The last time Sami Zayn lost a big world title match, he at least had the excuse of being in the middle of the end of Roman Reigns’s epic multi-year reign. He was the last defense before Reigns faced Rhodes at WrestleMania 39, setting the stage for his loss at WrestleMania 40 the next year. It was a bitter pill for Sami Zayn fans to swallow, but you could swallow it.

At the Royal Rumble, in what announcers described as a “home game” for the Muslim star, Zayn gave Drew McIntyre everything he had, and it simply wasn’t enough. It is looking like the bowl that is fueling the pipe dream of world champion Sami Zayn is close to cashed, and I’m not sure we have the smoke to pack another one. McIntyre clearly has unfinished business with Cody Rhodes, and WWE clearly sees them as a more marketable main event than any combination that could involve Zayn. Maybe he ends up in a three-way, or maybe they add Jacob Fatu and make it a four-way, but either way, I just don’t see Zayn coming out on top any time soon.

It was a tremendous match, possibly one of Zayn’s best in WWE, which is why it’s so hard to admit the dream might be over, but I think I can hear the alarm clock blaring.