Early evening on tonight (Saturday, January 28, 2023) royal rumble Premium Live Event at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, Roman Reigns made it clear that he wanted Sami Zayn by his side all night, all the way through his WWE Universal title defense against Kevin Owens. Despite proving himself time and time again, Reigns refused to trust Zayn and wanted to keep him close.
It was here that he would go through what Reigns called his “final test.”
WWE promoted it with a slick video package right before the match by calling it “the final chapter.”
How the hell was this all going to explode?
A referee clashes, and Reigns demands Zayn hand him a chair and Sami seems conflicted before finally doing so. Owens recovered in time to hit a stunner for an incredibly close near-fall.
A short time later, Zayn begged Owens to just lie down. “Just end it,” he said several times.
Reigns repeatedly sent KO’s head up the stairs, causing Sami to watch him as he did it.
Finally, thankfully, a center-ring spear and a three-count, with Reigns defeating Owens to retain the WWE Universal Championship.
But that wasn’t the end.
The entirety of The Bloodline came on the scene and before he allowed anything, Reigns had Zayn watch The Usos put the boots on an already completed Owens. And then they put him in the corner with a chair on his neck and Solo Sikoa also went to him. Then the handcuffs came out and Owens was tied to the top rope with both wrists.
He ate super kick after super kick after super kick. “I can’t even look, this is disgusting,” said Michael Cole flatly.
And Sami was still watching.
Reigns grabbed a chair and just as he was about to drop it on Owens’ head, Zayn got in his way.
‘This is below you! You don’t have to do this. You’re better than that. You are.”
So Reigns gave him the chair.
“I shouldn’t,” Reigns said.
“You have to do it.”
Zayn didn’t want to. Reigns urged him on. ‘He doesn’t care about you! He dragged you down from day one! He’s an anchor. I care about you! I love you!”
Zayn grabbed the chair and lifted it up.
“Pull the trigger,” Reigns yelled.
When he didn’t, Reigns shoved him in the face.
“Do you think this is a game?!? This is my life!”
And then Reigns turned to yell at Owens again.
So Sami did it.
He hit Reigns in the back with the chair.
Jey Uso was devastated.
Jimmy Uso responded with a Superkick and a barrage of punches.
Solo Sikoa threw Jimmy out to get Sami himself. The beating continued. Jimmy, and Solo, and Reigns were there now, heading for Zayn.
But Jay wasn’t there.
He stood in the corner, head down, uncertain. When his family asked what he was doing, Jey slid down and left the ring, slowly walking up the long aisle, his hands over his mouth. He seemed to be in tears, or almost.
The rest of The Bloodline continued their attack on Zayn.
The Alamodome let Reigns know how they felt with a loud chant.
“Fuck you, Roman.”
And then they left.
Zayn lay helpless in the ring. Owens still handcuffed to the ropes, momentarily defeated.
The Bloodline stopped to take one last look into the ring.
Fade to black.
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