Sami Zayn leaves WWE Crown Jewel with more than just a championship after loss to Roman Reigns

Sami Zayn lost to Roman Reigns in the main event of WWE Crown Jewel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. But although he lost the championship, he walked away with something that likely meant more to him than the title — respect.

Reigns defeated Zayn in the Crown Jewel Championship match at The Venue in Riyadh on Saturday. After the match, Zayn demanded that Reigns shake his hand. Instead of a handshake, Reigns gave him a hug.

As he embraced him, Reigns told Zayn, "You're not honorary. You're an Uso." The moment stunned the Riyadh crowd. It was an emotional turn in a story between the two that goes back several years.

Zayn has said for months that he was not getting the respect he had earned. He said he did not get it even after becoming the undisputed WWE champion twice. He wanted that recognition from his former Bloodline brother Reigns, from the SmackDown audience and from the locker room.

For Zayn, this match felt like a home game. Earlier this year, at Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia, he won the Undisputed WWE Championship for the first time. Zayn, who is of Syrian descent, received huge support from the Riyadh crowd that night.

This time too, the crowd was behind Zayn from the start. During the match he tried his best to get into Reigns' mind. But Reigns was above all of that. In the end, he hit Zayn with a spear and pinned him for the victory.

With this win, another accolade has been added to Reigns' impressive resume. He is a seven-time world champion. He has won the Intercontinental, United States and Tag Team Championships and has won the Royal Rumble twice, including earlier this year. Now he can also add the Crown Jewel Championship and the Crown Jewel ring to his list.

But hungry competitors await Reigns when he returns to the United States. Cruz Montana joined the group this past week on Monday Night Raw. The Royce Keys-led faction has been one of the only groups to get the better of Reigns and The Bloodline.

Pleasantries aside, Reigns and The Bloodline have business to take care of. Survivor Series: WarGames is next on the docket, and all eyes are now on that event.