10 Wrestlers Without Direction For WWE SummerSlam 2017

9. Sami Zayn

Charlotte Becky Lynch
WWE.com

...because if anything has shattered the myth that SmackDown Live! is somehow a magic failsafe for any performer's flagging career, it's the rapid downward spiral of Sami Zayn.

Freed from the oppressive regime of Stephanie McMahon he may have been, but Zayn's switch to the blue brand during the Superstar shake-up flattered to deceive almost instantly despite progressive inclusion in both WWE and US Title contention.

Trapped on a merry-go-round of lower card talents that have absolutely nothing of note to do when not chasing one of the straps, Zayn has fallen into the same traps he did on the flagship show. Evidenced in his tag team loss to The Usos alongside Tye Dillinger this week, he's yet again been cast as an unlucky loser that haemorrhages fan support with every dispiriting defeat.

His lone programme with Mike Kanellis last month brought out the worst in WWE's toxic 50/50 booking philosophy, with the pair trading instantly forgotten victories in a series that served only to anchor the pair instead of championing either cause.

The fear for Sami's fans at this point seems to be that he's come to know his role, and shows willingness to play it over grappling his way back above the parapet. His perpetual need for reboots doesn't bode well for any kind of longterm future.

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