10 Wrestlers Set For A Big Push Following WrestleMania 35

6. Sami Zayn

Sami Zayn
WWE

In something of an indictment of WWE's bloated and directionless TV product, helmed by the impulsive and casually destructive Vince McMahon, the performers who do not appear on it stand the best chance of succeeding.

Consider the original plans for Daniel Bryan's WrestleMania 35 programme; until the audience shaped its direction on WWE's behalf, by putting over a guy who put in the miles in a gesture of profound respect, reports indicated that virtually any act untainted by the miasma was considered first. Kofi Kingston replaced Kevin Owens, but that change was shaped by serendipity.

Despite all the risible talk of December 17, 2018, fundamental change is not forthcoming. We have seen little evidence of that, and we've naturally seen little of the recovering Sami Zayn - which renders the Underdog, no longer stigmatised as Bobby Lashley's comedy star vehicle, the ideal candidate to star upon his return. Having impressed Vince as a surprise polymath, Zayn could conceivably return as either a babyface or a heel.

A lengthy absence usually inspires fans to receive a much-missed act as a returning hero, but there remains so much potential within Sami's cloying prick bit - and an immediate programme with Seth Rollins, designed to put over the new Universal Champion as the super-worker saviour of RAW's main event, would make for sublime fan service.

In this post: 
Kevin Owens
 
Posted On: 
Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!