How WWE Is Quietly Building Its Next Main Event Megastar

Sami Zayn was a rare case of WWE's massively, massively flawed developmental system getting something right. A rule-proving exception from the day he walked in, every aspect of the legacy Zayn had created on his way to the former promised land of professional wrestling was taken away and...it was instantly the making of him.

Losing a mask, cape, voice and entire gimmick in one go, the mysterious luchador El Generico was gone forever even if Rami "Sami Zayn" Sebei walked, talked and wrestled quite a lot like him. The red and black attire aesthetic was the same too, but evidently Sami was just a super-fan paying tribute to the since-invisible former ROH/PWG favourite. Yet again strange that a traditionally-toxic WWE would reward such a stinking mark, but Zayn's near-decade with the organisation has been defined by his ability to colour outside the lines.

Now, he stands to be the unintentional hit of the year, and potential game-changer during what had otherwise been the first lengthily built WrestleMania in years. It's all...extremely Sami Zayn. So much so that the real twist might be crueler - if Rock or more likely Cody Rhodes do step in as fantasy opponent fodder or Royal Rumble winner respectively, their job won't be to convincingly dethrone an unstoppable champion but to do so in a way as satisfying as Sami Zayn's hypothetical win.

It's this dilemma - good one to have as it is - all the key players and Triple H himself must figure out. WWE's next main event megastar is only "Honorary" at present, but his transition to Full Blown Headliner might not be as unlikely as it seems.