Kevin Owens was left dazed by the WWE Championship blow while the referee was distracted, which opened the door for Sami Zayn to execute the pin and reach the three-count, but the referee did not end the match.
That was the main event scene on WWE SmackDown on September 18, 2026. An event that raised questions about what had happened. People wondered whether Kevin Owens was originally supposed to kick out of the pin or whether there was some confusion.
Today, Fightful has clarified the matter and confirms that the mistake came from the referee’s side. The original plan was for Kevin Owens to remain down after the championship head shot and to lose by a three-count. For an unknown reason, the referee performed the count and did not ring the bell.
The situation forced Zayn to deliver an additional Helluva Kick on Owens to secure the victory. The finish became highly eventful, with CM Punk’s interference or that of Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae just beforehand, making the Helluva Kick one kick too many.
It is currently impossible to determine why this error occurred.
