The next stop onWWE’s whirlwind start to 2025 will be theRoyal Rumbleon Saturday, February 1, and the build-up to the PLE is filled with intrigue and anticipation. Several stars could win the namesake match, and capture an automatic title shot atWrestleMania. Several storylines are intertwined around this annual event, and many of them have been brewing for a while now.
Perhaps none of those angles is more interesting than the one we caught a glimpse of duringthis week’s episodeofRaw on Netflix. While it’s been subtly built, the animosity between Sami Zayn and Drew McIntyre has been bubbling for years now, and we saw it all boil over again on the final episode ofRawbefore theRumble.
Following along withTriple H’s philosophy of long-term bookingand sustained stories, this confrontation makes a lot of sense. The way it has been crafted - with the two performers seemingly being at odds for as long as the audience can remember - is a cornerstone of the new era in WWE. It’s a tale that has both logic and longevity going for it.
Drew McIntyre & Sami Zayn’s Clash On Raw Continued An 11 Match Run
Zayn Has Never Won Against The Hulking Scot
The two squared off again this week onRaw, with just as much fervor as in the past. Drew McIntyre brutalized Sami Zayn, breaking his nose in the process, and causing him to bleed all over the place. Despite hitting a Helluva Kick and Blue Thunder Bomb combination late in the bout, the Canadian couldn’t secure the victory as McIntyre would rally back and get the win.
Following the contest, McIntyre attacked Zayn before Cody Rhodes came to the ring to try and help, before Kevin Owens showed up to battle with Rhodes. Zayn tried to deliver a Helluva Kick to McIntyre but hit The American Nightmare by mistake amidst all the chaos. It left Sami looking down, out and confused as we head towards a huge weekend.
It’s a playback we have seen several times before, withSami on the verge of conquering McIntyre, only to have victory slip through his grasp. During their rivalry, Zayn has never managed to get the best of McIntyre, but that could all change this weekend at theRoyal Rumble.
WWE Royal Rumble 2025 Can Finally Deliver Zayn’s Revenge After 4 Years
The Unsinkable Star Could Pull Off A Moral Victory
With Zayn already positioned as WWE’s ultimate underdog, there’s a rather satisfying conclusion set up for theRumble. McIntyre goading Zayn into a fight appeared to be a big hint at what’s next. It’s one of Triple H’s favorite story-telling arcs and one that will have everyone invested in their squabble when they come together in the Rumble.
This is the modern era of WWE storytelling. With the history already in place and the announce team ready to reference it at any time, the narrative created between Zayn and McIntyre feels special.Sami has always played well in the ‘David vs. Goliath’ role, and that’s a big reason why he’s so popular amongst the WWE Universe. So it stands to reason that the little guy will be standing up to the Scottish Superman one more time at theRumble. Expect a huge pop when they come face to face at this special event. And don’t forget: in that battle royal environment, anything can happen.
Zayn Eliminating Drew McIntyre Would Fit Triple H’s Golden Rule Of Creative
As this story has simmered masterfully, the next step should build to a satisfying pay-off. What better way to put Zayn over than to take down a bully?If he could manage to eliminate McIntyre, it would get a huge reactionfrom the live crowd and likely be one of the sterling snapshots of this special event.
It also makes sense in so many ways: we’ve seen the grouchy, irritable McIntyre become a victim of his own devious plots, while the crowd has loved seeing just about anyone get the best of him. He plays the foil very well, and it’s only helped to advance his career in the past couple of years. So, it makes sense that he might be overconfident and slip on a banana peel - so to speak - against Sami.
For Zayn, it wouldn’t be quite as sweet as a pinfall win over Drew, but it may be more effective. That single elimination of one of his biggest tormentors could be a springboard to a huge match atWrestleMania. Possibly against his longtime frenemy Kevin Owens, which wouldalsobe the payoff to a long-term storyline.
If Triple H follows his own booking blueprint, then we will likely see Drew McIntyre get hoisted over the top rope by Sami Zayn on Saturday. It would be an occurrence of immediate joy, mixed with long-term resolution. It’s the type of story thatWWEis telling right now, and it’s one they should tell at the Royal Rumble.
