Sami Zayn, the Syrian-Canadian superstar, captured the Undisputed WWE Championship at Night of Champions in Riyadh on Saturday, pinning Cody Rhodes in a shocking upset that few predicted. The victory, which took place at Kingdom Arena, marked the culmination of a years-long quest for Zayn's first world title in WWE.
Upset of the Year
Zayn entered the triple-threat match as the underdog against Rhodes and Gunther, who was widely expected to win. However, Zayn defied the odds, pinning Rhodes to claim the championship. The crowd erupted as Zayn celebrated, with many fans in the Saudi capital embracing him as one of their own.
“I woke up this morning, rubbing my eyes, I just… I’m groggy, and I turn over and look at the championship — it’s right there,” Zayn told Arab News. “And I was like, ‘Oh, that actually happened.’”
Long Road to Glory
Zayn's journey to the title was marked by near-misses. Three years ago, he came within a fraction of a second of beating Roman Reigns in his hometown of Montreal at Elimination Chamber 2023. Earlier this year, he challenged Drew McIntyre at the Royal Rumble in Riyadh but fell short again. The repeated disappointments made his victory even more emotional.
“I’d be lying if I said even I believed this would happen the whole time,” Zayn admitted. “There were moments where I asked myself if I would be OK if it never happened.”
A Home Away from Home
Zayn, who is of Syrian descent, has a strong connection with Arab and Muslim fans worldwide. He described Riyadh as the closest thing to home outside Montreal. “Montreal is my home but Riyadh is the closest thing I’m ever gonna come to a home in terms of being the capital of the Arab and Muslim world,” he said. “Truly, Montreal and Riyadh are kind of the two places where there’s not a more perfect dream scenario than winning it there.”
Looking Ahead
The victory sets Zayn on a path toward WWE Crown Jewel later this year and the historic WrestleMania 43 in Riyadh next April, the first WrestleMania outside North America. Zayn hopes to hold the title until then but is taking time to savor the moment. “I just want to make sure I do something really significant, emotional and important for the fans, because, yeah, that reaction at Night of Champions — I’ll never forget that.”
Inspiration for Many
Zayn's rise in an industry that was not always open to diverse backgrounds has made him an inspiration, especially to Arabs and Muslims. “Truth be told, this wasn’t a dream for me, it was a fantasy,” he said. “25 years ago I couldn’t have even dreamt it, because guys like me didn’t succeed in the business.”
