Matt Hardy asserts that Sami Zayn has earned a world title run that carries real significance, following a first reign that lasted just nine days.
Hardy was asked about Zayn regaining the Undisputed WWE Championship during the latest episode of The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy. He noted upfront that he had not seen the match, which took place on the September 11 SmackDown in Mexico City, and expressed uncertainty about the direction of the storyline going forward.
“I’m honestly not sure what they’re going to map out for him as far as that goes,” Hardy said. “But I do like the opportunity. I do like the fact that he is getting now an opportunity to have a better reign. The first one was obviously very quick. He was a transition guy, more or less.”
The brief reign Hardy referenced took place in July, when Zayn held the title for nine days before losing it to CM Punk. Zayn then sat out roughly a month with a broken hand before returning to challenge Punk in Mexico City, where he reclaimed the championship. That victory came during a weekend in which WWE also crowned Stephanie Vaquer in Chile and El Grande Americano at TriplemanÃa 34, as part of a broader pattern of fan-favorite title changes across the international tour.
When asked directly whether Zayn deserves another run, Hardy did not hesitate.
“I think he’s worked hard for a very long time, and he is someone who does deserve a run,” Hardy said.
Hardy noted that the criteria for what defines world champion material have evolved over the years, and he views that as a positive development.
“A lot of things have changed over the years as pro wrestling has gone on. They’re not quite as selective on who could be classified as a world champion material performer now,” Hardy said. “But if you have solid ring work and people are behind you and you’re over, and they like you or they hate you, whatever it may be, yes, I think you can get in there.”
Hardy said the brevity of Zayn’s first reign is what made it feel underwhelming.
“That first run he had was pretty lackluster overall because it was so short,” Hardy said. “But I think it’s nice of them to give him a run that feels legitimate, so that he can be very proud of it.”
Hardy also grew enthusiastic about the prospect of a Kevin Owens program for the title after host John Alba raised it as a possibility.
“That’s one of the first things that pops in my mind because they have such a storied history, and being best friends and all the work they’ve done together throughout the years, that feels special,” Hardy said. “I think people would see that and they’d be like, wow, this is a very attractive match. I want to see this. I watched what they did in Ring of Honor. I watched what they did here. I watched what they did on the indies. That would be very cool if that came to fruition.”
The history Hardy points to is genuine and extensive. Zayn and Owens developed together in Quebec, and their Kevin Steen and El Generico rivalry stretched through Ring of Honor and the independent circuit for years before either man reached WWE. They revived the feud in NXT and on the main roster, later turned on each other, and won the tag team titles together at WrestleMania 39 in 2023. Few pairings in the company can rival that depth of accumulated storyline material.
Hardy’s caveat is worth keeping in mind. He is offering his perspective on Zayn’s standing and what a title reign should look like, not reporting on WWE’s plans, and he acknowledges this more than once. Hardy has spent the past two years in TNA, where he and his brother Jeff have held the TNA World Tag Team Championships and engaged in a lengthy feud with The Righteous.