Kevin Owens’ WWE Universal Title Win Should Revive Sami Zayn Feud
Kevin Owens winning the WWE Universal Championship should see the revival of his longtime feud with Sami Zayn.
Monday’s surprise swerve and even more surprising win by Kevin Owens to claim the WWE Universal Championship has sent ripples throughout the wrestling world. What could possibly be next for K.O. now that the “prizefighter” has attained the ultimate prize in professional wrestling? How about a revival of his heated feud with ultimate rival, Sami Zayn?
Owens and Zayn had one of the most awesome feuds in the history of NXT, beginning when Owens turned on his longtime friend moments after winning the title. Owens would go on to destroy Zayn on numerous occasions, even knocking him out of action with an injury. There were so many twists and turns that affected both men on a personal level. When Owens was called up to the main roster first it was seen as a sign he was the superior superstar. However when Zayn arrived their battle pick up right where it left off.
WWE took the ball and ran with it for a while, but it became clear neither superstar could progress as long as they continued to feud with one another. Zayn would get the “last” word at Battleground when he Helluva Kicked Owens into oblivion twice to score the victory. But now that Owens is Universal Champion, Zayn should be boasting about how he has already decisively beaten the champ. Zayn and Owens have a relationship best described as Shakespearean, full of deceptions and betrayals. It never had the chance to reach its full potential but this is the kick in the pants it needs to evolve into something greater.
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It only makes sense. Zayn holds the upper hand over Owens, which should make him an instant top contender. Meanwhile, it appears Owens will be in-league with Triple H in some capacity. That means Zayn will be forced to run through obstacles to earn a title shot. Building up babyfaces by pitting them against The Authority is what the WWE loves, and let’s be honest Zayn could use the rub. His character has been adrift since defeating Owens. On Raw, he wrestled a blatant filler match against Jinder Mahal that did neither man any good.
A path towards a championship match against Owens would put Zayn against others vying for the gold. His fiercest challenges would likely be the two guys who got screwed over: Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns. We’ve seen the chemistry Rollins and Zayn have in the ring together, and we could get some decent matches with Reigns, who seems reinvigorated lately.
The hope is that Owens’ title run isn’t a brief transitory period until someone like Rollins, Reigns, or Brock Lesnar can take over. If so, we may never see the next step in the war between Owens and Zayn, a step in which the greatest prize in all of professional wrestling is at stake.
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Would you like to see Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn go at it for the WWE Universal Championship? Or should their rivalry stay firmly in the past?