6 Ups & 5 Downs For WWE Raw (7 July - Results & Review)

3. Sami Lands On The Shelf

Poor Sami Zayn. The guy not only can’t catch a break in the King of the Ring tournament, but he can’t even enjoy winning a PLE match in the Middle East and move on with his career goals.

After being attacked last week by a pipe-wielding Karrion Kross, Zayn was set to battle an enraged Bron Breakker Monday, only to have Kross jump him again with a pipe, further injuring Sami. The Underdog from the Underground made a valiant effort to hang with Breakker, but Bron was far too overpowering as he repeatedly cut Sami in half with shoulder blocks and spears.

At one point, both Michael Cole and Corey Graves screamed for the referee to stop the match, but to no avail. Breakker would take care of that himself, hitting his round-the-ring “super spear” before finishing him off with an in-ring spear. Later, Paul Heyman gleefully announced that Zayn was out indefinitely.

Whether Sami is banged up and needs some time off or is being written off as part of a bigger story, this is the kind of thing Seth Rollins’ group needed – they desperately needed to rack up some trophies, some bodies that they’ve put on the shelf. Sami is one of the biggest babyfaces on Raw, so taking him out gives them an instant “boo” line whenever they need it, and it hopefully opens the door for Zayn to return as a conquering hero (or to shock the world if he were to turn heel upon returning).

The injury angle also bears out the cumulative effects of burning the candle at both ends, with Sami trying to be all things to his friends and the fans while focusing on his personal goals. It helps “prove” Karrion’s theory, though Kross certainly helped things along with his pipe.