WWE Crown Jewel 2026 Results As Roman Reigns Beats Resilient Sami Zayn

At WWE Crown Jewel 2026, the creative team revisited the peak of The Bloodline saga with a monumental clash between Sami Zayn and Roman Reigns.

Whether by coincidence or design, Reigns, now the World Heavyweight Champion, found himself facing Zayn, the WWE Champion, three years after Zayn’s infamous betrayal of “The Tribal Chief.” Although Zayn and Reigns had gone their separate ways, their ongoing title reigns led them to a Crown Jewel Championship match in Riyadh.

On the line? Bragging rights, the Crown Jewel title and, potentially, a momentum-building victory heading into Survivor Series and Royal Rumble season.

FORBES | By Blake Oestriecher
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WWE Crown Jewel 2026 Results For Roman Reigns Vs. Sami Zayn

Penta couldn’t do it. Neither could LA Knight. And as it turns out, Sami Zayn couldn’t either.

Despite a valiant effort from Zayn, Reigns toppled the WWE Champion to win the WWE Crown Jewel Championship at the PLE that shares the same name. Reigns was able to pick up the victory after an evenly matched battle in which it looked like Zayn might pull off the upset. But a pair of vicious spears did Zayn in despite Zayn’s stellar showing in Riyadh.

Here are the key highlights and moments from Zayn’s monumental upset over Reigns at WWE Crown Jewel 2026:

• The crowd chanted big time for Zayn, but Reigns took control with a big clothesline early on. Zayn tossed Reigns over the top rope, Reigns ran back in, and then Zayn immediately clotheslined him out again. Back inside, Zayn leapfrogged Reigns and then clotheslined him once more.
• Zayn hit an axe handle smash on Reigns and went for it again, but Reigns hit him with an uppercut and a leaping clothesline. Reigns blasted Zayn with 10 corner clotheslines and a running boot. Zayn fought back with some strikes and a kick to the chest. Zayn attempted a suplex, but Reigns fought out of it and hit one of his own for a two-count.
• The crowd chanted “overrated” at Reigns, just as they did for Cody Rhodes earlier in the show. Zayn hit a sunset flip powerbomb off the top rope for two and then went for a Blue Thunder Bomb. Reigns countered into a uranage for a nearfall. Reigns went for the Superman punch, Zayn countered into a Blue Thunder Bomb and got a nearfall of his own.
• Zayn hit a dive over the top onto Reigns on the outside. Reigns hit the Superman Punch on the inside for a two-count. The two stars exchanged punches, and Reigns eventually hit another Superman punch after Zayn seemed to tweak his leg.
• Reigns lined up for the spear, but Zayn hit a Helluva Kick out of nowhere for the closest nearfall of the match. Zayn went for a Superman Punch of his own, Reigns ducked and went for his own Superman punch, Zayn ducked and Reigns took out the ref. Zayn was able to hit the Helluva Kick and pin Reigns, but there was no ref to count the pin.
• Zayn had Reigns beat as a second ref came in, but Reigns kicked out because the ref took so long. A frustrated Zayn that hit the second referee with the Helluva Kick. Zayn grabbed the WWE title and went to hit Reigns, but Reigns hit the Superman punch followed by the spear.
• The first ref rolled into the ring and counted the pin but took so long again that Zayn miraculously kicked out. The crowd erupted for that one. With the playing field now level, Reigns and Zayn exchanged blows in the middle of the ring with the crowd firmly behind Zayn.
• Reigns took control as Zayn begged him to bring everything he’s got. Then, Reigns hit a Superman punch and went for another. Zayn caught him for an exploder suplex and went for the Helluva Kick again, but Reigns caught him with a Superman punch. Reigns went for the spear, but Zayn got a Superman punch of his own.
• Zayn went for the spear, but Reigns hit the spear instead. Reigns hit another spear and then pinned Zayn for the 1-2-3.
• Post-match, Zayn offered Reigns a hand shake and demanded that Reigns shake it, and although Reigns looked hesitant, he slapped Zayn’s hand away and gave him a hug instead.

WWE Crown Jewel 2026 Results: What’s Next For Roman Reigns And Sami Zayn?

Anyone who’s been paying attention to WWE Raw as of late could see what was coming from the red brand’s top storyline: a battle between its top two factions at Survivor Series: WarGames.

Up until the past few weeks, Reigns has largely avoided 946’s wrath, even as the new heel faction targeted his cousins in The Bloodline. At Crown Jewel, Reigns was able to overcome Zayn, which now frees him up to turn his attention to 946 in the weeks ahead.

With 946 brawling with The Bloodline on last week’s Raw, it’s clear that 946 vs. The Bloodline inside the WarGames structure is a virtual lock for Survivor Series in just three weeks. Now that former NXT stalwart Cruz Montana has rounded out 946 as its fifth male star, the only thing left to set this match in stone is the return of Jacob Fatu, who will undoubtedly be the fifth star on The Bloodline.

Given Fatu’s expected return, this simmering rivalry is coming to a boil, but Zayn’s path on SmackDown is less clear.

Zayn has had a massive target on his back as WWE Champion over the past several weeks, and that target is now even bigger because he can boast that he had Reigns pinned at Crown Jewel. A tainted loss to the OTC is perfectly fitting for his heel character, and with Cody Rhodes beating Randy Orton in a de factor No. 1 contender’s match at Crown Jewel, that could play into a potential rivalry with “The American Nightmare.”

Even if WWE doesn’t move directly into that storyline, Zayn’s big performance at Crown Jewel will be a huge talking point at SmackDown, and with Zayn likely to boast about his performance as soon as he can, expect his next challenger to emerge imminently.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com