10 Wrestlers Who Deserve Big Push After WWE Royal Rumble 2017
3. Sami Zayn
It’s time for WWE to start taking Sami Zayn seriously. The former NXT Champion has done little other than get thrown around by Braun Strowman since defeating Kevin Owens at Battleground 2016, but Raw really needs him at the moment. Sami is the brand’s most natural babyface, and for a show woefully lacking in believable heroes, his elevation should be considered an immediate priority.
It looks like Sami has earned himself a shot at Chris Jericho’s United States title, which would be a great next step for him. The belt has become a dusty prop since Roman Reigns won it a few months ago, and it needs a solid reign from a well-liked champion to get it back on track. Rebuilding the division around Zayn is a smart move, and a strong run should set him up for an eventual push into the Universal Title scene.
There’s still much work to be done, however. Recent backstage segments have portrayed Sami as an awkward geek, and he did absolutely nothing of note during his 47 minutes in the Royal Rumble. His crowd reactions are noticeably quieter than they were at this point last year too, but there’s no reason Sami’s long-term potential can’t be salvaged. Almost everybody likes the guy, and if WWE play their cards right, they could have the next Daniel Bryan on their hands.