Backstage Update on Awkward Ending To Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn Match For Undisputed WWE Title at 9/18 WWE SmackDown Show

This past Friday’s WWE SmackDown show in Corpus Christi, Texas featured Sami Zayn defeating Kevin Owens to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship.

This match was notable for Johnny Gargano, Candice LeRae, and CM Punk interfering and an awkward ending sequence that involved Zayn hitting Owens with the title belt and covering him for a successful three count pinfall by the referee who then didn’t call for the bell despite Owens’ shoulders being down the whole time. This led to Zayn setting up and hitting a Helluva Kick to Owens and covered him again for another three count pin and the referee calling for the bell to make Zayn’s victory official.

Fightful Select reported that their sources within WWE stated that Owens was never supposed to kick out after the belt shot by Zayn and the match was originally planned to end after that.

Those spoken to reportedly stated that after the referee failed to properly call for the bell to end the match, the finish had to be changed on the spot.