Trick Williams Beats Sami Zayn, Retains United States Championship at WWE Backlash 2026

Trick Williams beat Sami Zayn at WWE Backlash on Saturday to retain the United States Championship.

The contest was a rematch from WrestleMania 42 last month, which saw Williams defeat Zayn to win his first title of any kind since getting called up to the main roster from NXT.

In the weeks leading up to 'Mania, Trick often got under Zayn's skin by mocking him for his inability to prevail in big matches, especially with world titles on the line.

After failing to win the Undisputed WWE Championship at Royal Rumble, Zayn was in danger of being left off the WrestleMania card, but he beat Carmelo Hayes for the U.S. title, which set up a clash with Williams on The Grandest Stage of Them All.

Despite Zayn being the babyface and Williams being the heel, the crowd was firmly behind Trick at WrestleMania, and that has continued to be the case since then.

When Williams and rapper Lil Yachty celebrated the U.S. title win on SmackDown after WrestleMania, the WWE Universe ate it up and even enjoyed the gingerbread man mascot they used to mock Zayn.

However, the gingerbread man was actually Zayn in disguise, and he was able to get the jump on Williams by beating him down and continuing their rivalry.

One week later, Zayn cut a promo with the gingerbread costume next to him in the ring, and he snapped by knocking over the mannequin on which the costume was placed and attacking it.

A forlorn Williams declared the gingerbread man dead and hilariously held a funeral for it on the next episode of SmackDown.

Trick had his shot at revenge Saturday at Backlash, and he got it by retaining the title in his first U.S. Championship defense since WrestleMania.