The introduction of Sami Zayn to WWE television.

[DCLXVI]

So most of us are aware that Sami Zayn has atraveling and wrestling dark matches against Adrian Neville for some time now, he is in the new video game and has been plying his trade for a while as the "lovable guy that doesn't get the big win I'm just a bad ass wrestler" thing (dude is awesome). He is super comfortable on the mic and when I show friends who don't watch NXT they all seem to gravitate towards him.

How and when do you see him being deployed onto the big stage? Do you think they will bring in Neville to immediately feud with him as "old rivals" or "newcomers" (the Red Arrow has apparently beenthin getting big pops at shows). Do you think he will get promo videos (I don't really see that because he doesn't have an obvious gimmick). Do you see him going over like a Daniel Bryan eventually?

I have just been wondering how and when they will use him.

 

[CyberPunk]

To me, he really feels like Daniel Bryan. And that is not exactly a comparison. I just feel like he plays the underdog, can't win the big one, so well. He is lovable, fantastic inside the ring, and comfortable on the mic. There's no reason for him not to get over with today's crowd. I still remember how Neville and Zayn were able to get the crowd on their side on RAW couple months ago. He has some flashy moves, and coupled with his great storytelling abilities inside the ring, can really become a crowd favorite.

As for when he or Neville are brought up, I think somewhere in 2015 after Mania. With Steen, Devitte, Kenta all on NXT roster, Zayn should be in a good place to be promoted to main roster. And then that happens, I just hope that they can play him into a feud with Cesaro. That would be awesome.

 

[DCLXVI]

I actually completely forgot about when those guys went on RAW... they stole the show and it was completely natural. I see him going over and possibly being the next "Daniel Bryan"...maybe not next, similar... especially since people were already chanting the "ole ole" tune during that RAW episode if I remember. Comparisons can be drawn obviously - fairly "average looking dude" who's a great wrestler and people can relate to. We're in for some awesome matches when he comes... especially with Cesaro.

 

[MC_Live]

I don't know when or how they're gonna bring him up. Given the fact that he's a smaller guy, and he made a name for himself outside of the WWE Machine, you'd think WWE wouldn't give him the time of day. But hopefully Vince sees "it" in Sami Zayn, because there is no doubt he has "it". I have no idea if he's going to beat Neville for the NXT Title. But if it were up to me, I would give Zayn the NXT Championship in December. Have him hold it until June, and then debut him sometime in the summer, when the product is really hot. Start him slow. Get some wins over no names like Bo Dallas or Fandango. Not crappy story lines, just wins. And build him up. The whole "underdog who can't win the big one" thing works for him. So they should use it. Hopefully if done well, Sami Zayn goes to the main roster, and before we know it he's got some Tag Team, IC/US, and a World Title run under his belt. Hopefully!

 

[Navi]

Sami Zayn is one hell of a wrestler. At a house show recently we saw him against Tyson Kidd, it was a great match, and one of the best of the night. Hopefully they won't go the Bo Dallas routine with him and give him a silly gimmick. Just let the guy wrestle and do his thing. it will be a spotfest but a good one and should be very entertaining.

 

[A11oftheLights]

He's daniel bryan but with better mic skills, Triple H is running NXT and he wouldnt be so prominent on NXT if at the very least Triple H saw it in him.

If i was to introduce Sami Zayn to WWE television, i'd have as an entry in the royal rumble and eliminate a few people. The next night have him come out talk about how it was a dream come true to particpate blah blah blah, eventually have Cesaro interupt him and remind Sami that he doesnt win the big ones and he's now on the big time blah blah blah. Immediate feud with Cesaro will give good matches and catch the eye of the casual fan.

 

[Scrotie McBoogerballs]

To be honest I think unless he comes up with a super gimmick he is going to be washed aside in WWE. Sure he is a fine wrestler and all that, but the WWE is full of good wrestlers and plenty of those are constantly overlooked and brushed aside. I see nothing about Sami Zayn that makes me think he will get over in WWE in the current climate. The business is so fickle, unless you catch fire straight away you will float around the void between NXT, Superstars and house shows then released when your contract is up.

