Get ready for a showdown that’s bound to shake the wrestling world! Sami Zayn is once again stepping into the ring with his sights set on the WWE Championship, and this time, it’s against none other than Drew McIntyre at the WWE Royal Rumble 2026. But here’s where it gets controversial—Zayn’s path to this title shot wasn’t just a walk in the park. In a thrilling four-way number one contender’s match that headlined Saturday Night’s Main Event in his hometown of Montreal, Zayn pulled off a victory that left fans on the edge of their seats. The match saw Damian Priest deliver his signature Razor’s Edge to Zayn, only for Trick Williams to intervene. Priest took Williams out, but Zayn seized the moment, landing a devastating Helluva Kick on Priest and securing the win just before Randy Orton could disrupt the count. Was this a fair victory, or did Zayn simply outsmart his opponents?
As Zayn celebrated, Drew McIntyre stormed the ring, clearly aiming to put Zayn in his place. But Zayn, ever the strategist, dodged the attack and sent McIntyre tumbling out of the ring. McIntyre’s frustration was palpable as Zayn stood tall, closing out the show with a defiant stance. Is Zayn’s resilience a sign of things to come, or is he biting off more than he can chew against McIntyre?
The tension between these two didn’t start in the ring. Earlier in the week on SmackDown, McIntyre took a personal jab at Zayn, claiming that Zayn’s son was accustomed to disappointment because of his father’s failures. Zayn didn’t take this lightly—later that night, he confronted McIntyre backstage and delivered a stinging slap to the WWE Champion. Did McIntyre cross the line, or is this all part of the psychological warfare leading up to the Royal Rumble?
The WWE Royal Rumble 2026 is shaping up to be an event you won’t want to miss, with a card that includes:
- Men’s Royal Rumble match
- Women’s Royal Rumble match
- WWE Champion Drew McIntyre defending his title against Sami Zayn
- Gunther vs. AJ Styles, with Styles forced to retire if he loses.
And this is the part most people miss—the stakes are higher than ever, not just for the titles but for the legacies of these wrestlers. Will Zayn finally claim the WWE Championship, or will McIntyre prove why he’s the champion? And what does AJ Styles’ potential retirement mean for the future of wrestling?
Written by Bryan Rose, a seasoned editor from California who’s been covering professional wrestling for over a decade. Bryan officially joined F4WOnline as an editor in 2017, bringing his expertise and passion to every story. For more insights, check out the previous story.
What’s your take? Do you think Zayn stands a chance against McIntyre, or is this just another chapter in his quest for the title? Let us know in the comments!
