Yeah, WWE might have to put the Universal Championship on Sami Zayn

A few days ago, we discussed the enviable predicament WWE found itself in with Sami Zayn and Cody Rhodes, the two most popular babyfaces in the promotion right now.

We know that WWE has already positioned Rhodes as the man to end Roman Reigns’ over-900-day reign as undisputed Universal Champion, but Zayn’s growing support in the wake of the ongoing storyline with Reigns and The Bloodline has muddied the clear path the company laid out for WrestleMania 39.

On the Feb. 13 episode of Raw, WWE seemingly averted these complications by giving Zayn a full-fledged endorsement from Rhodes, making the idea of Zayn falling short at Elimination Chamber more palatable. The Montréal fans, however, didn’t get that memo.

The Montréal fans’ reaction to Sami Zayn could force WWE to put the Universal Championship on him.

The top contender for the undisputed Universal Title got the superstar treatment (actual superstar, not the shorthand WWE uses for all its wrestlers) on the Feb. 17 episode of SmackDown. WWE spent most of the show hyping up Zayn appearing in front of his fellow compatriots, and when he finally entered the arena to his old “World’s Collide” theme music, the audience responded in a manner that would’ve made you think the Montréal Canadiens just won the Stanley Cup.

Zayn, who looked overwhelmed by the cacophonous appreciation, collected himself and delivered one more passionate declaration that Reigns’ days as champion are numbered as the show faded to black.

Watching this crowd lose their minds over Zayn, it’s almost impossible to justify booking Zayn to lose to Reigns at Elimination Chamber, even if WWE plans to soften the blow with a Jey Uso heel turn to “protect” Zayn in defeat and set up an undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship showdown between The Usos, Zayn, and Kevin Owens.

In the past, WWE hasn’t shied away from booking surprise title changes en route to WrestleMania, with some making more sense than others. Mick Foley’s two WWF Championship wins in early 1999 stands out as the obvious analog to Zayn’s situation. Like Zayn, Foley was a beloved all-time great worker who didn’t fit the usual criteria WWE looks for in a top star.

Foley parlayed that popularity into two short world title runs that didn’t derail the company’s big-picture plans (Steve Austin vs. The Rock), and WWE could accomplish the same with Zayn.

While Reigns’ lengthy run as champion makes that decision a tougher one — if WWE sticks with Reigns/Rhodes, Rhodes ending a 900-day reign is a bigger moment than ending a 30-day one — booking Zayn to beat Reigns, hold it for a bit, and lose after Jey Uso screws him in the rematch could get WWE where it wants to go without asking Zayn to lose in his hometown.

To be clear, it’s good that WWE has a long-term plan in place for this story, but as Zayn alluded to in his promo this is a “once in a lifetime” moment, and the onus is on WWE to capitalize on it.