WWE SummerSlam results: Kevin Owens shocks in return, pins Sami Zayn to become No. 1 contender
Kevin Owens made a surprise return to WWE at SummerSlam 2026, winning a multi-man match to become the number one contender for the Undisputed WWE Championship. The match featured high-stakes action involving Gunther, Finn Balor, and Sami Zayn.
Why it matters
This event marks a significant narrative shift in the WWE's top-tier championship picture, impacting fan engagement and future programming.
Kevin Owens made a massive, successful return at WWE SummerSlam 2026 Night 2 in U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis . To start Sunday's show, reappointed "SmackDown" general manager Nick Aldis announced that Gunther and Owens were added to the No. 1 contender match between Finn Balor and Sami Zayn. In his first match in 17 months, Owens then claimed the right to challenge Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk.
Owens immediately got in his first licks in 17 months, taking out Gunther and Balor with corner cannonballs, leaving him alone in the ring with a stunned Zayn. The two old frenemies embraced and then began throwing down for an epic, emotional start.
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