WWE SummerSlam 2026 Results As Kevin Owens Shockingly Returns, Pins Sami Zayn

Aug 03, 2026 05:25 AM - 1 hour ago 4

WWE SummerSlam 2026 gave Sami Zayn a changeable astatine redemption and Finn Balor a chance to reclaim his spot successful the main arena scene.

At Night of Champions successful June, Zayn captured his first world title successful WWE erstwhile he defeated Cody Rhodes and Gunther to seizure the WWE Championship. But Zayn would clasp the title for conscionable 9 days aft losing it to CM Punk connected Monday Night Raw.

While Zayn yet was fixed a rematch for the WWE Championship, that came pinch a caveat: he had to hit Finn Balor, who won a Fatal 4-Way match, astatine SummerSlam to get different changeable astatine it. Just erstwhile it looked for illustration Zayn would get a one-on-one lucifer against Balor to go No. 1 contender, SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis changed plans.

After his nonaccomplishment to Gunther connected SummerSlam Saturday, Aldis appeared during the opening conception connected Raw and dropped a bombshell: Both Gunther and a returning Kevin Owens, wrestling for the first clip successful 17 months, would beryllium added to the bout to make it a Fatal 4-Way.

ForbesWWE SummerSlam 2026 Results As Oba Femi Slays Brock LesnarBy Blake Oestriecher

WWE SummerSlam 2026 Results For Sami Zayn Vs. Finn Balor

Sami Zay’n’s chance to go a two-time WWE world champion was ruined by a acquainted foe.

In a shocking four-way lucifer that came retired of nowhere, Owens outlasted Gunther, Zayn and Balor astatine SummerSlam to go the No. 1 contender for the WWE Championship. Yes, that really happened. Owens, making an improbable return to the ring, picked up a immense triumph to gain a early WWE title shot.

Here are the cardinal highlights and biggest moments from Zayn vs. Balor astatine WWE SummerSlam 2026:

Owens exploded retired of the gross pinch cannonballs connected Gunther and Balor earlier an aggravated look down pinch Zayn. The 2 stars hugged it retired until Owens threw the first punch. Owens past deed a Swanton onto each 3 opponents connected the extracurricular arsenic the crowd continued to travel unglued.
Then, Owens deed a Swanton connected Gunther, who caught him successful a sleeper. Gunther nailed Balor and Owens pinch a brace of large boots, past blasted Zayn pinch a vicious chop. Balor mounted a little comeback connected Gunther, hitting a brace of sling blades connected Zayn and Gunther.
Balor went for the Coup de Grace but missed, past Gunther deed him pinch a powerbomb for a two-count and locked successful a Boston crab. That was surgery up by Owens, who stomped Gunther and past caught him pinch a large clothesline. Up top, Owens deed a apical statement encephalon buster connected Balor, and Zayn astir stole the pin.
Owens knocked Balor disconnected the apical statement and went for the Swanton explosive connected Zayn, who sewage the knees up to artifact it. As the ref checked connected Owens, Zayn went for the Helluva Kick, but Gunther intercepted and locked successful a sleeper, which was interrupted by a Coup de Grace by Gunther. At the past second, Gunther collapsed up Balor’s pin effort connected Zayn.
Owens deed Gunther pinch a superkicker and nailed Balor pinch a stunner earlier delivering 1 to Gunther too. Owens went for a stunner connected Zayn, but Zayn reversed it into a Blue Thunder Bomb for a very adjacent two-count. The crowd chanted “This is awesome!”
Zayn went for the Helluva Kick, but Owens caught him pinch a superkick and a stunner. That was capable for the 1-2-3 and the victory. That was quick.

WWE SummerSlam 2026 Results: What’s Next For Sami Zayn And Kevin Owens?

After his triumph astatine WWE SummerSlam 2026, Owens contiguous way is rather clear arsenic he will situation CM Punk, who defeated Cody Rhodes connected Saturday, for the WWE Championship successful the adjacent future.

The loser present is, of course, Zayn.

Zayn has a agelong history pinch Rhodes and, of course, conscionable mislaid the WWE Championship to Punk, making a feud pinch either man an intriguing possibility. When Zayn mislaid the WWE title to Punk little than 2 weeks aft winning it, location was a batch of chatter that he had been shortchanged and would ne'er get a ace astatine the WWE title again.

That could beryllium to beryllium existent aft each acknowledgment to the improbable return of Owens, who shocked the world by coming backmost conscionable a twelvemonth and a half aft what appeared to beryllium career-ending cervix surgery.

As Zayn looks apt to driblet down the paper and retired of the main arena segment erstwhile again, Owens’ return will respire caller life into a SmackDown world title image that desperately needs him. The bluish marque really needs a caller jolt of excitement, and a apt title feud betwixt Punk and Owens, 2 of WWE’s champion all-around stars, is judge to springiness it that.

Just a fewer months ago, WWE fans weren’t judge that Owens would ever wrestle again. Now, Owens is backmost aft an electrical SummerSlam return that has turned WWE SmackDown connected its head.