Chicago wrestler CM Punk reclaims undisputed WWE championship
Tap title to read story
In Chicago on Monday night, CM Punk made a dramatic return to WWE’s “Monday Night Raw,” replacing an injured Cody Rhodes in the main event and defeating Sami Zayn to capture the Undisputed WWE Championship. Zayn, who had finally won the title just nine days earlier after a 24‑year career climb, reacted backstage with an emotional promo questioning how Punk received an immediate title opportunity after months away. His brief reign followed a triple-threat match at Night of Champions involving Rhodes and Gunther. With less than a month until SummerSlam in Minneapolis, Punk is now positioned as the defending champion.
More context
Timeline
- Night of Champions, recent past Zayn wins triple-threat championship
- Night of Champions, recent past Rhodes miscalculates Zayn, gets pinned
- Last week Rhodes beats Jey Uso, top contender
- Last week Gunther injures Rhodes before rematch
- Monday night Punk returns on Raw, Chicago crowd
- Monday night Punk replaces Rhodes, faces Zayn
- Monday night Punk defeats Zayn, claims undisputed title
- Next month Punk expected champion entering SummerSlam
Why it matters
If you're a WWE fan, this is big. CM Punk's return shakes up the game. His win over Zayn means a fresh storyline for SummerSlam. It's a chance to see a seasoned champ defend his title. Keep an eye on the WWE Network for updates.
JQJO Editorial Desk · Human reviewed · AI assisted. Report a correction.
