10 Booking Steps For WWE Raw (Jan 23)
5. KO Beats Sami Zayn
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn have excellent chemistry together; they've shown that consistently on NXT programming, Raw, and main roster pay-per-view. There's no reason to suggest another match between the pair would be any different, and it also plugs a gap for Owens before Royal Rumble.
Should WWE feel the need, they can dangle a carrot in front of Zayn before he's cruelly shut down by JeriKO. Maybe Stephanie McMahon could reason that a Sami win would make him #30 in the Royal Rumble, giving Owens better heat than he normally gets when he uses Jericho and cheats to win.
Even with such a stipulation, Kevin Owens can't lose before a pay-per-view title defence. It just wouldn't make sense for him to stare at the lights, even more so when considering that the chance is there to highlight Royal Rumble's key stipulation.
There, Jericho will be locked in a shark cage, meaning he wouldn't be able to help Owens against Reigns like he just has against Sami Zayn.