On the July 6 episode of Monday Night Raw, the Undisputed WWE Championship changed hands, throwing the online wrestling community into a meltdown. CM Punk took the title from Sami Zayn in Chicago. Zayn's reign was cut short after just nine days, sparking immediate backlash.

As Ringside News reported, CM Punk defeated Sami Zayn for the Undisputed WWE Championship. The fallout backstage was incredibly tense, with footage showing Zayn breaking down in a furious, F-bomb-laced rant. Zayn raged over Punk returning from injury and immediately taking the top spot.

Enter Jim Cornette. The legendary promoter addressed the backlash on his podcast. Known for his harsh critiques of modern wrestling, Cornette surprised many by defending WWE's booking. He argued that the match was a classic world title main event that worked.

The Value of In-Ring Realism

Cornette rejected the idea that the match was a cheap booking shortcut. He praised both performers for their execution and physicality. In his view, the match worked because it relied on selling and ring psychology rather than garbage-wrestling stunts.

“So, they actually had, I know this will surprise some people, a wrestling match. This was a good match. And without doing a blow-by-blow, the point is if they did something that we normally criticize, when they traded punches and forearms, they actually threw ones that looked good and then they sold and reacted to them when they landed. It doesn’t have to just be stand there and look stupid. And both these guys can work and their s*** looks good, but they were serious about it. They didn’t bury the referee. They didn’t use any furniture. There was no [stuff] on the floor forever. It was a serious main event world title match.”

This highlights a major issue in modern wrestling, which is often plagued by cooperative spots. Punk and Zayn avoided this by making their strikes look credible and selling the impact. By keeping the action inside the ring, they kept the title feeling prestigious.

Many modern matches suffer from a lack of selling, where competitors brush off big moves. Punk and Zayn did the opposite. Cornette appreciated this traditional focus on physical realism.

The Drama of the Near-Falls

The match built to its climax through a series of logical near-falls. Punk hit a top-rope elbow drop and locked in the Anaconda Vice. The Chicago crowd erupted, expecting a submission, but Zayn managed to escape and shift the momentum.

Zayn then hit Punk's own finisher, the Go To Sleep, creating a massive reaction. He followed up with a second GTS and a Blue Thunder Bomb. The referee's hand hit the mat twice, but Punk kicked out, leaving the live audience stunned.

Cornette explained that the sequence worked because they built the drama logically. He noted: “Then they started hitting each other’s finish. Sammy hit a Go To Sleep and got a big pop on a two-count… Then Punk foiled the kick… Sammy got another GTS and hit the Blue Thunder and got a two-count. And the place is rocking with the CM Punk chants.”

This sequence forced the audience to consider the possibility of a Zayn victory in Chicago. That uncertainty is what made the actual finish land with such impact.

By utilizing Punk's own finisher, Zayn subverted expectations. The struggle felt like an athletic contest where both men were desperate to win, a refreshing change from formulaic main events.

The Anatomy of a Clean Finish

The final moments of the match did not rely on run-ins or distractions. Instead, Punk avoided Zayn's Helluva Kick, hit a knee strike, and delivered Zayn's own finisher. Punk then hit the GTS to secure the 1-2-3 count.

“And then they get into another slugfest. And then Punk hit the knee and sidestepped a kick and he hit the Helluva Kick and then hit the GTS. One, two, three. It was a great match and a great finish to it because it got the people up and then it hit them and it paid off in a way that they could blow on rather than them see it coming a mile away because they’re all down in a goddamn chin lock for 45 seconds beforehand immobile or just something out of nowhere because they’d run out of [stuff] to do. It built to the end.”

This sequence showed Cornette's preference for matches that build to a logical peak. He hates matches that rely on slow, rest-hold pacing. Punk and Zayn kept the intensity high until the final bell.

Still, booking Zayn to lose the title after just nine days is a questionable move. It risks cooling off one of WWE's most organic babyfaces. Putting the championship on Punk, who has struggled with injuries, is a high-risk gamble.

Simplifying the Presentation

For Cornette, this match should serve as a template for other wrestlers. He believes modern performers rely too much on high-risk stunts. He argued that the Chicago main event proved that basic wrestling mechanics are still the most effective tool in the industry.

To Cornette, the message is clear. He added: “So, if anybody wonders what we’re talking about when we say you don’t have to do all that stupid s*** to have a good wrestling match, there’s one. Watch that.”

This statement is a direct shot at promotions relying on weapons and table spots. Cornette has long argued that these stunts desensitize the audience. The RAW main event achieved maximum crowd reaction using standard strikes and finishers.

Brian Last Weighs In

Cornette's co-host, Brian Last, agreed with the assessment. Last pointed out that the match was one of the strongest episodes of RAW in recent memory, placing the credit on the shoulders of the champion and the challenger. He remarked: “I thought it was excellent. I thought it was an excellent main event. One of the better Raws in a long time… Sami Zayn really is just a special in-ring talent… CM Punk looked great.”

Last's comments highlight Zayn's value. Even in defeat, Zayn's performance elevated Punk's title win. Zayn's connection with the audience makes him the perfect opponent to build sympathy.

Cornette agreed, focusing on Zayn's ability to sell pain. However, the praise came with a sharp critique. He noted: “He’s an exceptional seller as a baby face… He looks like s***, but everything else is there.”

This comment highlights a classic wrestling debate. Traditionalists value in-ring performance above all else, but they still want a world champion to look like a star. Zayn's everyday appearance remains both his greatest asset and his biggest hurdle.

Despite his appearance, Zayn's work rate is undeniable. He made Punk look like a champion, making the title feel like something worth fighting for. The question now is where both men go from here.

With Punk holding the Undisputed WWE Championship and Zayn seeking revenge, WWE has a compelling story. Cornette believes the match set a new standard for RAW main events. The challenge now is maintaining that quality.