Sami Zayn is in the doghouse with the nuclear heatz!!!

[slik]

Dave Meltzer reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that Sami Zayn has "a lot of heat on him right now". Many speculate the segment with Sami/Roman Reigns/Seth Rollins this past week on RAW where an overzealous Zayn obnoxiously tried to lay out the entire match with Rollins and Reigns minus their input was actually a rib on Zayn, who is known for doing that exact thing backstage. Kevin Owens stated in interviews prior to joining the WWE that Zayn (then known as El Generico) had rubbed Brian Kendrick, CM Punk, Austin Aries and Roderick Strong the wrong way because of his ego behind the scenes and "know it all" attitude.


Some speculate the reason Zayn has lost so badly to Braun Strowman despite getting over with the crowd is two-fold: To make Braun look strong, as Vince has mandated that WWE must make Braun look strong, and because Vince has had it up to here with Zayn's attitude behind the scenes and can't wait to make the crowd less hot on him. Sami Zayn is definitely in the doghouse with heat right now.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2015-05/5/0/enhanced/webdr12/anigif_enhanced-1032-1430800704-4.gif

[#1-norm-fan]

What exactly happened in this "laying out the match" segment on Raw? Sounds bizarre.

[Simple Fan]

Was booked in the main event of Raw in a six man tag of Reigns, Rollins and Sami vs KO, Jericho, and Strowman. Backstage Sami was going over strategy while Roman and Seth casually tape their wrist and weren't really worried about strategy or Sami. Sami stuck his fist out to do large Shield fist bump thing and neither fist bumped him.

[Black Widow]

Shouldn't they put all the bores on the roster in the doghouse instead of one?

[ClockShot]

Braun tosses his ass out of the rumble. Like literally throws him into the 20th row. He goes away for awhile. Comes back with a new gimmick.

Best news I heard all day.

[Evil Vito]

Shit, I was hoping it was the start of a Woody Allen gimmick.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Also hearing his complaining about someone doing a blue thunder bomb during the UK tournament got him there.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Channeling <a href="https://twitter.com/iLikeSamiZayn">@iLikeSamiZayn</a> is <a href="https://twitter.com/HCPledge">@HCPledge</a> with the unique version of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueThunderBomb?src=hash">#BlueThunderBomb</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WWEUKCT?src=hash">#WWEUKCT</a> <a href="https://t.co/Kab30gciTo">pic.twitter.com/Kab30gciTo</a></p>&mdash; WWE UK Championship (@WWEUKCT) <a href="https://twitter.com/WWEUKCT/status/820363436123037697">January 14, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Why imitate when you can create? <a href="https://t.co/xgrPP19GBC">https://t.co/xgrPP19GBC</a></p>&mdash; Sami Zayn (@iLikeSamiZayn) <a href="https://twitter.com/iLikeSamiZayn/status/820430389202350080">January 15, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">You created the blue thunder bomb?? Does Jun Akiyama know this?? <a href="https://t.co/7XtlVkw5HY">https://t.co/7XtlVkw5HY</a></p>&mdash; TJ Wilson (@TJWilson) <a href="https://twitter.com/TJWilson/status/820500968747962368">January 15, 2017</a></blockquote>
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[Maluco]

Not a fan, so this doesn't bother me.

His look is awful and I find him incredibly overrated by people on the net.

Maybe El Generico is the way to go, sell merch

[#BROKEN Hasney]

I agree he needs a gimmick, but there's a place on the roster for guys who can just go like he can.

[Ruien]

I thought that segment was his best segment ever.

[KayfabeMan]

Man, I go away for 20 years and come back to find that some job guy has heat?

This is crazy.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Jim Cornette being proven correct again. Just saying.

[Emperor Smeat]

Some speculate the reason Zayn has lost so badly to Braun Strowman despite getting over with the crowd is two-fold: To make Braun look strong, as Vince has mandated that WWE must make Braun look strong, and because Vince has had it up to here with Zayn's attitude behind the scenes and can't wait to make the crowd less hot on him. Sami Zayn is definitely in the doghouse with heat right now.

