100 Greatest WWE WrestleMania Moments
49. Sami Zayn Gets A Singles ‘Mania Moment (WrestleMania 40)
Sami Zayn's journey from easy to hate conspiracy theorist heel to sympathetic spitfire babyface should be studied. Similarly, every pro wrestler under the sun should get their textbooks out and learn from the way GUNTHER endured a major defeat then bounced back better than ever. The best workers know how to lose convincingly then plough forwards. That should be remembered; everyone has to lose.
'Mania 40's opening night ruled, but it rarely got any better than Sami tearing down the 'Ring General' en route to a highly craved Intercontinental Title win. The atmosphere was palpable as their match raced towards its conclusion. People were losing their minds at two things: The thought of Zayn actually beating the seemingly unbeatable champ, and the fear that WWE might pull the rug on their dreams by booking Sami to come up short.
In the end, GUNTHER stared at the lights for Zayn and witnessed his impressive 666 day run go up in smoke. This was timeless WrestleMania style drama, and it proved to be yet another IC Title winner for one of WWE's best breakout heels on the biggest show of the calendar year. It's almost frightening to think that Vince McMahon didn't see much in GUNTHER and wanted to send him back down to NXT before being deposed.
Who knew that indy faves like El Generico and WALTER would enjoy such 'Mania moments when they were striving to improve in ROH, wXw and the like? The pre-show story was fabulously staged, then the match itself peaked at just the right time. Philly went nuts for Sami's Intercontinental crowning.
Who were you to doubt El...Generico?