The WWE Championship match between Drew McIntyre and Sami Zayn at the Royal Rumble sparked heated discussions behind the scenes, lasting until the day of the event. Sami Zayn was actively pushing for a victory to capture the WWE title, adding pressure to the decision-making process.
Despite Zayn’s efforts, the final call rested with Paul “Triple H” Levesque, who sided with maintaining McIntyre’s reign rather than allowing a title change at the event.
Decision-Making and McIntyre’s Continued Championship Reign
Dave Meltzer, writing in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, noted,
“I don’t think Zayn should have won and neither did Levesque in the end,”
and added,
“Still, this was a subject of discussion as to who would win right until the day of the show since Zayn was pushing for it.”
Ultimately, McIntyre retained his WWE Title, setting the stage for his continued storyline leading into WrestleMania.
McIntyre originally claimed the championship last month during a three-stages-of-hell match on SmackDown, where Jacob Fatu interfered in the steel cage finale by attacking Cody Rhodes. This interference disrupted the match and intensified rivalries moving forward.
Ongoing Storylines Involving Rhodes, Fatu, and Future WrestleMania Plans
Following the attack, WWE scheduled a match between Jacob Fatu and Cody Rhodes at Saturday Night’s Main Event, which ended in a no-contest, adding further tension to their feud. The Wrestling Observer also reports that WWE’s initial WrestleMania plans included a Cody Rhodes versus CM Punk match, although current plans now lean toward a clash between McIntyre and Rhodes for the WWE Title.
There is speculation that Jacob Fatu could be inserted into this storyline, potentially turning the championship contest into a triple threat match. This development reflects WWE’s ongoing efforts to maintain unpredictability and audience interest leading up to WrestleMania.
