10 Superstars Most Responsible For WWE's New Boom Period

A few years ago, the IWC was slaughtering both Owens and Zayn for re-signing with WWE, saying they had chosen money over a fulfilling career. Owens was being belittled and bullied by Strowman and Zayn was being used, in effect, as a manager for mid-carders like Shinsuke Nakamura. So, the IWC had a point.

Since then, Kevin Owens has gone on to main event a WrestleMania with Stone Cold Steve Austin, who returned for his first match in nearly two decades to work with the 'Prize Fighter'. Likewise, Sami Zayn, entrusted by the company to work a brilliant match against Johnny Knoxville, went on to become the centrepiece of one of the best stories the WWE has ever told. It led to a WrestleMania main event for the two of them, and solidified them as main eventers.

None of that was them "beating the system". It was down to careful and committed booking that built Sami Zayn up from an annoying irritant to the underdog hero once again, and turned an uncaring brute like Owens into a bad-ass with a conscience. It was elite tier booking that got the performances it deserved.

Now, the reigning WWE Undisputed Tag Team Champions are essentially 'main event babyfaces for hire'. They'll need a substantial storyline soon, but right now, the fans are eating up the duo acting as the conscience of the WWE.