10 Outside Bets To Win WWE Royal Rumble 2018

3. Sami Zayn

Daniel Bryan Shawn Michaels
WWE.com

The revealing Kevin Owens '365' WWE Network project offered a remarkable insight into the constant insecurity even the best performers are placed under working for Vince McMahon. It's a fragility Vince gladly wants them to sustain, so long as it doesn't completely shatter their competitive veneer.

In kayfabe terms, Sami Zayn has been far too much of a goof instead of the hero he was born to play. Creatively bullied, his meticulous and aloof nature manifested itself as an irritation rather than a quirk, and it was murdering his babyface momentum. In real life, 'The Underdog From The Underground' has shown persistent courage and bravery to overcome numerous main roster obstacles. It's perhaps why his new heel act is so convincing - the bitterness he can now spew on air has been probably building up inside for years.

There'd be no better time to capitalise upon it than now. Sami's inability to score the really big win was problematic before the turn. Now, he can cheat and connive his way to victory, whilst all along claiming that it was the only way to make his name. And what a way to make it.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett