What happened? On June 18, 2026, Sami Zayn defeated Cody Rhodes and Gunther to win the WWE Championship. AJ Styles discussed this victory on The Phenomenally Retro Podcast. Why it matters for Sami Zayn: Styles believes Sami is capable of being a world champion rather than just a transitional one. He envisions exciting storylines ahead, such as who will challenge him at SummerSlam. What comes next? AJ suggests that Sami should not be seen merely as a transitional champion but rather as someone with potential for great things in the future. He also mentions his son Avery Styles making his pro-wrestling debut recently. Date and result: The title win took place on 18 Jun, 2026. Where/who/when/why/how: Sami Zayn defeated Cody Rhodes and Gunther to claim the WWE Championship. AJ Styles provided insights into the future of the championship storyline in a podcast discussion. Category: player_focus