Roman Reigns proved he still has Sami Zayn’s number at WWE Crown Jewel 2026, defeating his former Bloodline ally to become the Men’s Crown Jewel Champion. The match was anything but straightforward, as both referees ended up getting taken out, Zayn tried to use a championship belt as a weapon, and Reigns needed two consecutive Spears to finally put him away.
The two champions entered the match with plenty of bad blood between them. Reigns, the World Heavyweight Champion, had spent weeks questioning Zayn’s credibility, while the Undisputed WWE Champion had been demanding that everyone finally acknowledge him. Their history together made this more than another Champion vs. Champion match, and neither man wasted much time getting physical.
Zayn took the fight to Reigns early, repeatedly sending him outside the ring and using the barricade and announce table to his advantage. Reigns eventually took control with his familiar offense, but Zayn kept fighting back. A Blue Thunder Bomb nearly gave Sami the victory, while Reigns answered with Superman Punches and several close calls of his own.
Things completely fell apart when Reigns accidentally knocked out the referee with a Superman Punch. Zayn immediately capitalized, planting Reigns into the turnbuckles with an exploder suplex before connecting with a Helluva Kick. Unfortunately for Zayn, there was nobody available to count the pin.
A replacement referee eventually arrived, but Reigns managed to kick out. Zayn apparently wasn’t happy about that decision because he delivered a Helluva Kick to the second referee as well. With both referees down, Zayn went outside and grabbed a championship belt. He appeared ready to use it against Reigns, but the Tribal Chief caught him with a Superman Punch and followed up with a Spear. The original referee finally recovered enough to count, although the delay gave Zayn enough time to kick out. Reigns clearly wasn’t pleased, and the match became even more personal as the two started exchanging slaps and punches. Zayn repeatedly challenged Reigns to keep hitting him, refusing to back down even as the punishment continued.
The closing sequence saw both men desperately trying to finish each other. Zayn landed another exploder suplex and attempted a Helluva Kick, but Reigns cut him off with a Superman Punch. Zayn then caught Reigns with a Superman Punch of his own and attempted to hit a Spear. That turned out to be a costly mistake. Reigns intercepted Zayn with a Spear before delivering another one to secure the three-count, winning the Men’s Crown Jewel Championship and leaving Riyadh with bragging rights over the Undisputed WWE Champion.
The loss was especially damaging for Zayn considering everything he attempted during the match. He had multiple opportunities to win, took out a referee in frustration, and even tried to bring a championship belt into the equation. None of it was enough to stop Reigns.
Reigns, meanwhile, backed up his recent claims that he could get the job done without relying on his family. He defeated Zayn on his own and added another championship accomplishment to his résumé, while Sami was left with another bitter defeat against the man he once proudly called his Tribal Chief.
WWE Crown Jewel 2026 ended with Roman Reigns standing tall, but the chaotic referee situation and Zayn’s increasingly desperate behavior could have consequences for the Undisputed WWE Champion moving forward. Their history is far from simple, and this latest chapter gave Zayn another reason to resent his former Bloodline leader.
Do you think Roman Reigns was the right choice to win the Men’s Crown Jewel Championship, or should Sami Zayn have gotten the victory? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
