At WWE Night of Champions 2026, Sami Zayn hit a career high when he dethroned “American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes as the Undisputed WWE Champion. The win not only earned Zayn his first WWE World Title, but also eclipsed another major pinnacle.
during the interview with “Insight with Chris Van Vliet” Zayn explained why his work on The Bloodline saga has been his pride up until that point.
“Probably the Bloodline stuff (was a career highlight),” Zayn said. “I think that’s what I would probably be remembered for if my career ended before I won a world title or something. That might be what I’ll be remembered for the most in 20 years, if people remember anything about me in 20 years. But I was also very proud of it. But I’ve had a lot of things in my career. I’m proud, but there are a lot of things in my career that I’m extremely proud of.”
Zayn’s involvement with The Bloodline dates back to spring 2022, when a need for on-screen validation prompted him to align himself with the Samoan stable. Despite the initial hesitation of the members of The Bloodline, he gradually won them over and the WWE Universe, so much so that he was officially greeted as “Honorable Utse”. His popularity also convinced WWE officials have reportedly extended his Bloodline run.
Zane was originally intended to be on the “fringes” of The Bloodline Saga.
“My intention at first was to be more like a fringe, (but) it evolved,” Zane said, “and that’s part of the beauty of it.” I loved the adaptability from week to week so much. It’s kind of a blueprint in your head, but some of the things in the week that you don’t account for are just gifts that fall into your lap, and then it’s playing with those gifts.”
For months, Zayn has been clawing his way to get The Tribesman Roman Reigns and one of his right-hand men, Jey Uso, on WWE programming. Yet he remained compellingly committed to his mission, which ultimately led to the former officially embracing him in the September 23, 2022 episode on WWE SmackDown in Salt Lake City. Uso did the same two months later as he saw the former NXT Champion prove his loyalty to The Bloodline in a grueling WarGames Match at Survivor Series.
Fast forward to the 2023 Royal Rumble and WWE fans saw a very different scene play out. After Reigns’ successful defense of the Undisputed WWE Championship against Kevin Owens, The Bloodline attempted to do more damage with a post-match attack. Zayn, however, refused to participate and Shocker hits Reigns in the back with a steel chair.
The move was met with immediate backlash as Solo Sisquoi, Jimmy Uso and Reigns counterattacked Zayn while a struggling Jey Uso looked on. Weeks later, Zayn challenged Reigns for the World Title at Elimination Chamber in his hometown of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