Only way Vince is going to succeed is to just use him a lot less on tv. Just having him keep losing won't really get crowds to abandon him based on his past history.

Zayn likely will have a lot more longevity than Strowman as a star mainly because right now Strowman is just following the typical monster heel route before he gets his first major loss.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Zayn has got a function. When Nakamura gets called up, he'll have another good match with him. I'd like to see Zayn in a mid-card division with Cesaro, Nakamura, Sheamus, Neville and the like. There are some great matches waiting to happen there. Zayn would also make a great Ricky Morton for a babyface tag team. I'm always suggesting this team, but given how good Cesaro is off hot tags, Zayn being his partner would be absolutely tremendous.

He's got a role to fill, but I don't think it's at the top of the card, unless he is in NXT.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

The problem is that there's no focus on the mid card on Raw, you're just kinda there. The guys that can have good matches should jump to the top now and again for a programming too to stop it being stale. Maybe not win the thing, bit at least lay it all out there.

Same Zayn has about a 60% natural connection with the crowds that Daniel Bryan did. Not enough to main event Mania or even be "the guy", but the crowd would get behind him if he had a shot.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I think crowds like Zayn enough, but do they buy him trading blows with a Triple H?

[#BROKEN Hasney]

I think crowds like Zayn enough, but do they buy him trading blows with a Triple H?

I think the crowds they have left after driving away the casuals easily would. With the right build of course.

[Ultra Mantis]

To me that Sami tweet sounds more like he's praising the guy for putting his own "spin" on the move and TJ Wilson is channelling his inner glass is half empty Bret Hart.

Also I actually went and checked out the Zayn segment, he actually looked like a personality there. Only thing I've seen from Raw in weeks. Great burial. :y:

[Mr. Nerfect]

I think the crowds they have left after driving away the casuals easily would. With the right build of course.

Yeah, it could work within a certain scope. I don't know if you should be TRYING to book to avoid casuals though.

[Mr. Nerfect]

To me that Sami tweet sounds more like he's praising the guy for putting his own "spin" on the move and TJ Wilson is channelling his inner glass is half empty Bret Hart.

Also I actually went and checked out the Zayn segment, he actually looked like a personality there. Only thing I've seen from Raw in weeks. Great burial. :y:

What about the move had its own spin? It was done exactly the same way as Sami does it lol.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Yeah, it could work within a certain scope. I don't know if you should be TRYING to book to avoid casuals though.

Well, their current direction isn't working. May as well try something new while the live crowd will cheer.

[Mr. Nerfect]

The fans that are going to cheer Sami Zayn are probably going to stick it out, at least in a "let's follow what's going on" sense anyway. You might as well try and create new fans and bring in people who enjoy combat sports and people destroying their bodies for the purposes of entertainment.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I also find that current crowds don't understand themselves as much as they think either. I mean, everybody knows how stupid the "This is awesome!" chant is, but it still happens everywhere. People were on here saying that Goldberg was going to get booed in Toronto. I'm not saying that to criticize anyone, but I was fairly certain he was going to get cheered because people want a fucking star, despite me not being from Toronto and Goldberg not exactly being Bret Hart. I'll let you decide which way the crowd went with Berg that night.

I think if you actually try and play into modern fans, you're going to split them up even more.

[Ultra Mantis]

What about the move had its own spin? It was done exactly the same way as Sami does it lol.

There is a literal spin in there that Sami doesn't do.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I'm going through Zayn Blue Thunder videos now and it turns out you're right. I'm sure I've seen Zayn do spinning versions though.

[Mr. Nerfect]

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[Vastardikai]

I don't understand WWE's insistence in airing dirty laundry on air. It's stupid and petty, at best. And it really doesn't get anything done.

[Mr. Nerfect]

It is very silly. I mean, it pisses on their own leg, because Zayn looks like a bit of a goof (but that will probably help him rather than hurt him with today's crowds). It also looks very bad publicly. No one really picks up on it, because with Vince trying to be all PC and anti-bullying, it's just dumb to put talent in this situation.

