Trick Williams is the new United States Champion, and the babyface turn that made it possible was not a sudden decision.
Williams defeated Sami Zayn on night two of WrestleMania 42 to capture the United States Championship in his first main roster title win, with Lil Yachty in his corner. The match had Williams positioned as the fan favorite, a role the crowd has been pushing him toward organically for several weeks.
According to Fightful Select, discussion about a babyface turn for Williams began over a month ago within WWE. His increased popularity and the crowd reactions he had been generating, including the response to his entrance music, became more and more difficult to ignore in the weeks leading up to WrestleMania.
The turn represents a significant shift for Williams, who had been working as a heel since TNA Rebellion 2025 and carried that character into his NXT run before debuting on the main roster in January.
His first main roster appearance saw him interrupt Randy Orton, who was a babyface at the time, positioning Williams as a heel from the outset. That direction was gradually abandoned as the audience made their preference clear.
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