WWE NXT's 31 Wrestlers - Ranked From Worst To Best

2. Sami Zayn

Pros:

1. 15 years of global wrestling experience

2. Superb selling skills capable of garnering instant sympathy

3. The best pure babyface in wrestling

Cons:

1. Currently out for months with an extremely inopportune shoulder injury

2. Very atypical body type for a WWE star

3. WWE has a super poor track record of booking Middle-Eastern wrestlers

On the topic of a proposed Ricky Steamboat heel turn, Arn Anderson had the following to say: "Kid, you could go out to the ring with a chainsaw and cut Hulk Hogan's arms off with a chainsaw, and they'd still cheer you." That kind of pure babyface magic is vanishingly rare. Steamboat had it, Rey Mysterio had it, and Sami Zayn has it.

Zayn connects with audiences on a primal level. He's such an obviously good dude that it's nearly impossible not to want him to succeed. When Zayn finally won the NXT title after an 18 month journey of self-actualization, it was a cathartic experience for the entire Full Sail crowd, and likely everyone watching around the world.

Sami Zayn is the kind of unapologetic, non-ironic babyface that was supposed to have been killed by Austin 3:16. He's all heart, he does the right thing, and he's a revelation.

Final rating: *****