#SmackDown #SamiZayn A title change has taken place during tonight’s March 27 episode of WWE SmackDown in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With tonight marking just 22 days until WrestleMania 42, there has been another twist on the road to the major event. As has been a theme in s SmackDown saw Carmelo Hayes put his WWE United States Championship on the line in an open challenge. Answering the open challenge was former champion Sami Zayn, who emerged victorious tonight and is the new two-time US Champion. This puts an end to Hayes’ reign at 89 days after he won the title from Ilja Dragunov on December 26. It was Dragunov who had ended Zayn’s first reign with the title in October. How Sami Zayn Won The WWE United States Championship Early during tonight’s WWE SmackDown, Nick Aldis informed Trick Williams backstage that he had booked Williams a match at WrestleMania 42. Sami Zayn overheard this conversation, and then asked Aldis what the plans are for himself at Mania – Aldis’ response was to gently inform Zayn that there are currently no Mania plans for him. Zayn was instantly depressed by this revelation, then turned around and struck a gloating Trick Williams, before proclaiming that he will, in fact, get himself onto the Mania card. Later in the show, Carmelo Hayes headed out to defend his US Title in the open challenge, and it was Zayn who answered. Williams came out to ringside to watch the match, cheering on Hayes throughout, mainly because he wanted to see Zayn fail. However, as Zayn got very close to pinning Hayes, Williams stood up out of his seat and grabbed the US Title belt, sliding it into the ring in front of Zayn. The referee took the belt, and while he was distracted taking it back outside the ring, Williams tried to land a shot on Zayn but struck Hayes by accident. This allowed Zayn to take advantage and follow up with the Helluva Kick to score the win and become champion.