Sami Zayn Regains WWE US Title; Confirms WrestleMania 42 Match (WWE News)
WWE switches gold on SmackDown, then books a match at WrestleMania for new champ Sami Zayn.
Sami Zayn defeated Carmelo Hayes to become the brand new WWE United States Champion on Friday's episode of SmackDown. Trick Williams was at ringside to watch, and it was he who accidentally cost his old partner-turned-enemy Hayes the gold by swinging at Sami but clocking Melo instead.
Seconds later, Zayn hit his Helluva Kick to score the win and the belt.
Hayes had beaten Ilja Dragunov for the title on the 26 December 2025 edition of SmackDown. That was taped on 19 December, but WWE officially recognises Carmelo's reign as lasting 91 days rather than 98. Dragunov had previously taken the US gold from Sami on the 17 October episode of SmackDown.
Immediately after the match, GM Nick Aldis announced that Zayn will defend the prize against Trick at WrestleMania 42. That match has been simmering for a while now, and there has been talk of both men working a bold double turn angle on the grandest stage.
It's kinda a bummer for Hayes to get squeezed out of the title picture this close to 'Mania though. Now, neither he nor Ilja really have anything lined up for the biggest PLE weekender of 2026. Who knows if they'll even be on the cards across either night in Las Vegas?
Sami had been in the WWE Title scene for a while, but he's been dropped back down to United States Title level for the purpose of this beef with Williams. This could well be a short reign for Zayn too - putting the title on Trick at 'Mania and turning him babyface in the process sounds like it'd be a neat WrestleMania moment for the ex-NXT man.