10 Times Wrestlers Bet On Themselves (... And WON!)

Few wrestlers have benefitted from the improved WWE than Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn who, at the start of last year, were approaching the end of their respective contracts and were believed to be seriously considering leaving.

They can't be blamed. Under Vince McMahon, neither Owens nor Zayn were able to expand past the mid-card, outside of a largely forgettable Owens Universal title run that concluded with him dropping the belt to Goldberg weeks before he and Chris Jericho were scheduled for a WrestleMania 33 showdown. That was instead over the United States title.

In 2022, though, both men re-signed with WWE and almost instantaneously, their respective situations turned around dramatically. Kevin Owens was chosen as the first opponent in almost two decades for Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania 38, losing to the 'Texas Rattlesnake' in a 'Mania match that'll be remembered not for its work quality, but for its importance. Sami Zayn, meanwhile, became embroiled in the overarching Bloodline saga, a storyline that saw Zayn presumed to be featured for a month at most. He's still involved in it to this day, rising to such renewed success that he was a favourite to end Roman Reigns' near-1,000-day reign as Undisputed Universal Champion.

Had it not been for Cody Rhodes' recovery, Zayn would've been on track to be the face of WWE by the end of WrestleMania 39.