3 Reasons Trick Williams Failed to Beat Sami Zayn on SmackDown

Trick Williams came close to achieving a major milestone on Friday Night SmackDown but failed to dethrone Sami Zayn as the Undisputed WWE Champion. The United States Champion challenged The Last Real Good Guy in the main event, hoping to capture another championship and leave the show as a double champion.

Williams also had another major ambition in mind. Winning the Undisputed WWE Championship would have opened the door to a Champion vs. Champion showdown against Roman Reigns at Crown Jewel 2026. However, Sami Zayn had other plans and managed to retain his title after a chaotic contest that required an unexpected restart.

The match initially ended in a disqualification after Johnny Gargano interfered and pulled the referee out of the ring. Gargano appeared to object to Zayn using the rules to gain an unfair advantage in his championship matches. SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis subsequently came out and restarted the contest under No Disqualification rules, while banning everyone from ringside.

With the revised rules in place, both competitors had another opportunity to settle their differences. Zayn eventually delivered a low blow to Williams, struck him in the face with the championship belt, and secured the pinfall victory. The result allowed him to remain Undisputed WWE Champion while leaving Trick without the world title he wanted.

Although the outcome was decided inside the ring, several possible factors could explain why WWE kept the championship around Zayn’s waist. From Trick’s development as a main-roster star to WWE’s plans for Crown Jewel 2026, here are three possible reasons why Trick Williams failed to dethrone Sami Zayn on SmackDown.

#3. Trick Williams May Need More Time Before a World Championship Run

Trick Williams has made considerable progress since arriving on WWE’s main roster. After establishing himself as a prominent performer in NXT, Mr. Whoop That stepped onto the Friday Night SmackDown scene with significant momentum and quickly became an important part of the mid-card division.

One of the biggest achievements in his main-roster run has been his position as United States Champion. Williams has represented the championship with confidence and helped keep attention on the title through his performances and personality. His popularity and ability to connect with the audience have also made him an important part of SmackDown’s weekly programming.

However, winning a world championship requires more than having momentum or being a popular performer. WWE needs to establish a convincing long-term direction for a new champion, including the challengers they will face, the stories surrounding their reign, and their position at the top of the roster.

Williams is moving in that direction, but WWE may believe that he needs additional time to develop before becoming the face of its main championship picture. Continuing his United States Championship run could give him more opportunities to build experience, strengthen his character, and establish himself as a consistent main-event competitor.

Keeping the Undisputed WWE Championship away from Williams does not necessarily mean that the company has abandoned plans for him at the top. Instead, the decision could be part of a longer-term approach to his development. A future world title victory might carry more significance if WWE builds towards it through additional rivalries and major performances.

For now, remaining United States Champion gives Williams a meaningful championship role while leaving the possibility of another opportunity against Zayn open.

#2. WWE May Be Building Sami Zayn’s Momentum Ahead of Crown Jewel 2026

Another possible reason behind Sami Zayn’s victory is WWE’s upcoming Crown Jewel 2026 event in Saudi Arabia. Following his successful title defence against Trick Williams, Zayn is scheduled to face Roman Reigns in a traditional Champion vs. Champion match at the November premium live event.

The match places two major WWE names against each other, with the Crown Jewel Championship at stake. Zayn’s position as Undisputed WWE Champion gives him a central role in the event, while Reigns brings his own championship history and considerable presence to the contest.

Zayn also has a strong connection with audiences in the Middle East. His cultural and religious background has contributed to the support he receives when competing in the region. He has frequently received enthusiastic reactions from fans at WWE events in Saudi Arabia, making his presence particularly significant for the company’s international shows.

With a major match against Reigns approaching, WWE may have wanted Zayn to enter Crown Jewel as the reigning Undisputed WWE Champion. Losing the title to Williams shortly before the event would have required a different direction for the championship storyline and potentially changed the structure of the planned Champion vs. Champion encounter.

