One week after Brock Lesnar’s return left the United States Championship picture in total chaos, Sami Zayn was determined to restore a sense of order. Making good on the promise he made after getting John Cena’s blessing, Zayn continued the US Open Challenge tradition on Friday’s SmackDown at the Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia.
Answering the call was the high-flying Rey Fenix, who pushed the champion to his absolute limit in a grueling, fast-paced match that earned “this is awesome” chants from the crowd. The bout was a showcase of near falls, with Zayn surviving a particularly close two-count after a DDT from Fenix. In turn, Fenix managed to kick out of Zayn’s signature Blue Thunder Bomb and even reversed a Helluva Kick into a pin attempt of his own.
Despite Fenix’s incredible resilience, Zayn eventually found his opening. He leveled the challenger with a powerful exploder suplex into the corner, leaving Fenix perfectly positioned for the follow-up. Zayn immediately connected with a decisive Helluva Kick to secure the pinfall and retain his title.
The hard-fought victory serves as a powerful statement, proving Zayn’s commitment to giving the United States Championship the “real attention” he feels it deserves by keeping the prestigious open challenge legacy alive.