Sami Zayn should be the man to defeat Roman Reigns

WWE has an opportunity to generate momentum with Sami Zayn being the one to dethrone Roman Reigns.

The Royal Rumble is one night away and fans are ready for the first big PLE of 2023. There’s a lot to look forward to, but all eyes are on the men’s Royal Rumble and who comes out on top. A few months ago this was a one-dog race with Cody Rhodes well ahead of the pack. Now, things have changed and many are looking at Sami Zayn as a big option to win the match. In fact, the push for Zayn to unseat Roman Reigns is gaining momentum and it would be a star-making opportunity that rarely happens in professional wrestling.

The only way to describe the last 12 months of Zayn’s career is that of a rocket ship. At this time in 2022, he was feuding with Johnny Knoxville. That was an angle that shouldn’t have worked as well as it did but created one of the most entertaining matches throughout wrestling that year. From there, he goes on this quest to join The Bloodline and in doing so became the biggest babyface in the industry.

Now the question remains. How does the WWE capitalize on that babyface momentum? Could they pair him and Kevin Owens as a team and allow them to unseat The Usos, ending their historic run? Or what if Zayn is the one to win the Royal Rumble and take the WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania 39?

This is a massive decision that impacts that entire group. the Usos, Owens, and Rhodes would all have their WrestleMania angles impacted. For example, the Usos do not have any credible threats to their tag team titles. Owens and Zayn teaming together immediately alleviates that and would be a believable pair to pick up the win. If Owens isn’t pairing with Zayn, what is left for him at WrestleMania to fit a performer of his level?

And then there is Rhodes. His triumphant return to WWE last year set the trajectory that he’s the one to defeat Reigns and finally secure that WWE Championship for the Rhodes family. While that would still be a big moment if that’s the route the WWE decides to make, there’s a potential threat that Zayn’s work will overshadow that of Rhodes.

Sami Zayn defeating Roman Reigns would be a major career moment

Zayn picking up the win over Roman would be a legacy-defining moment. Zayn has all the makings of a babyface character that can get over against any opponent in front of him. Since his debut on the main roster, few believed he’d ever reach this point, but he’s overcome those doubts to now be the hottest he’s ever been in his career. Putting the title on him would be a game-changing moment.

This decision will also impact Triple H’s run as the lead booker for WWE. Does he make the adjustment and give the fans what they want, or does he stick to the plan with the outcome many believe was destined since 2022? Calling audibles is a big part of professional wrestling booking and there are times when the change is needed. There are numerous examples of when a shift was made to give fans the big moments they pushed to see. WrestleMania 39 can be one of the biggest yet.

Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn are the two favorites to win the 2023 Royal Rumble. The man that comes out on top would be on his way to perhaps unseating Roman Reigns. WWE has a viable option in both men, but perhaps the company needs to make the shift to giving this moment to Zayn and creating the boost of momentum the company needs.