WWE Hell in a Cell 2017: Could Sami Zayn Or Tye Dillinger Interfere?

Sami Zayn and Tye Dillinger do not have matches for WWE Hell in a Cell 2017, but could either babyface find a way to make their presence felt on tonight’s show?

At one point, it looked like Tye Dillinger would find his way into a match at WWE Hell in a Cell 2017, especially since he just beat Baron Corbin with a roll-up. Current United States Champion AJ Styles has always been destined to feud with Corbin, but Dillinger was involved in this program heavily over the past few weeks, putting on a couple of solid matches with Styles. Instead, Dillinger is off of the card entirely, as Styles will defend his title in a singles match against Corbin.

Meanwhile, Sami Zayn has been a non-factor on SmackDown Live pretty much ever since joining the brand, which is strange considering how much he claimed he wanted to be on SmackDown, even angling for a trade from then-GM Mick Foley. Zayn was in the Money in the Bank ladder match and beat Corbin with a couple of fluke wins, but he’s also taken a copious amount of losses, including some truly bizarre ones to Aiden English.

Needless to say, Zayn doesn’t have a match at Hell in a Cell either, and he hasn’t had a real feud on SmackDown Live. This is equal parts puzzling and infuriating, because Zayn has been one of the best wrestlers in the world for quite some time. He’s also insanely popular among the fans, who enjoy his entrance, impassioned promos, neurotic attitude, selling, move-set, crisp in-ring work, and likable character.

Dillinger is nearly as popular among the fans, too. His “Ten” chants remain over, his ring attire is cool, and he’s also a capable in-ring worker. All of his appearances and matches on SmackDown Live have been entertaining, and he had fans on the edge of their seats when he hit a “Tye Breaker” on Styles to nearly beat Styles for the U.S. Championship.

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Despite the fact that neither wrestler has a match at Hell in a Cell, there is speculation that one of them could interfere tonight. Dillinger’s path to an appearance is easier to see and more likely. He and Corbin have already gotten involved in each other’s one-on-one encounters with Styles before, and Dillinger has a legitimate claim to be in this United States Championship match.

On the other hand, Zayn’s chances of interfering are far less likely but far more intriguing. Our own Shayne Merriman and others have speculated that Zayn could interfere in Kevin Owens’s match against Shane McMahon.

Owens and Zayn have been arguing with each other lately, and Owens actually tried to end his career in the main event of SmackDown Live two weeks ago before Shane got involved. This bitter rivalry could cause Zayn to come out and help Shane win, costing Owens the match. It’s hard to ever see Shane beating a real wrestler, much less one as talented as Owens, but this could be one way to make that a possibility.

What’s even less likely but infinitely more juicy is Zayn re-aligning himself with Owens, helping him destroy Shane and starting a crazy storyline that swerves every WWE fan. I would be intrigued if this happens, but it probably isn’t the best idea.

First of all, Owens doesn’t need Zayn’s help to win this match, especially since he already demolished Shane on the Tuesday before the pay per view. Secondly, Zayn is one of the only true babyfaces in the WWE whom the crowd loves, so turning him heel when the fans still love him (and will probably always love him) could end up being a dreadful idea. But the WWE did make this match a “Falls Count Anywhere”, so the chances of an interference are hypothetically more likely.

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I expect Hell in a Cell to have a couple of wonky finishes, such as the match between Natalya and Charlotte Flair, so the speculation of Zayn or Dillinger involving themselves in a match makes sense. However, I think both of these matches need clean finishes. The Owens-McMahon storyline still has plenty of legs, but I don’t see a lot of mileage in a continuation of a program among Styles, Corbin, and Dillinger. So while it is logistically easier to envision Dillinger interfering in the United States Championship match, it doesn’t sound like a wise booking decision.