Sami Zayn and Roman Reigns opened the Oct. 19 episode of WWE Monday Night Raw in San Diego with a face-to-face segment. Zayn holds the Undisputed WWE Championship, while Reigns carries the World Heavyweight title. The pair collide at Crown Jewel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Nov. seventh.
Zayn set up the confrontation in the opening promo of the Oct. 16 episode of SmackDown. In that promo, the Undisputed WWE Champion told Penta, the reigning Mr. Money in the Bank, to target Reigns. Zayn also promised to deliver a message to the Tribal Chief in person on Raw.
Zayn won the Undisputed WWE Championship for the first time at Night of Champions on June 27, beating Cody Rhodes and Gunther in a triple-threat match. CM Punk took the title nine days later in Zayn’s first defense on the July sixth episode of Raw. Zayn regained the championship on the Sept. 11 episode of SmackDown.
Reigns won the World Heavyweight Championship from Punk at WrestleMania 42 Night Two on April 19 in Las Vegas. The Tribal Chief hit two Spears to close the 33-minute main event. Reigns retained against L.A. Knight at Money in the Bank on Oct. tenth.
Zayn came out first and asked the crowd who would “ride or die” with the champion. Reigns followed to a loud ovation and opened with “It’s good to see you.” The two champions hugged in the middle of the ring, and WWE posted the moment on X.
Zayn told Reigns the burden of holding the top title, something the Tribal Chief described during the pair’s Bloodline days, finally makes sense. The Undisputed WWE Champion pointed to the constant disrespect that follows a world titleholder. Reigns agreed the title brings that burden.
Reigns shifted the conversation, saying the most important title Zayn ever held was “Honorary Uce.” The nickname dates to the Bloodline storyline that ran from 2022 into early 2023. The World Heavyweight Champion asked whether Zayn came to Raw to talk about titles or to serve The Bloodline in its feud with The 946. The 946, a faction led by Royce Keys, has feuded with The Bloodline since the Aug. 24 episode of Raw.
Zayn showed appreciation for the Bloodline years, then claimed the head of a separate table. The argument turned to which championship carries more prestige. Zayn backed the Undisputed WWE Championship, while Reigns called the World Heavyweight belt “the” title and Zayn’s only “a” title.
Reigns went further, arguing the champion matters more than the belt. The Tribal Chief suggested the undisputed belt “hasn’t meant —- since WrestleMania 40.” Rhodes beat Reigns for the undisputed title at that event in April 2024.
Zayn fired back that the Tribal Chief should not dismiss the Undisputed WWE Champion as a threat. Reigns closed the exchange with a warning about Crown Jewel. Citing Zayn’s track record, the World Heavyweight Champion said the undisputed title might change hands before the two meet in Riyadh.
As the Tribal Chief headed up the ramp, Penta emerged with the Money in the Bank briefcase for a scheduled match against Bron Breakker. Reigns and Penta traded stares on the ramp. Once inside the ring, the Money in the Bank winner held the briefcase up in Zayn’s face.
Penta won the match that followed. Austin Theory interfered on Breakker’s behalf. Je’Von Evans took Theory out and hit Breakker with the briefcase. Penta capitalized with a Mexican Destroyer for the pinfall.
The Raw opener was the worst segment WWE has aired all year. Two world champions with years of shared history got the top of the show and produced a hug and a title debate. Not one moment gave fans a reason to circle Nov. seventh on the calendar.
Reigns told the San Diego crowd the Undisputed WWE Championship has meant nothing since WrestleMania 40. Zayn, the man holding that championship, had little answer for the closing shot about Crown Jewel. A champion who cannot defend his own belt on the microphone is not a convincing threat to the Tribal Chief.
The “Honorary Uce” callback belongs in 2023. The Bloodline story from 2022 was one of the best runs in modern WWE, and a quick jab cheapens that history. Penta holding the briefcase in Zayn’s face drew more intrigue than anything the two champions said. Crown Jewel needs a fresh reason for Reigns and Zayn to fight, and Raw did not deliver one.
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