All articles tagged with #sami zayn
Sami Zayn and Cody Rhodes battled on SmackDown in Lexington, with Gunther making a post-match appearance. Gunther trapped Rhodes in a sleeper and choked him out as Zayn, after a tense stare-down, turned away and walked off, leaving Rhodes’ night overshadowed and foreshadowing further heat in Gunther’s ongoing title pursuit.
On SmackDown's May 22 main event, Cody Rhodes defeated Sami Zayn after Gunther interfered; Zayn initially helped Rhodes by knocking Gunther down, but when Gunther returned to target Rhodes, Zayn turned on him and walked out, sparking debate over his allegiance and whether he’s a face or heel.
Trick Williams, accompanied by Lil Yachty, defeated Sami Zayn to retain the United States Championship at WWE Backlash 2026 in a hard-fought, interference-filled bout that saw Zayn land multiple signatures before Williams sealed it with the Trick Shot.
On SmackDown, the Gingerbread Man is resurrected during a funeral tribute orchestrated by Trick Williams, prompting Sami Zayn to vow revenge at Backlash. The storyline escalates when the “dead” man sits up, only to reveal Lil Yachty in disguise, who then blasts Zayn with a candy cane and helps set up a Zayn vs Williams showdown at WWE Backlash.
A report says WWE's Gingerbread Man gimmick drew notable pushback from the creative team, who called it hokey and archaic, as Sami Zayn and Trick Williams' storyline heads toward Backlash and Zayn questions whether he's fully turned heel.
WWE reportedly faces internal criticism of the Gingerbread Man gimmick in Sami Zayn and Trick Williams’ feud, with insiders calling it hokey and archaic, even as the angle continues and a “funeral” for Gingy is teased for the May 8 SmackDown, leaving fans to debate whether the over-the-top segment works or derails the feud.
SmackDown's May 8 episode leans into the controversial Gingerbread Man angle with a funeral segment as Backlash looms, while the rest of the card features a 6-woman tag match (Charlotte Flair, Alexa Bliss, and Rhea Ripley vs. Fatal Influence), Tiffany Stratton defending the US title against Kiana James, and GUNTHER addressing Cody Rhodes with cross-brand implications teased.
WWE SmackDown from Tulsa on May 1 set up a United States Championship bout for Backlash 2026 (May 9 in Tampa) after Sami Zayn attacked Trick Williams’ Gingerbread Man mascot; Williams then booked the US Title match for Backlash, with the mascot reportedly killed.
Spoilers for the May 1 WWE SmackDown suggest Sami Zayn will close the show, following last week’s Gingerbread Man moment with Trick Williams, indicating WWE may have a major payoff planned. The announced lineup includes Cody Rhodes opening, Jacy Jayne vs. Charlotte Flair, Jacob Fatu appearance, Paige & Brie Bella vs The Irresistible Forces for the Women’s Tag Team Championship, and Royce Keys in action with an unannounced opponent, with Zayn delivering a closing segment to cap the night. Ringside News will provide live coverage and updates as the show unfolds.
Tiffany Stratton dethroned Giulia to win the Women’s United States Championship in a competitive 10-minute bout; Jacob Fatu upset Solo Sikoa in the main event to set up a Backlash-style clash. Brie Bella & Paige returned as Women’s Tag Team Champions but were DQ’d when Jacy Jayne attacked, signaling Fatal Influence’s arrival on SmackDown. Sami Zayn disrupted Trick Williams’ US Title celebration, turning heel, while Cody Rhodes delivered a fired-up WrestleMania-era promo. Danhausen defeated The Miz in a cheeky upset, and Ripley vs. Jayne ended in a DQ after Henley & Reid interference, paving Ripley’s path to revenge. The show also teased Ricky Saints’ SmackDown debut and featured fresh NXT faces joining the main roster.
Trick Williams defeated Sami Zayn to win the United States Championship at WrestleMania 42, aided by a high-profile entrance from Lil Yachty and a notable Trick Shot finish that crowned Williams a new breakout star in WWE.
Sami Zayn defeated Carmelo Hayes on SmackDown to win the WWE United States Championship. Rumors that Hayes would take time off to marry Kelani Jordan are false; engagement photos circulated online, but Hayes' WrestleMania status remains unclear with no official confirmation of him entering the US title match.
Orton opened SmackDown with a fiery promo and a dominant win over Matt Cardona, setting the stage for his WrestleMania clash while Cody Rhodes watched from ringside. Sami Zayn captured the United States Championship from Carmelo Hayes after Trick Williams’ miscue, hinting at a Zayn–Williams program at Mania. Drew McIntyre and Jacob Fatu were booked in an Unsanctioned WrestleMania match, and Jade Cargill’s trio continued to target Rhea Ripley to keep their feud alive. Jelly Roll defeated Kit Wilson in a crowd-pleasing segment, and a post‑match confrontation saw Cody Rhodes confront Orton as the show closed with Orton’s ominous grin.
On SmackDown, Sami Zayn captured the United States Championship from Carmelo Hayes after Trick Williams interfered, despite GM Nick Aldis previously noting no WrestleMania plans for him. Zayn overcame the odds with a kick and will defend the US title against Trick Williams at WrestleMania 42, setting up a high-stakes clash on WWE's big show.
Sami Zayn defeated Carmelo Hayes to win the WWE United States Championship on SmackDown, with Baron Corbin chiming in on social media saying Hayes was screwed and deserving of a Mania match, even proposing a three-way with Ilja and Trick Williams. Zayn is slated to defend the title against Trick Williams at WrestleMania 42, as fan reaction to the finish runs negative.