10 Times WWE Heroes Failed

10. Kevin Owens Smashes The Underdog

December 11, 2014 should have been the storybook ending to Sami Zayn's story. Not only did he defeat Adrian Neville to capture the NXT Championship at Takeover: R Evolution, his best friend Kevin Owens made his debut. The two Superstars who had traveled the roads together all in hopes of living their dreams were now poised to dominate the industry on one of the biggest stages imaginable.

That is, until Owens shockingly betrayed his friend, leaving him lying following a heinous beatdown that eclipsed his shining moment.

By the time Takeover: Rival hit the WWE Network airwaves on February 11, their rivalry had grown intensely personal. Rather than avenging his assault at the hands of his former friend, Zayn found himself on the receiving end of a brutal and relentless beating. A head injury did not help matters and, just two months after the biggest win of his career, his championship reign came to an end.

Not with a bang, but with a whimper.

NXT's resident underdog, the hero fans supported because he was a reflection of them, failed. And he would fail again the next time they squared off. As of press time, Zayn was recovering from shoulder surgery, ensuring that his retribution and triumph would not be his in 2015.