10 WWE Stars Who Should Be WAY More Over Than They Actually Are

2. Sami Zayn

seth rollins
WWE.com

Sami Zayn is the reputed opposite to Dean Ambrose. If Ambrose doesn't care enough, Sami - and this isn't mere internet conjecture, no less an authority than Kevin Owens has confirmed it - cares too much.

When he is shown excitedly talking strategy with his teammates ahead of tag bouts, depicting him as a nerd, this is WWE's way of ribbing his over-enthusiasm. As if that isn't stupidly counterproductive. The quest for perfection should be perceived as a good thing, surely. WWE has grown so toxic and sneering in its bubble that Randy Savage would be repackaged as the Faxman, if he wrestled in 2017.

Zayn was a fantastic babyface character in NXT because he showed so much fire even in defeat that he was borderline impossible not to believe in. Not for the first time, main roster creative has honed in on the broad strokes of a popular Full Sail act and singularly failed to grasp the essence of it. Zayn can sell a hell of a beating. Problem is, he's so good at it that he's more or less booked exclusively as a victim. He has devolved from fighter to total loser - the underdog buried underground. There is a fine line between sympathy and pity. WWE have destroyed it as effectively as Baron Corbin destroys him.

Zayn is far from the only exhibit in the case of Triple H Vs. Vince McMahon.

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!