CM Punk retains WWE Championship against Kevin Owens at SmackDown

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CM Punk defeated Kevin Owens to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship Friday on SmackDown. The win came after Sami Zayn decked Owens with the title belt after KO refused to use it to clock Punk, spurning Zayn’s assistance. “Not this time, not like this,” Owens shouted at Zayn before slamming the belt into Zayn’s chest, prompting a violent response. Not this time? Not like this? Seriously? Why the hell not? Owens earned this title match against Punk after he was named as a surprise entrant in a No. 1 contender’s match at SummerSlam. Owens clearly had no problem gaining an unfair advantage over his unprepared opponents that night. Let’s go back even further to Saturday Night’s Main Event in December 2024. There, Owens tried to use a chair to beat Cody Rhodes for the WWE title. Except it backfired on Owens, and Rhodes won after dropping him on the chair with a Cross Rhodes. To date, Owens only has one WWE world title on his resume: the now-defunct Universal Championship, which he won after an assist from his boss, Paul “Triple H” Levesque. I could cite other questionable behavior by Owens, especially in title matches, but I think you get the picture. Why he developed a conscience when it came to Punk, someone he’s on the record as hating, is baffling to me. And it’s his wishy-washy values, not Zayn’s interference, that cost him the WWE Championship. In kayfabe, at least. In reality? It’s a dopey creative move, but I get it. WWE is telling a story here, so let it play out. Fine. I will. But that doesn’t mean I can’t look at the booking and ask: Why did a notorious cheater suddenly decide not to cheat to win wrestling’s most prestigious title after returning from a near-career-ending neck injury while facing someone he loathes? Perhaps WWE will address that loophole through an Owens promo next week on SmackDown. I wouldn’t hold my breath, though. Based on the reaction from fans inside the arena, I’m assuming most will happily go along for the ride. I will, too, but I will be riding shotgun next to Zayn, whose values are at least clearly defined.