Sami Zayn Issues Apology After Controversial Guest Referee Stint on WWE SmackDown

Friday’s episode of WWE SmackDown got off to a contentious start, with Sami Zayn serving as special guest referee for a high-stakes Undisputed WWE Championship match between Cody Rhodes and Gunther — and things didn’t exactly go smoothly.

Zayn spent much of the bout in open conflict with the challenger, bickering with Gunther for nearly the entire duration of the match. By the end, Zayn awarded Rhodes the victory, a decision that immediately sparked controversy given how visibly heated his interactions with Gunther had been throughout.

In the aftermath, Zayn addressed the situation publicly, offering an apology for his conduct during the match and pledging to do better going forward. It’s the kind of mea culpa that does little to quiet the noise, of course — if anything, it’s likely to keep the story alive heading into whatever comes next for all three men.

The circumstances raise obvious questions about the integrity of the match result and whether Zayn’s personal history colored his officiating. Gunther, who has been positioned as one of WWE’s most dominant and uncompromising figures, is hardly the type to let a perceived slight go unanswered. Rhodes, meanwhile, retains the title — though the manner of the win may leave his reign with an asterisk in the eyes of some fans.

With tensions still simmering between all parties involved, expect this story to carry significant momentum into next week’s programming.