Trick Williams’ transition into being a genuine fan favorite did not happen overnight — and according to Fightful Select, the discussion about turning the new United States Champion babyface began more than a month before his WrestleMania 42 victory over Sami Zayn. The organic crowd reactions Williams had been generating, including the enthusiastic response to his entrance music, made the timing increasingly obvious in the weeks leading up to the show.
Williams defeated Zayn at WrestleMania 42 Night Two to win his first main roster championship, with Lil Yachty in his corner for the moment. The result confirms a significant character evolution for a performer who ended his NXT run as a heel following TNA Rebellion 2025 and debuted on the WWE main roster in January by interrupting Randy Orton — at the time a babyface — in a clearly heelish fashion. The audience simply refused to follow that positioning, gravitating toward Williams with increasing enthusiasm in the weeks that followed.
Trick Williams Says He Will Not Be Doing Open Challenge Defenses Every Week as US Champion
Williams also appeared on ESPN SportsCenter after WrestleMania 42 and indicated his championship reign will look different from those of his predecessors. When The Miz referenced Carmelo Hayes being told not to do open challenges every week, Williams was direct. “I’m a superstar and I wear that very seriously. When the people see Trick Williams, he’s going to be in a main event. It’s going to be a show when I defend this title.” Sami Zayn had revived the US Championship Open Challenge gimmick during his reign — a tradition carried by Hayes and Ilja Dragunov before him — and Williams appears ready to chart his own course as the WWE United States Champion heading into the post-WrestleMania season.