed WWE Championship, Zayn could betray and attack Fenix to set the stage for the SummerSlam 2026 PLE.

3. Drew McIntyre

At WWE WrestleMania 42 night one, Jacob Fatu defeated Drew McIntyre in an unsanctioned match.

Following this loss, McIntyre has not been seen on WWE television in a number of weeks.

Rumors have circulated that ‘The Scottish Warrior’ could be on his way back to WWE ahead of SummerSlam 2026.

After finally winning the Undisputed WWE Championship, Sami Zayn might want to get the job done for the first time against McIntyre in a huge non-title bout on the SummerSlam 2026 card.

2. Randy Orton

Another WWE star that fans have not seen on the company’s programming since WrestleMania 42 is Randy Orton.

‘The Legend Killer’ is someone who closed Mania by attacking Cody Rhodes with the Undisputed WWE Championship belt and a Punt Kick to the head before holding up the title.

After losing his match against Rhodes, Orton could make his return in time for SummerSlam 2026 where he could face Sami Zayn.

With these two men displaying their friendship in the past, it would be a compelling battle to see Zayn clash with Orton at ‘The Biggest Party of the Summer’ even after losing the title.

1. CM Punk

At WWE WrestleMania 42 night two, Roman Reigns defeated CM Punk to win the World Heavyweight Championship.

Since the WWE Raw after Mania, fans have not seen ‘The Best In The World’ on the company’s television over the past few months.

Punk’s return has become one of the hot topics around the promotion at this time, which could happen as soon as the July 6 episode of WWE Raw from his hometown of Chicago, Illinois.

After his recent attitude change, Zayn could be confronted and challenged to a match by a returning Punk after losing the Undisputed WWE Championship, seeing the two top stars battling on a huge stage like SummerSlam 2026 in Minneapolis.

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• wwe
• SummerSlam
• Sami Zayn

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