CM Punk Retains WWE Championship Against Kevin Owens After Sami Zayn’s Interference On 8/21 WWE SmackDown
CM Punk retains the WWE Championship against Kevin Owens after receiving help from Sami Zayn.
On the August 21 WWE SmackDown, CM Punk and Kevin Owens battled over the WWE Championship. Owens had the support of a hometown crowd in this match, as Punk was booed during his entrance and throughout the bout.
At one point in the match, Punk locked Owens in the Anaconda Vice submission, but Owens managed to escape by rolling to his side. The Cult of Personality continued to target Owens’ neck throughout the bout, drawing a negative reaction from the fans.
Punk tried to hit him with the GTS, but Owens escaped and locked Punk in a Sharpshooter.
The ref is OUT! 😨 pic.twitter.com/xkU8KXaJmO
— WWE (@WWE) August 22, 2026
A referee bump took place shortly afterward, and Owens hit Punk with the Stunner. Since there was no referee to count the pin, the match continued. Moments later, Punk hit him with the GTS, but once again, there was no official available to count the pin.
Not this time, @SamiZayn! 😤 pic.twitter.com/IYDHY5WMhB
— WWE (@WWE) August 22, 2026
As Punk tried to bring the referee back to the ring, Sami Zayn attacked him from behind. The referee was back now. In the ring, Owens hits Punk with the Stunner, but only gets a near fall. Sami slides the WWE Title to the ring (referee out again) and asks Owens to use it against Punk.
What are you doing, @SamiZayn?! 😳 pic.twitter.com/Gsw43CUaaR
— WWE (@WWE) August 22, 2026
Owens refused, so Sami hit him with the title instead. Punk takes advantage of the situation and lands another GTS on Owens. This time, he gets the pinfall. Punk retains the WWE Championship.
.@SamiZayn is RELENTLESS! pic.twitter.com/6T1COdExEC
— WWE (@WWE) August 22, 2026
After the match, Sami attacked both Punk and Owens with the WWE Championship.
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