Sami Zayn is making good on his promise to bring prestige back to the United States Championship, and he isn’t wasting a moment. Fresh off a spectacular title defense against Rey Fenix during last night’s SmackDown, Zayn’s next challenger for his US Open Challenge has already been locked in.
Next Friday, the champion will face Carmelo Hayes. The match was made official during a backstage segment this week where Hayes eagerly accepted the open challenge. The move, however, created some immediate friction with his “Melo Don’t Miz” tag team partner, The Miz, who was visibly upset that Hayes had beaten him to the opportunity.
The high-stakes title match is set for the go-home episode of SmackDown in Toledo, Ohio, just one night before the Wrestlepalooza PLE. Zayn’s renewed focus on defending the championship weekly is a direct response to the “total chaos” Brock Lesnar brought to the title picture upon his recent return, with Zayn even getting John Cena’s blessing to carry on the open challenge tradition.
His first defense in this new era, an instant classic against Fenix that had the crowd chanting “this is awesome,” set a high bar. Now, Sami Zayn looks to continue that momentum against Carmelo Hayes next week.