20 DUMB WWE Gimmick Changes (That We Didn't Want To Admit Were GENIUS)

8. Sami Zayn Is A Conspiracy Theorist

Cody Rhodes Stardust Shocked
WWE.com

Cherished workhorse Sami Zayn laid foundations for his 2021 conspiracy theorist gimmick long before WWE pulled the trigger on it. He brought up the company's treatment of him when managing Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro in 2019, but didn't go full-blown conspiracy nut until he was on his own again.

Collectively, fans wondered if the character had legs, but Zayn knew he could make it work. Amazingly, and to his credit, he did. In fact, Sami showed off the kind of charisma that'd stand him in good stead years later when joining The Bloodline and eventually spinning out into an unlikely babyface singles run.

Droning on about how he was being held back by management helped sow seeds for that moment. Zayn's promos were so passionately produced that it was hard to take your eyes off of him, and he steadily built a groundswell of support on the midcard before skyrocketing up the card towards main events.

There was hidden genius to all that conspiracy stuff, y'know.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.