The Royal Rumble in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, served as a big night for Drew McIntyre, who successfully defended his Undisputed […]
The Royal Rumble in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, served as a big night for Drew McIntyre, who successfully defended his Undisputed WWE Championship against Sami Zayn. The victory was significant not only for its impact on the title picture but also because it extended McIntyre’s career record against the Canadian superstar to a staggering 12-0.
While the match appeared to be a straightforward title defense for the newly crowned champion, new reports indicate the finish was the subject of backstage debate. According to Dave Meltzer in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the outcome of the championship match was not finalized until the day of the event.
Meltzer revealed that Zayn was actively “pushing” to defeat McIntyre in the Kingdom, hoping to secure his first world title win. Despite the narrative of the ultimate underdog finally overcoming his rival, WWE Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque (Triple H) ultimately decided to stick with McIntyre as the champion.
Drew McIntyre remains your Undisputed WWE Champion. That match accomplished so much to put McIntyre over as legit and push Sami Zayn to rock bottom, presumably for a 14-month build back up. #RoyalRumblepic.twitter.com/NHUUfnZzK2https://t.co/t6zfyOK6UX
— Getting Over: Wrestling Podcast (@GettingOverCast) January 31, 2026
“I don’t think Zayn should have won, and neither did Levesque in the end. Still, this was a subject of discussion as to who would win right until the day of the show since Zayn was pushing for it,” Meltzer wrote.
The internal debate over Zayn’s potential win reportedly stemmed from a long-term story beat that many on the creative team have wanted to execute since Zayn’s 2025 rivalry with Karrion Kross. The goal of that arc was to show Zayn finally reaching the summit of the mountain.
However, the decision to keep the title on McIntyre was likely influenced by the broader “Road to WrestleMania” roadmap, which has undergone multiple pivots due to Seth Rollins’ injury at Crown Jewel.
Following his victory over Zayn, McIntyre further cemented his status as the brand’s top heel by getting involved in the Men’s Royal Rumble match later that night and eliminating Cody Rhodes. While Roman Reigns went on to win the Rumble, McIntyre remains a central figure for the Las Vegas event. The plan is for McIntyre to defend his title against Rhodes at WrestleMania 42.
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