Ahead of WWE WrestleMania 41, Sami Zayn was taken out by Kevin Owens during their Unsanctioned Match at Elimination Chamber 2025.
After missing Mania last year, fans have been wondering what Zayn could possibly do on the WrestleMania 42 card.
From competing for championship gold to settling grudges, Zayn could be lined up for high profile bouts at Mania this April.
Here are eight potential Sami Zayn WWE WrestleMania 42 opponents.
8. Trick Williams
On the January 2 edition of Friday Night SmackDown, Trick Williams officially got called up to the WWE main roster and confronted Sami Zayn.
Since then, Williams has been a thorn in Zayn’s side and has been getting under his skin with verbal abuse on the microphone.
The two-time NXT Champion has made it perfectly clear he feels that Zayn is inferior to what he has to offer to WWE.
Trick Williams facing Sami Zayn could make for a compelling grudge match on the WrestleMania 42 card in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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7. Rey Fenix
Over the past few weeks, fans have been watching a friendship being developed between Sami Zayn and Rey Fenix.
However, Zayn has been having a crisis of confidence after coming up short against Drew McIntyre for the Undisputed WWE Championship at Royal Rumble 2026.
With Fenix trying to inspire Sami to keep fighting, it could lead to Zayn snapping on the luchador before long.
Zayn turning heel could lead to an inevitable showdown against Fenix at WrestleMania 42 this April.
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6. Ilja Dragunov
When Ilja Dragunov made his return from injury in October 2025, he defeated Sami Zayn to win the United States Championship.
Taking his cue from Zayn, Dragunov decided to continue the United States Championship Open Challenge that Sami brought back on Friday Night SmackDown.
However, Zayn would get his win back against “The Mad Dragon” on the January 16 SmackDown when he earned the right to advance to an Undisputed WWE Championship #1 Contenders Match at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
Now with these two men’s series being 1-1 in recent months, this competitive rivalry could come to a conclusion at WrestleMania 42 when the lights are on brightest.
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5. Carmelo Hayes
Speaking of the United States Championship, Carmelo Hayes now holds the title and has continued the open challenge on Friday Night SmackDown.
While Sami Zayn has not stepped up to challenge Hayes, he never received a rematch for the title after losing the gold last October.
During his reign with the title, Zayn did successfully defend the U.S. Championship against Hayes in 2025.
Waiting until “The Grandest Stage of Them All,” Zayn could challenge Hayes for the United States Title and look to regain his spot as a champion coming out of WrestleMania 42.
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4. Shinsuke Nakamura
2026 has seen Shinsuke Nakamura trying to refind his mojo by rekindling some old rivalries.
Whether it be his instant classic against AJ Styles at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event or feuding with his NJPW rival Tama Tonga of The MFTs, “The King of Strong Style” has done battle with some notable names from his past as of late.
Another older rival of Nakamura that he could revive a feud with is Sami Zayn. The two men have faced off over the Intercontinental Championship and most notably in NXT when Nakamura made his WWE debut.
Wanting to revisit this rivalry on the biggest stage possible, Nakamura could challenge Zayn to a rematch at WrestleMania 42 where they can find out who is the better man in Las Vegas.
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3. Dominik Mysterio
While most of the options on this list come from the Friday Night SmackDown brand, WrestleMania 42 could see Sami Zayn face off with a member of the Raw roster.
Throughout his run in WWE, Zayn has been most known for his reigns as Intercontinental Champion.
Despite being a former United States and Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champion, Zayn’s three reigns as I.C. Champion signifies his greatest singles success of his stint with the company.
Looking to get back to that championship success, Zayn could challenge Dominik Mysterio for the Intercontinental Title at WrestleMania 42 in what could be The Judgment Day’s toughest test yet.
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2. Jacob Fatu
On the February 13 episode of Friday Night SmackDown, Cody Rhodes defeated Sami Zayn and Jacob Fatu to qualify for the Men’s Elimination Chamber.
While all three men took themselves to the limit, it was outside interference from Undisputed WWE Champion Drew McIntyre that was the difference in the result of this bout.
McIntyre drove Fatu through the announce table, while it was Zayn who delivered a Helluva Kick to the champion before Cody put him away with a Cross Rhodes to win.
Now that both men will be on the outside looking in on the Men’s Elimination Chamber, Fatu and Zayn could form a rivalry with one another, leading to a first time singles meeting between the two at WrestleMania 42.
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1. Randy Orton
At the January 24 edition of WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, Sami Zayn defeated Damian Priest, Trick Williams and Randy Orton to become the number one contender for the Undisputed WWE Championship.
However, Zayn came up short against Drew McIntyre with the title on the line at WWE Royal Rumble 2026.
While they have faced each other in singles action in the past, Zayn has never been able to pick up a win over “The Legend Killer.”
Despite not being able to finally get an elusive win over Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania 42, the event could see Zayn finally beat another top star in Orton this April in Las Vegas.
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