Sami Zayn Becomes #1 Contender, Advances To Face Drew Mcintyre At Wwe Royal Rumble

After mounting his sights connected nan golden to commencement 2026, Sami Zayn has punched his summons to look Drew McIntyre for nan Undisputed WWE Championship adjacent Saturday astatine nan Royal Rumble.

The headliner for nan January 24 version of WWE Saturday Night's Main Event was a Fatal Four-Way Match to find who would situation for nan Undisputed WWE Championship astatine nan Royal Rumble 2026 event.

Randy Orton, Trick Williams, Damian Priest and Sami Zayn each qualified pinch victories connected nan January 16 section of Friday Night SmackDown to do conflict successful nan Bell Centre successful Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

In beforehand of what was a raucous crowd, nan 4 competitors came successful wished to hit 1 different to move connected to a immense opportunity against Drew McIntyre adjacent Saturday, January 31 successful Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The bout started retired pinch Trick deciding to exit nan ring, while Orton went for an RKO connected Priest that he blocked earlier Zayn clotheslined Damian retired of nan squared circle. Then, Williams brought nan lucifer to nan ringside area by pulling Sami retired earlier Orton and Priest joined nan fray.

With this arena taking spot successful Montreal, Zayn was nan clear favorite, receiving by acold nan biggest popular of anyone successful this bout. Several times, nan ringing was near for Zayn and Orton to spell astatine it pinch 1 another. Throughout nan contest, immoderate discourtesy connected Sami was meant pinch large boos from nan partisan crowd.

After immoderate one-on-one action, Orton came successful and went connected a tear. "The Legend Killer" went connected discourtesy against his 3 opponents. Randy deed nan Hangman's DDT connected Priest and looked for nan aforesaid move connected Williams until Zayn amazed him pinch nan Blue Thunder Bomb for a nearfall.

Sami went for nan Helluva Kick connected Orton, but Trick came successful pinch a limb lariat to get a adjacent 2 of his own. On nan floor, Williams was capable to drawback Priest pinch a Book End connected nan barricade, but past Zayn caught Trick pinch a tope con hilo. Sami reversed Orton's signature backmost suplexes connected nan denote array and deed nan maneuver connected "The Viper."

Zayn deed nan Helluva Kick connected Priest and looked connected nan cusp of nan triumph until Trick Williams pulled nan referee from nan ringing to costs Sami. Trick laid successful a changeable connected Sami earlier Orton started hitting his backmost suplexes connected apical of nan denote array to each 3 of his opponents to return power erstwhile again.

After a tense speech betwixt nan 2 stars, Zayn was capable to debar nan RKO and looked fresh for nan Helluva Kick until Orton caught Sami pinch nan RKO. However, Williams came successful and threw Randy from nan ringing to spell for nan cover. Priest was location to make nan prevention and support nan lucifer going to a immense ovation from nan crowd.

Following an speech of kicks connected nan apron, Orton took advantage of a downed Trick and Priest, hitting his signature Hangman's DDT connected some men. Trick blocked nan RKO, which opened nan doorway for Priest to deed nan South of Heaven chokeslam connected Randy, but Williams sewage a nearfall pinch a crucifix pin connected nan erstwhile World Heavyweight Champion.

Priest kicked Trick from nan ring, but was caught by a Helluva Kick from Zayn, who past went for nan screen to get nan 1-2-3 and beforehand to look Drew McIntyre for nan Undisputed WWE Championship adjacent Saturday astatine WWE Royal Rumble 2026.

Zayn's woman and boy were overjoyed successful nan beforehand statement to spot nan Montreal autochthonal prime up this main arena win. Post-match, McIntyre came down to onslaught Sami Zayn, but nan babyface was capable to fend him disconnected and propulsion him complete nan apical statement to guidelines gangly pinch pyro going disconnected to adjacent nan broadcast.

Zayn will effort to reverse his losing streak against McIntyre, which presently stands astatine 0-11, heading into this title bout. WWE Royal Rumble 2026 will return spot from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia connected Saturday, January 31 and will aerial unrecorded connected nan ESPN app domestically arsenic good arsenic Netflix internationally.

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