The 2026 Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia was a night of high drama, but according to new reports, the backstage machinations were just as intense as the action in the ring. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that there was significant internal debate regarding the outcome of the WWE Championship match between Drew McIntyre and Sami Zayn. In fact, discussions about who should walk out of Riyadh with the gold continued “right until the day of the show.”
Sami Zayn Pushed To Win WWE Title
According to the report, Sami Zayn “was pushing” to win the match and finally capture the world title on the grand stage. The 41-year-old star has been one of the company’s most beloved babyfaces, and a victory in Saudi Arabia—where he has historically been treated as a hero—would have been a massive moment. However, Paul “Triple H” Levesque ultimately made the final call, deciding that McIntyre should retain the championship. The “Scottish Warrior” secured the victory with a Claymore, ending Zayn’s undefeated streak in the Kingdom.
Match Placement Shifted Due To Styles’ Retirement
The placement of the match on the card was also a point of contention. One source told the Observer that McIntyre vs. Zayn was originally slated to be the second match of the night. However, it was moved back to the third spot, despite concerns about crowd fatigue. “It was known it wouldn’t get the same reaction in that spot because it would follow the Styles retirement,” the report noted. The emotional toll of AJ Styles’ career-threatening match against Gunther seemingly dampened the crowd’s energy for the title fight that followed.
WWE Views Roman Reigns As “Biggest Star Of All”
In a related note regarding the company’s hierarchy, the Observer shed light on how WWE officials currently view their top talent. While Cody Rhodes is undeniably the face of the brand as a full-time workhorse, the internal perception is that Roman Reigns remains the “current biggest star of all.” Despite his part-time schedule, Reigns’ star power is seen as eclipsing everyone else, including “The American Nightmare.” This belief likely factored into the decision to have Reigns win the Royal Rumble match later that night, setting up a blockbuster WrestleMania 42 showdown with CM Punk.
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