The main event of the September 18 edition of WWE SmackDown featured a chaotic ending during the Undisputed WWE Championship match between Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens.
Late in the contest, CM Punk made his presence felt on the ring apron, hitting Owens with the WWE Championship belt. Zayn immediately capitalized by placing his arm over Owens for the pinfall. The referee administered a three-count while Owens remained planted on the canvas, yet the bell was never signaled to bring the match to a close. Sensing the hesitation, Zayn and Owens improvised on the fly, leading to Zayn delivering a Helluva Kick before covering Owens once more to secure the official victory and retain his title.
Backstage sources confirmed that Owens was never intended to kick out following the initial title belt shot. The original script called for the contest to end immediately on that first pinfall. However, when the referee failed to call for the bell after counting three, the competitors were forced to manufacture an impromptu finish to salvage the broadcast. While initial viewer speculation suggested Owens might have missed his cue to kick out, internal reports clarify that Owens executed his role as planned and the miscommunication lay in the refereeing signals.
Following the bell, CM Punk laid out both Zayn and Owens with Go To Sleep finishers, keeping the ongoing narrative tension alive between the three stars.
– El árbitro ordena que suene la campana, pero no suena
— LuigiWrestling (@LuigiWrestling) September 19, 2026
– Kevin Owens levanta el brazo, pero muy al final
– Sami Zayn se inventa una Helluva Kick que se ve que no estaba planeada
No entiendo nada de qué ha pasado aquí. #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/2yB8boZw0i
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