Sami Zayn defeated Karrion Kross at WWE Night of Champions 2025, with a Helluva Kick securing the win.
The match was a last-minute replacement for the scrapped Intercontinental Championship match.
What happened at WWE Night of Champions 2025?
Karrion Kross dominated most of the match, but Sami Zayn's experience and skill ultimately led to his victory.
Zayn hit Kross with a Blue Thunderbomb for the closest nearfall of the match up to that point.
Kross responded with a pair of release German suplexes before Zayn caught him with an exploder suplex into the turnbuckle.
Why it matters for Sami Zayn
The win gives Sami Zayn momentum in his pursuit of a world title, with a potential path to dethrone current World Heavyweight Champion Gunther.
Zayn has a lengthy on-screen history with both Gunther and Seth Rollins, making a future match between them likely.
Sami Zayn remains one of WWE's top stars, and this win solidifies his position.
What comes next for Sami Zayn and Karrion Kross?
Karrion Kross's WWE contract reportedly expires soon, and there has been little talk of WWE re-signing him.
This could be Kross's last hurrah, with WWE squeezing the last bit of juice out of him before his potential exit.
Sami Zayn, on the other hand, is expected to continue his pursuit of a world title, with a potential match against Gunther or Seth Rollins on the horizon.
The creative team finally gave Kross some significant TV time, but it was clear that the match was more about giving Zayn a win than igniting a push for Kross.
Zayn's victory was a resounding one, with the Helluva Kick catching Kross off guard and securing the pin.
As of June 28, 2025, Sami Zayn's win over Karrion Kross has set him up for a potential world title run.