Drew McIntyre is still standing tall as the Undisputed WWE Champion after a hard-fought win over Sami Zayn at the 2026 Royal Rumble in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Scottish Warrior delivered multiple Claymore Kicks to end Zayn’s dream in front of a crowd that passionately backed the challenger.
For McIntyre, this wasn’t just another title defense—it was a statement. With WrestleMania 42 around the corner, the reigning champion now looks ahead to possibly one of the biggest matches of his career.
McIntyre’s Road to WrestleMania 42 Begins
This was McIntyre’s first title defense since capturing the gold by defeating Cody Rhodes in a brutal Three Stages of Hell match earlier this month on SmackDown. That win came with unexpected help from his heated rival Jacob Fatu, adding more spice to their ongoing tension.
Now that McIntyre has survived Zayn’s challenge, all eyes turn to Las Vegas, where WrestleMania 42 will take place in April. Though nothing is confirmed yet, rumors point to a potential triple threat match involving:
- Drew McIntyre (Champion)
- Cody Rhodes
- Jacob Fatu
Royal Rumble Still to Decide McIntyre’s Next Opponent
At the time of this report, the Men’s Royal Rumble Match had not yet taken place, so the identity of McIntyre’s next challenger remains unknown. If the Rumble winner doesn’t choose to face McIntyre, then the focus shifts to Elimination Chamber, scheduled for February 28 in Chicago. That PLE could decide his WrestleMania opponent.
Whoever it is, the Scotsman will be ready.
McIntyre Makes History in Saudi Arabia
The Riyadh crowd of over 25,000 fans was firmly behind Zayn, who is a practicing Muslim. The bout felt personal and emotional, especially since Zayn had never lost a WWE match in Saudi Arabia—until now. With this win, McIntyre became the first person to defeat Zayn in the Kingdom.
Zayn fought valiantly, but McIntyre proved too strong, too experienced, and too focused on WrestleMania glory.
WrestleMania Redemption: Third Time Lucky?
McIntyre’s relationship with WrestleMania gold has been both glorious and heartbreaking:
- WrestleMania 36 (2020): Defeated Brock Lesnar to become WWE Champion, but with no live crowd due to COVID-19.
- WrestleMania 40 (2024): Briefly became World Heavyweight Champion after pinning Seth Rollins—only to lose the title minutes later when Damian Priest cashed in Money in the Bank with help from CM Punk.
Now, with momentum on his side and a crowd finally behind him, McIntyre has the chance to rewrite his WrestleMania legacy at the biggest show of the year in Las Vegas.