Not hating on the guy I like him, but nothing about him stands out as he is now. Neville I think can get over in a Rey Mysterio type of way as there are not that many small zippy flippy high flyer spots filled in WWE right now. Zayn to me is just a ginger Christian.

 

[Bagpipes]

Zayn to me is just a ginger Christian.

While it can be argued that the majority of Christian's success was probably due to his association with Edge, he had a pretty damn good singles career as well.

Triple Crown, Grand Slam champion, 4 time IC champ, World champ and the longest reigning ECW champ after the WWF/WCW/ECW merger.

While he never was and still isn't one of the most recognizable superstars in the business, he had a lot more success than most guys did, especially considering the talent that was on the roster during the height of his career.

I do get the comparison to Zayn, though. Maybe Zayn needs that larger than life counterpart, like Edge was to Christian (whether as teammate or long-term opponent) to really get him to that next level. I think he'll do fine on his own, for awhile, but I do agree that there doesn't seem to be enough depth to his character to be a long term main eventer.

 

[PeterSellersSTL]

I'd really like to see him debut backstage in a locker room skit. Have him show up throw his gear in a locker and introduce himself backstage. Hold off on his debut for a couple more weeks while he gets acquainted with a few guys backstage, Like Ziggler. "Sami you debuting tonight?" "No management wants me to get comfortable traveling on the road first. Maybe next week" Have Ziggler play the cocky veteran that's trying to bring the new guy along. Let Sami watch Ziggler pick up a win over Cesaro and have Ziggler come back humbly bragging about it. Then the following week you debut Zayn in a match vs Cesaro - Sami loses a competitive match but it's another thing Ziggler can rub in his face. From there you can build the IC belt around Ziggler Cesaro and Zayn.

 

[THTRobtaylor]

The IC title is more something they use to debut Neville.. he comes in and wins it in a shocker from Zig or more likely Barrett so they can go the "Battle of Britain" route. Neville just seems to suit the IC title and being someone who comes in, stuns the champ on the night and holds the belt for a good while afterwards.

With Zayn the thing that's working basically prevents them doing too much with him or bringing him up too early. He "never wins the big one", so bringing him in to RAW or moving him into a title picture doesn't work, it has to be palapable tension for the gimmick to get over.

I can see one of the following happening:-

1) He "debuts" along with some of the others at Surivor Series but gets eliminated, perhaps the only member of Team NXT to be eliminated... think Owen when it was the Harts, he gets frustrated and takes it back to NXT with him to fuel a feud with KENTA or Devitt or even Steen.

2) They have a NXT title match at Mania, which Zayn finally wins "the big one" at... if this happens I can see Neville being already moved up by then, but a Zayn v Devitt v KENTA triple threat would be a strong match at Mania.

3) A "Fast Lane" match at the new PPV, where a member of the NXT roster can guarantee a match at Mania for themselves, either for the NXT title or against a main roster guy like Jericho or Ziggler...basically winning the chance to steal the show. That could also be the "big win" Zayn gets.

To me Neville is further along and ready now to "come up" but they want him to hold the NXT title that little while longer, probably till they feel KENTA is ready, it's probably NOT gonna go to Zayn or if it does it won't be for long...I could see Steen debuting and taking it quickly from him. Neville has more upside at the moment, they can tag him with Barrett or Harry Smith in a new "Bulldogs" style team, give him Regal as a manager, have him a spectacular face or even a Heyman guy... there is a lot that can be done where as Zayn is a little more pigeonholed, he's somewhere between Mick Foley and Daniel Bryan... so it's going to be harder for them to "bring him up" in a meaningful way that doesn't undo all the good work done...

 

[PeterSellersSTL]

There aren't going to be any "NXT" matches at Mania either you're on the main roster or you aren't. There's plenty of ways you can go with Zayn's character and highlight his underdog status. I just gave you a debut match against Cesaro who he always has great matches and a friendly rivalry with a tweener Ziggler as IC Champ.

As for Neville he has the red arrow, that's going to get him over and keep him over for awhile, he doesn't need a shock IC title win right out of the gate.

 

[InZayn]

He's just great i don't want to state the obvious but he's a nature in the ring and on the mic and he can use the Ole chant as his YES chant. Perfect !!