[Wishbone]

Yeah, I don't buy it. The dude was in the main event of RAW, and he put up one hell of a fight against the guy WWE is pushing to be the biggest monster on the current roster. If that's what "being in the dog house" looks like sign me up. Until I see Zayn actually being buried instead of built like an underdog star I'm calling this more fake "news" to drum up controversy and interest.

[RP]

Yeah, I don't buy it. The dude was in the main event of RAW, and he put up one hell of a fight against the guy WWE is pushing to be the biggest monster on the current roster. If that's what "being in the dog house" looks like sign me up. Until I see Zayn actually being buried instead of built like an underdog star I'm calling this more fake "news" to drum up controversy and interest.

This

He was in the Main Event and got the best out of the dude they are pushing hardcore right now as a monster. None of this makes sense.

[#1-norm-fan]

Was booked in the main event of Raw in a six man tag of Reigns, Rollins and Sami vs KO, Jericho, and Strowman. Backstage Sami was going over strategy while Roman and Seth casually tape their wrist and weren't really worried about strategy or Sami. Sami stuck his fist out to do large Shield fist bump thing and neither fist bumped him.

Well this sounds incredibly retarded.

[Ruien]

It was better than he is making it out to be.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Well this sounds incredibly retarded.

It was wwe attempt at humor so yes.

[Shadrick]

Well this sounds incredibly retarded.

i think he was joking. at least i hope so lol

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Zayn is pretty good but they'll ruin him one way or another

[Mr. Nerfect]

The way I heard it described made it sound like Zayn looked like a real loser who bothers the other babyfaces. In a old school frame of mind, this is incredibly dumb because if the heroes don't want anything to do with Zayn, why do the fans? But given that no one really gives a shit about WWE's babyfaces, this will probably accidentally make Zayn look better. Bad booking is the new good booking. If the WWE wanted Cesaro to be something as a singles act, the best thing they could have done for him would have been for Cesaro to beat him in the Best of Seven Series, for example.

I wouldn't look at Zayn being in the main event of RAW as a sign that he's not being passively aggressively booked though. You can be in the main event and still look like you don't belong. You can still serve a functional purpose in helping to polish a dude you do care about while you dry up.

[Vastardikai]

I think there's a very good thread to be made on why babyfaces suck in WWE. I think part of it is Vince McMahon wanting to create another Rock or Stone Cold, who are the asshole faces. Another part, though, is that Vince is out of touch and he thinks what he values in a likable person is what everyone values in a likable person.

If I had the energy or desire, I'd make that thread. :/

[Wishbone]

The issue isn't really with creating another "asshole face" as that could work. People love an asskicker hero/anti-hero. The issue is that WWE doesn't seem to understand how to do that. Ambrose is the perfect example of WWE screwing the pooch in that regard. He had the potential to be a Stone Cold style anti-authority character but instead they just made him into this dude type character that just wants to be wacky and have fun all while still billing him as "the lunatic fringe" despite there being nothing lunatic about him.

TL;DR Version: WWE doesn't understand how to make characters and thinks that if you smile and make jokes even dads would cringe at you'll be loved.

[Ultra Mantis]

I'm going through Zayn Blue Thunder videos now and it turns out you're right. I'm sure I've seen Zayn do spinning versions though.

Maybe Zayn was just being a dick, maybe he just worded a compliment poorly. He's probably not going to clear the air anytime soon but i'd hardly condemn the guy over an ambiguous tweet. I'm neither a huge supporter or detractor of the guy, but to me the promo made him look more interesting than Reigns and Rollins. If anything it made the other two look bad for beings such boring "cool guys".

[Droford]

UK guys btb looked like garbage. Id be mad if I was Sami Zayn too

[Mr. Nerfect]

Maybe Zayn was just being a dick, maybe he just worded a compliment poorly. He's probably not going to clear the air anytime soon but i'd hardly condemn the guy over an ambiguous tweet. I'm neither a huge supporter or detractor of the guy, but to me the promo made him look more interesting than Reigns and Rollins. If anything it made the other two look bad for beings such boring "cool guys".

You're probably right in that it will make him look better long run, because the the worse the WWE tries to make a guy look, the better he looks. The harder they try the worse they come off.

[Vastardikai]

I think this goes back to the Lance Storm principle of making the promoter the heel.