WWE SmackDown Reaction: Sami Zayn Changes Everything

SmackDown delivered several interesting developments this week, but by the end of the night, one story towered above everything else: Sami Zayn's interference in the Undisputed WWE Championship match between CM Punk and Kevin Owens. Before we get there, though, Randy Orton, Damian Priest, Blake Monroe, Trick Williams, and others gave us plenty to talk about.

Randy Orton Calls Cody Rhodes the "Day Dream"

Randy Orton continues to get inside Cody Rhodes' head. Orton explained that Cody simply does not have what it takes to finish The Viper. According to Randy, Cody is still too much of the "good guy."

Orton even took a shot at Cody's famous nickname. Forget the American Nightmare. Randy essentially called him the American Day Dream.

That line works because it attacks Cody's identity. Randy is questioning whether Cody has the ruthlessness necessary to beat someone like him when everything is on the line. Cody may be one of WWE's biggest heroes, but Orton knows exactly how to turn that strength into a potential weakness.

And Randy isn't only looking at Cody.

He also warned CM Punk that he is coming for his 15th World Championship. That immediately raises the stakes. Orton isn't simply trying to beat Cody. He sees Cody as another obstacle between himself and another historic championship reign.

If Randy gets through Cody, CM Punk may have The Viper waiting in the grass.

Is It Time to End Priest and R-Truth?

Damian Priest and R-Truth lost another opportunity at the WWE Tag Team Championship, and this feels like it could be the end of their run together.

I enjoyed them as a team. Their personalities worked surprisingly well together, and R-Truth can make almost any partnership entertaining. But there comes a point when WWE has to ask what is next for Damian Priest.

For me, the answer is simple: let Priest go back to chasing singles championships.

Priest has already proven that he can operate at the top of the card. I would much rather see him chasing a World Championship in WWE, or even doing something unexpected by going after a major championship in AAA.

R-Truth and Priest had their run. It was fun. But Priest has too much potential as a singles competitor to remain stuck in a tag team that continues falling short.

Blake Monroe Makes an Impact Without Wrestling

Blake Monroe has made a strong presence since debuting on WWE television, which makes one thing particularly interesting: she still hasn't really needed a match to make people pay attention.

Her scheduled match against Giulia never happened.

Instead, Monroe attacked Giulia from behind before the bell and planted her with the Neutralizer.

That's one way to introduce yourself.

WWE is establishing Monroe as dangerous before allowing fans to see what she can do in an actual match. The question now becomes when WWE finally gives us that first real match and whether Giulia will be the opponent.

After what happened on SmackDown, Giulia certainly has a reason to want it.

Lil Yachty Holds the Key to Trick Williams' Title Shot

What started as celebrity involvement has suddenly become important to the United States Championship picture.

Lil Yachty's involvement has resulted in him having to step into the ring against Baron Corbin, and somehow Yachty now holds the key to Trick Williams getting another opportunity at the United States Championship.

That's a strange sentence to write, but welcome to professional wrestling.

Trick wants another shot at Corbin's championship, but his opportunity now depends on what happens between Corbin and Yachty.

It adds another wrinkle to the rivalry. Trick can't control his own destiny. Instead, he has to watch someone else determine whether he gets another chance at championship gold.

Kevin Owens Was Seconds Away From Beating CM Punk

The main event took a heavy turn.

CM Punk defended the Undisputed WWE Championship against Kevin Owens, and Owens may have every reason to believe that he should be champion right now.

Owens hit Punk with a Stunner.

That could have been it.

The problem? The referee was knocked out.

There was nobody available to make the three-count, and Owens lost what may have been his best opportunity to win the championship.

Then everything changed when Sami Zayn got involved.

Sami interfered and eventually struck Kevin Owens with the championship belt. Punk took advantage of the situation and retained the title.

Yes, CM Punk officially won the match.

But Kevin Owens can now say, I had Punk beaten.

Had the referee been conscious after that Stunner, we could be talking about Kevin Owens as the new Undisputed WWE Champion.

Sami Zayn Changes the Entire Championship Picture

This is where SmackDown left us with its biggest question.

What exactly is happening with Sami Zayn?

His interference directly cost Kevin Owens an opportunity to become champion. That is especially significant considering the history between Owens and Zayn.

Sami didn't accidentally cost his friend the championship. He hit Owens with the belt.

Now Kevin Owens has every reason to come after him.

At the same time, CM Punk walked away with his championship despite being dangerously close to losing it. Punk may have retained, but this wasn't the type of victory that completely settles the question of who was better.

And Randy Orton is lurking in the background talking about championship number 15.

Suddenly, the Undisputed WWE Championship picture is getting crowded.

You have CM Punk holding the championship. Kevin Owens believing he should have won it. Sami Zayn inserting himself into the title picture. Randy Orton promising that his 15th World Championship is coming. And Cody Rhodes still standing between Orton and his next opportunity.

That's a lot of moving pieces.

Final Thoughts

SmackDown wasn't just about who won and lost. It was about setting the board for what comes next.

Randy Orton continues trying to expose a more ruthless side of Cody Rhodes. Damian Priest may need to leave the tag-team experiment behind and return to the World Championship hunt. Blake Monroe is making an impact without even having an official match. Lil Yachty somehow holds Trick Williams' championship future in his hands.

But the closing minutes belonged to Kevin Owens, CM Punk, and Sami Zayn.

Owens had Punk in position for a three-count, but there was no referee to count it. Sami then took matters into his own hands and ultimately cost Owens the championship.

That shouldn't be forgotten.

Kevin Owens didn't simply lose to CM Punk. He lost an opportunity that was sitting right in front of him.

And when KO starts looking for someone to blame, he won't have to look very far.

Sami Zayn just made himself Kevin Owens' biggest problem.