WWE legend says nine-day title run feels odd but wants story to play out
Summary
– AJ Styles said Sami Zayn’s nine-day WWE Title reign felt odd and unexpected
– Styles admitted he hoped Sami would hold the championship longer before losing to CM Punk
– He said fans should wait to see if WWE has a bigger story planned for Sami
AJ Styles is not ready to call Sami Zayn’s short WWE Title reign a mistake, but he also is not acting like it felt normal.
While speaking on the Phenomenally Retro podcast, Styles reacted to Sami losing the WWE Championship to CM Punk only nine days after winning it.
Styles said he had previously discussed Sami’s reign and hoped WWE would let him hold the title for a while. Instead, Sami’s reign ended almost immediately, which left Styles confused.
The WWE Hall of Famer said he does not understand the decision, but also noted that he did not write the show and does not know where WWE is taking the story.
Sami’s loss to Punk already sparked a strong reaction from fans. WWE also posted footage of Sami breaking down backstage after the match, angry that Punk returned after months away and quickly received a title shot.
Styles said that reaction could be a sign WWE has something bigger planned. He urged fans to wait before deciding the booking was a failure.
He also praised Punk’s current presentation, saying Punk looks like a million bucks right now. Still, Styles made it clear that Sami’s short reign stands out because WWE has recently conditioned fans to expect longer world title runs.
Styles pointed to Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns as examples of champions who held titles for extended periods. Compared to those reigns, Sami losing after nine days feels jarring.
That does not mean Styles believes WWE made the wrong call. He said the short reign could lead to a character shift for Sami, especially after his emotional reaction to losing the title.
Styles admitted he did not want Sami to be a transitional champion, but he is willing to see where the story goes before fully judging it.
For now, Styles is in the same place as many fans. Sami’s nine-day reign feels strange, but WWE still has a chance to make it mean something if the follow-up delivers.
