10 Wrestling Matches Built Around Botches
9. Kevin Owens Vs. Sami Zayn (WWE Battleground 2016)
Remember when Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn's clash at Battleground 2016 was meant to be their final match together?
WWE sure don't.
It was a simpler time. Sami Zayn was touted as a future top babyface while Owens had already found plentiful success on the main roster as a pitiless heel. Weaving their history in ROH, PWG and NXT into one final blow-off feud, WWE presented the war between the best buds turned bitter enemies as a huge deal. Fans were into it with many hoping to see Sami Zayn finally avenge his NXT title loss to the Prizefighter the year prior.
The story of the match itself changed completely halfway in. After a solid, high intensity start, Sami Zayn's career flashed in front of his eyes following a botched sitting springboard moonsault to the outside. Instead of landing on Owens, Zayn landed his surgically-repaired shoulder on the ring apron (which, for the very rare few who haven't been reminded by WWE 600 times, is the hardest part of the ring).
Like a shark smelling blood in the water, Owens went to town on Zayn's shoulder. Working as both a callback to Owens taking Zayn out in 2015 and a sympathy-builder for the ailing babyface, Zayn's botch rebuilt the second and third acts of their match for the better. The crowd heat throughout and the reaction Zayn received when he finally overcame the injury to send Owens packing was immense.