While acknowledging inner conflict and complaints, Zayn has reportedly been on a path of doing the right thing. He is said to have intervened to prevent Gunther from interfering with Rhodes' WWE Championship defense on SmackDown. During that match, Zayn, serving as special guest referee, reportedly escalated his involvement with a quick count, which ultimately kept Rhodes as champion and led to their triple threat encounter.

The narrative suggests Zayn's actions were justified, particularly after Gunther's physical actions during the match. Zayn's subsequent championship win is described as clean, achieved by countering the Cross Rhodes into a pinfall victory in Saudi Arabia, a moment reportedly devoid of heelish tactics and framed as a definitive babyface achievement.