10 Pleasant Surprises For Wrestling Fans In 2017

6. The Sami & Kevin Show

Andrade Almas Zelina Vega
WWE.com

Sami Zayn's Hell in a Cell heel turn on Shane McMahon once again put him back in Kevin Owens' orbit, but the pair have already proven as exhilarating a unit as they were opponents during repeated scuffles between 2014 and the present day.

Coming full circle after their evocative Ring Of Honor split, the reunion has afforded Zayn in particular a new lease of life as the cockiest pr*ck in wrestling. Entitled and overwrought in a way actually designed to get him over rather than bury him six feet under, Sami's posturing in the face of irked Commissioner Shane McMahon has been a delight, as has his now-infuriating entrance jig.

Currently holding down the fort on SmackDown Live!, the two were recently in the bad books for failing to succumb to a planned beating from The New Day, but it played perfectly into their current roles as insubordinate irritants.

A further layer of intrigue has since been added, with the pair attempting to widen the wedge between the blood-and-thunder McMahon and his genial GM Daniel Bryan. The 'Yes Man' has been a token Zayn/Owens apologist in recent weeks, logically carrying the brand forward following a Survivor Series humbling by Raw.

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