Big Shake-Up to Sami Zayn’s WrestleMania 42 Path as WWE Creative Plans Shift
Sami Zayn’s road to WWE WrestleMania 42 may not be as clear-cut as it once appeared, but his name is still very much in the mix when it comes to major title plans.
Late last year, Zayn was being seriously discussed internally for a world championship program heading into WrestleMania season. However, recent changes to WWE’s creative direction have reportedly altered several long-term plans that were originally mapped out at the end of 2025. That has naturally raised questions about where Zayn now fits into the bigger picture.
According to Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp, one source close to WWE creative said the idea of giving Zayn a world title storyline had been something many on the team hoped to build toward, dating back to his lengthy 2025 rivalry with Karrion Kross. While that goal hasn’t necessarily been abandoned, the overall direction for WrestleMania 42 is still said to be very fluid.
Despite the uncertainty, Zayn has a massive opportunity right in front of him. He has qualified for a Fatal 4-Way No. 1 Contender’s Match at Saturday Night’s Main Event, where he will face Randy Orton, Damian Priest, and Trick Williams. The winner will go on to challenge Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble.
Interestingly, Zayn is currently listed as the betting favorite to win the match, and the booking logic adds up. This year’s Royal Rumble will be held outside North America for the first time, and Zayn remains one of the most beloved WWE stars in Saudi Arabia. On top of that, WWE has quietly been laying the groundwork for a Zayn vs. McIntyre showdown even before McIntyre reclaimed the WWE Championship.
But if Zayn does get that title shot, history is not on his side.
McIntyre has openly bragged about holding an 11–0 singles record against Zayn, and with The Scottish Warrior fresh off his first WWE title reign in five years, the odds would strongly favor him retaining. A loss at the Royal Rumble would place Zayn in a familiar yet uncomfortable position, echoing his failed Undisputed WWE Universal Championship challenge against Roman Reigns years ago.
That loss didn’t derail Zayn’s momentum then. In fact, he went on to main event WrestleMania 39 Night One, teaming with Kevin Owens to dethrone The Usos for the Tag Team Titles. The following year, he delivered one of the standout matches of WrestleMania XL by defeating Gunther and ending the longest Intercontinental Championship reign in history.
That victory cemented Zayn’s reputation as one of WWE’s most reliable big-match performers on the WrestleMania stage. Still, he was surprisingly left off the WrestleMania card entirely in 2025 — a reminder that even proven stars aren’t guaranteed a spot.
If Zayn’s ultimate goal is the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 42, his clearest path would be winning either the Men’s Royal Rumble or the Elimination Chamber in February. Either victory would instantly elevate his chances and set the stage for another career-defining moment.
For now, Sami Zayn’s WrestleMania destiny hangs in the balance — but if history has proven anything, it’s that counting him out rarely ends well.