Keeping Zayn as champion allows WWE to continue presenting him as one of the company’s leading stars heading into Saudi Arabia. It also gives the company an opportunity to build anticipation around his meeting with Reigns without introducing an additional championship change immediately before the event.

That said, this remains an interpretation of WWE’s possible creative direction. The company has not officially confirmed that Crown Jewel plans influenced the result of the match against Williams. Nevertheless, the timing of Zayn’s title defence and his scheduled showdown with Reigns make this a possible explanation for why he retained the championship.

#1. WWE May Have Wanted to Bring the Sami Zayn-Trick Williams Rivalry to a Close

The history between Sami Zayn and Trick Williams could be another important factor behind the result. Their rivalry has been a significant part of Williams’ rise, with Zayn serving as one of his most prominent opponents during his journey towards becoming a major WWE star.

The two competitors have crossed paths on several important occasions, including WrestleMania 42, where Zayn defended his United States Championship against Williams. The encounter gave Williams an opportunity to challenge an established WWE star on one of the company’s biggest stages.

Their rivalry continued at Backlash 2026, where the two met again in a WrestleMania rematch. Williams once more managed to defeat Zayn, this time with assistance from Lil Yachty. The interference added another layer to their ongoing storyline and left room for questions about whether the rivalry had truly reached its conclusion.

Given their previous encounters, another championship match on SmackDown provided an opportunity to deliver a decisive result. Zayn’s victory was particularly significant because he had previously suffered defeats against Williams. Retaining the Undisputed WWE Championship allowed him to gain an important win in their rivalry and potentially settle the score.

The No Disqualification restart also gave WWE a way to deliver a more chaotic conclusion. With interference no longer resulting in a disqualification, the match could continue until one competitor secured the victory. Zayn ultimately used the opportunity to deliver a low blow and strike Williams with the championship belt before scoring the pinfall.

From a storytelling perspective, the result could give both performers a new direction. Zayn can move towards his scheduled confrontation with Roman Reigns, while Williams can return his attention to the United States Championship and other challenges on SmackDown.

However, the victory does not necessarily mean that WWE has permanently ended their rivalry. The history between the two performers leaves the door open for another confrontation if the creative team decides to revisit their story. A fourth match could become possible if future events create a reason for them to cross paths again.

What Could Be Next for Sami Zayn and Trick Williams?

Sami Zayn’s successful defence keeps him at the centre of the Undisputed WWE Championship picture as Crown Jewel 2026 approaches. His upcoming Champion vs. Champion match against Roman Reigns gives him an important opportunity to compete against one of WWE’s biggest names on an international stage.

The rivalry with Reigns could also test Zayn’s position as champion. Reigns is an established main-event performer with a long history of competing for WWE’s biggest prizes. Their meeting at Crown Jewel therefore offers WWE an opportunity to build a major storyline around two contrasting personalities and their championship ambitions.

Meanwhile, Trick Williams still has the United States Championship to defend. Although he failed to capture Zayn’s title, his recent performances have kept him involved in important championship stories. His next challenge will be to maintain that momentum and continue establishing himself as a leading name on SmackDown.

A future world championship opportunity could still be part of Williams’ journey. His previous matches against Zayn have given him valuable experience, and the rivalry has helped place him in the conversation surrounding WWE’s main-event division.

Final Thoughts

Trick Williams’ failure to dethrone Sami Zayn could be connected to several possible creative considerations. WWE may want more time to develop Williams before giving him a world championship, could be protecting Zayn’s position ahead of Crown Jewel 2026, or may have wanted to give the rivalry between the two competitors a decisive conclusion.

These explanations remain speculative, and WWE has not officially confirmed the creative reasons behind the result. What is clear from the match is that Zayn remains Undisputed WWE Champion, while Williams continues his run as United States Champion.

It will be interesting to see how Triple H and the WWE creative team develop both performers in the coming weeks, particularly with Zayn’s showdown against Roman Reigns approaching and Williams looking to make his next move on Friday Night SmackDown.