Sami Zayn has revisited one of the most memorable losses of his WWE career.
In February 2023, Zayn challenged Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at Elimination Chamber in Montreal, where the crowd was behind him after he left The Bloodline.
Speaking on Tuesday’s episode of Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Zayn said there were arguments for him winning that night, though he acknowledged WWE was also building the story between Reigns and Cody Rhodes.
“I thought there was a case to be made for it [winning],” Zayn said. “But going back to the domino effect thing, I don’t know. I really don’t know. I don’t think it’s ludicrous to say I should have.”
Zayn also pointed to how popular Rhodes was at the time and the plans the company was putting together for him.
“If you were watching at that time, I think anybody could have made that argument,” Zayn said. “But it was just again timing, and Cody was also red hot at that time, and they were building to something. Then it leads to Cody the next year, and then it’s more gratifying. Whatever it is, just yeah, I don’t know.”
Zayn closed by addressing whether a win that night would have worked.
“Could, should, would it have worked?” Zayn said. “I think so. But who’s to say?”
In the same interview, Zayn said he can’t imagine how his career would have turned out without The Bloodline storyline. He believes small decisions can have consequences that are impossible to predict, especially when they involve WWE’s creative direction.
This is not the first time Zayn has discussed the outcome of the Montreal match. In July 2024, on Peter Rosenberg’s Cheap Heat, Zayn said winning the Undisputed Universal title that night would have created a historic moment. But he acknowledged it would have changed every storyline that followed.
What happened next helps explain why Zayn brought up Rhodes. At WrestleMania 39, Reigns retained the Undisputed Universal title against Rhodes, while Zayn and Kevin Owens ended The Usos’ reign as tag team champions. A year later, Rhodes finally beat Reigns at WrestleMania XL.
Zayn’s history with The Bloodline is now back in focus. Zayn and Reigns are set to meet again at Crown Jewel on November 7 for the Men’s Crown Jewel Championship.