WWE Fans Turn Their Backs on Sami Zayn in Brutal Fashion After Title Win
Sami Zayn just captured gold again—but instead of celebrating, he’s finding himself in the crosshairs of a furious WWE Universe.
The two-time United States Champion pulled off a win over Carmelo Hayes this past Friday on SmackDown, securing the title for the second time. But rather than applause, the victory has sparked a wave of backlash from fans who feel the veteran may have just robbed one of the company’s rising stars of a career-defining moment.
Zayn took to X shortly after the win to share a heartfelt message, thanking fans for sticking with him through the tougher stretches of his career. He opened up about the rough patch he endured before reclaiming the title and closed by noting how proud he was to head into WrestleMania 42 as the reigning champion.
It didn’t take long for the comment section to turn into a war zone.
Instead of praise, Zayn was met with a flood of criticism. Some fans went as far as comparing him to Hulk Hogan—a reference to the longtime criticism that Hogan, at his peak, was reluctant to lose to younger talent. Others were more direct, simply stating that they had no interest in seeing “The Master Strategist” walk into Mania as champion.
But the loudest frustration was reserved for Carmelo Hayes. A number of fans made it clear they felt “Melo” was robbed of what should have been his spot on the grandest stage of them all.
With WrestleMania just around the corner, it looks like Zayn’s latest title reign is already shaping up to be one of the most controversial of his career.
