Drew McIntyre vs Sami Zayn ends with title retained at Royal Rumble

Mo. Basuony

Published: January 31, 2026 7:18 PM ET

Drew McIntyre vs Sami Zayn

Drew McIntyre and Sami Zayn delivered a physical, high-drama Undisputed title match on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, with McIntyre surviving a late surge to retain his championship. The bout, held during the Royal Rumble premium event that began at 2:00 p.m. ET, leaned hard into near-falls and momentum swings before a decisive closing stretch settled it.

For McIntyre, the win solidifies his first major defense since capturing the title earlier this month. For Zayn, it extends a frustrating personal trend: another marquee opportunity that came within reach, only to slip away in the final minutes.

Drew McIntyre holds serve

McIntyre’s defense was framed as a test of whether his reign could withstand Zayn’s relentlessness and creativity. In practice, it became a survival match—one where McIntyre spent long stretches absorbing punishment, then snapping back with bursts of offense when Zayn appeared closest to turning the tide.

The finish centered on the Claymore, McIntyre’s signature strike. After a series of counters and escape attempts, he connected cleanly to end Zayn’s challenge and keep the title. The message was simple: Zayn can drag opponents into chaos, but McIntyre can still land the one shot that changes everything.

Sami Zayn’s best moments came late

Zayn’s path to the match was built on momentum—winning his way into contention and presenting the fight as a career-defining chance to finally break through at the very top. Inside the ring, his best work came when he accelerated the pace and forced McIntyre to react instead of dictate.

Late in the match, Zayn strung together the kind of sequence that has made him dangerous for years: rapid transitions, sudden roll-ups, and big swings that pulled the crowd into every count. At one point, he even used the ropes to frustrate a pin attempt, buying himself precious seconds and pushing McIntyre into visible irritation.

But the same pattern that has haunted Zayn in past title pursuits reappeared: just as the match reached its sharpest edge, one mistake—or one moment of hesitation—created the opening McIntyre needed.

How the finish was built

The closing minutes were structured around a familiar wrestling dilemma: Zayn’s volume versus McIntyre’s power. Zayn looked to land his biggest shots and keep pressure on the champion, while McIntyre waited for a clean lane to strike.

The decisive sequence came after Zayn’s counterattacks had clearly rattled the champion. McIntyre absorbed the chaos, reset, and then fired the Claymore to end it. Match times varied across live trackers, but the bout ran roughly 15–16 minutes—long enough to feel substantial, short enough to keep the ending sudden and impactful.

What it means for the title picture

This win matters because it stabilizes McIntyre’s reign right as the calendar turns toward WrestleMania season. A first successful defense often sets the tone: champions either look vulnerable and invite a swarm of challengers, or they survive a credible opponent and raise the bar for the next contender. McIntyre’s night landed closer to the second category.

Zayn’s loss, meanwhile, deepens an ongoing story about whether he can truly finish at the highest level in singles competition. The performance was strong enough to keep him relevant, but the result reinforces the perception that he’s always one step away—especially against opponents who can end matches with a single strike.

A broader note from the same event: the men’s Royal Rumble winner now holds the clearest path to a championship decision at WrestleMania, which can quickly reshape who gets next in line and when.

Key takeaways to watch next

McIntyre’s next challenger: With one defense in the books, the next program can be framed as a bigger threat—either a returning name, a rising contender, or a rival with unfinished business.
Zayn’s rebound direction: Zayn can pivot into another high-stakes feud quickly, but how he responds on television will determine whether this loss becomes a setback or a turning point.
Rumble fallout: The winner’s choice and the post-event rivalries will clarify whether the Undisputed title stays on a collision course with a single headline match—or splits into multiple contenders jockeying for position.