For one night, it seemed like the impossible may very well happen. The stars aligned perfectly, the storybook had been written, and the story’s author was looking to pen a fitting final chapter. Last Saturday night in Montreal, Sami Zayn was so close to the most fairytale ending that WWE has ever produced, and it was all done naturally. When Zayn first started appearing in segments with the Bloodline shortly after WrestleMania last year, nobody would have ever imagined this type of response. People genuinely fell in love with the character Sami was portraying, and little by little, Sami was working his way into the inner workings of not only the Bloodline but WWE’s main event scene. He was an outcast who wanted to prove himself, and when he did, it was to the wrong crowd. The Bloodline took advantage of Zayn’s overzealousness to succeed and desire to fit in, and they used it to their advantage. Zayn, for his part, did whatever he needed to do to prove himself, especially back in War Games last November. Sami was the Honorary Uce, he was family, Jey Uso even called him his brother. Then, Zayn made a choice he will never be able to undo: swinging a chair across the back of Roman Reigns at the Royal Rumble.
Ever since that night in San Antonio, WWE fans all around the world knew what that could mean, and it soon was a reality: Sami Zayn was getting an Undisputed Universal Championship Match against Roman Reigns in his hometown of Montreal. Montreal is notorious for its role in so many memorable WWE moments over the years. The Montreal Screwjob remains the most prominent example, but Zayn himself has a Montreal memory, making his 2015 Raw debut in the same Belle Center where he would challenge Roman Reigns nearly 8 years later. Would this storybook run of Zayn’s get the happy ending every WWE fan wanted? So many questions, so much anticipation, and so much excitement, and it all came to a head in the main event. Reigns entered first to a chorus of loud boos, almost like John Cena’s entrance at ECW: One Night Stand 2006. Signs in the crowd threatened to riot if Reigns won, and yet, Roman seemed as comfortable as ever. Then, Zayn’s music hit. “Worlds Apart” blared throughout the Belle Center, and the place came unglued. Their hometown hero, the man who they wanted to win more than anything, the common man who shouldn’t even be there was marching to the ring to face WWE’s version of a final boss. It was put up or shut up time for Zayn, as this may very well have been his only shot at this.
Sami and Roman didn’t touch for nearly 5 minutes after the opening bell; they simply let the crowd air it out and told everyone watching at home the story was not just about the action that would be occurring in that ring to come, but this was the culmination of everything this man has done in his entire 2-decade long career. When they finally did clash, it wasn’t David vs. Goliath, it was The Underdog from the Underground reaching the mountaintop to go to war with the Head of the Table and the Tribal Chief. For over 20 minutes, heart-stopping action ensued, creating goosebumps on everyone’s arms, making people sit on the edge of their seats, and teasing who might win in both directions. When it seemed like Zayn was out for the count, he managed to fight back and hit a Helluva Kick that nearly sent the Belle Center off of its rocker, but it wasn’t enough. Two referee bumps, Jimmy Uso interference, and a steel chair later, and Zayn was still alive as Jey Uso stood between Zayn and his cousin, needing to make a decision.
The depth of this moment was so intense and unparalleled. It was almost identical to the Royal Rumble, only this time it was Sami Zayn down, not Kevin Owens, and Jey Uso needing to make up his mind and choose a side, not Sami Zayn. The verbal jawing that ensued was top-notch, and Jey never formally made a choice with the chair, as Reigns began to shove him before Jey ate an accidental Spear from Zayn that was intended for Roman. Reigns then used the chair to help seal the deal, and the storybook ending everyone wanted proved not to be on this night. After the match, the beatdown of Zayn didn’t end there, until another of Canada’s own returned to make the save. Kevin Owens marched to the ring, took out Jimmy, then took out Paul Heyman before getting to Roman himself. He then allowed Zayn the final shot on Reigns, and Zayn stood tall in his hometown to close the show. Things may not have gone the way Zayn and everyone else wanted them to, but on that night, Sami had nothing to be ashamed of, he left it all in the ring.
So, where do we go from here? Well, the clearest path is that Reigns moves onto Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania while Zayn and Owens seem likely to face the Uso’s at WrestleMania. When we reach the end of those two nights in Hollywood, the Bloodline’s era and stranglehold over the WWE may come crumbling down at the hands of WWE’s new regime at the top of the card, spearheaded by Zayn, Owens, and Rhodes. As for Sami finally getting his due at the top of the card, I do believe that it will come soon enough. Right now, Cody Rhodes needs to finish his story come WrestleMania, and soon thereafter, Sami Zayn will be back to finish his. Until then, we will always have that night in Montreal, where the hometown boy gave everyone something special to believe in.
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