Edited by Michael Ingbian
Edited by Paul Elegbeleye
When WWE announced that Cody Rhodes and CM Punk would face Gunther and Sami Zayn in a tag match, the internet immediately went wild. It wasn’t just some random tag team match. It was four of the biggest names in WWE with unfinished business who were forced to put their differences aside for one night only.
To add more hype, the General Manager stated that if Gunther and Sami Zayn won the tag match, it would turn into a Fatal Four-Way match at SummerSlam where all four men would compete for the championship.
All of a sudden, the match became about more than just a tag team bout-it became an opportunity to be placed in one of SummerSlam’s most important championship matches.
In this match, we had Cody Rhodes and CM Punk, two of WWE’s biggest stars with immense passion and championship hunger. Against them, we had Gunther, the dominating and seemingly unstoppable “Ring General” and Sami Zayn, the beloved fan favourite who many believe was robbed of his WWE Championship reign.
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What was Expected
Many expected Sami Zayn and Gunther to walk out as the winners of the match. Gunther’s reign of dominance, coupled with Sami Zayn’s determination to become a two-time WWE Champion, was thought to be the perfect combination to expose any tension between Cody Rhodes and CM Punk.
Many were also expecting some sort of dissension or conflict between Cody Rhodes and CM Punk as they are two of the most dominant individuals in WWE and never hesitate to place their individual interests above others. It was thought that this match would be a catalyst to break them up and set up a future rivalry for the top championship.
With the added incentive of a potential Fatal Four-Way match for the championship at SummerSlam had Sami Zayn and Gunther won, it further strengthened the expectations of a breakup between Cody Rhodes and CM Punk. For Sami Zayn, many felt this match would be the steppingstone on his journey back to the WWE Championship as he was one of the most talked about stars of the past year.
What was Delivered
Instead, the exact opposite occurred.
Cody Rhodes and CM Punk displayed a surprising level of chemistry, putting aside their personal differences for the betterment of their team. They demonstrated that they could work together harmoniously, even with championship aspirations looming in the background.
The same could not be said for Sami Zayn and Gunther. While both are talented performers in their own right, they struggled to work as a cohesive unit and could not find the same momentum as Cody Rhodes and CM Punk.
Ultimately, Cody Rhodes and CM Punk emerged victorious, leaving the WWE Universe with more questions than answers.
More Than Just a Tag Team Match
The story here was not simply about who won the match. It was about the fact that Cody Rhodes and CM Punk were able to put their personal ambitions aside and work together, while Sami Zayn once again came up short in a major match.
The General Manager’s stipulation had massive implications because it eliminated the possibility of a championship match at SummerSlam involving all four men. Had Gunther and Sami Zayn won, it would have been a huge story and potentially placed all four men into the championship picture.
But at the end of the day, not every match is about championships. It is about momentum and direction.
And on this night, momentum was firmly in the corner of Cody Rhodes and CM Punk.
Even if the outcome of the match was not what the WWE Universe expected, it still delivered a compelling narrative that has left fans eager to see what unfolds next.
Also Read: Sami Zayn Waited Years for the WWE Championship. Did His Reign End Too Soon?
