Examining Sami Zayn's Direction, Upside and Long-Term Potential

Sami Zayn is perpetually defying.

He defies convention as an unassuming nice guy with an average physique in a world of larger-than-life gladiators. He defies gravity with a high-flying in-ring arsenal that has endeared him to crowds. He defies expectations, continually exceeding what others believe he is capable of doing.

So far, WWE has celebrated those traits, making him one of the featured performers of its New Era.

Since arriving from NXT, Zayn has found himself continuing his long-running feud with Kevin Owens. In result, he has been in the mix for the Intercontinental Championship and competed at WrestleMania with that title near his grasp. After knocking off Sheamus on Monday's Raw, he is now set to enter the Money in the Bank ladder match.

Of course, Owens will be waiting for him there.

WWE has done well to put Zayn in a prominent position early on. He has been on every pay-per-view this year other than Fastlane and was in contention for a title in three of those bouts.

Where the company hasn't done enough is in telling Zayn's story. There have been vague references to all the traveling he has done over his career, but his character is not as defined as it could be. WWE has seemingly assumed that its audience has followed his NXT tenure. 

But though Zayn would benefit from more interviews and vignettes, he is certainly getting a chance to show off who he is in the ring. His matches have pulled in the audience, serving as the fuel for his potential rocketing journey to the top.

Strengths

It's hard not to enjoy watching Zayn in action. He is fast and agile, using his athleticism to craft high-octane bouts.

His move set is one of the more engaging ones going, a creative blend of the familiar and the unique.

Beyond his moves, he excels at telling stories in the ring. He catches fire at just the right moment to ignite the crowd. He makes his opponent's offense look devastating, like he is suffering on the mat. Zayn is one of the better sellers on the roster, playing punch-drunk and in pain better than most.

And as former referee Jimmy Korderas pointed out on Twitter, he uses his face quite well:

He is likable, an underdog it's hard not to root for and a skilled, exciting performer, which is part of why he's been able to establish such a powerful connection with the crowd. Fans are often heavily invested in his battles, triumphs and failures.

Considering all of that, it's not surprising that Zayn has good matches so often.

He excelled against Cesaro at NXT. He was one of the keys to the classic Fatal 4-Way match at Extreme Rules. He and Shinsuke Nakamura tore the house down at NXT TakeOver: Dallas.

Zayn's consistency in the ring and ability to flourish opposite a variety of opponents will constantly force WWE to consider showcasing him near the top of the card. His bouts so often feel like the main event. He creates the kinds of images and memories that make matches feel special.

That alone isn't enough to succeed, but it will sure make Zayn's attempt to grab the proverbial brass ring much easier.

Obstacles

If Roman Reigns, Sheamus and Zayn all walked into a room full of non-wrestling fans, some of the folks in attendance might assume that The Underdog From The Underground was just a fan glomming onto two star wrestlers.

He doesn't look like the standard Superstar. He's thin and not well-built, more everyday than extraordinary.

Credit: WWE.com

That's not an assurance that he won't succeed, but it is a potential obstacle. WWE has hesitated to get behind a number of wrestlers like him over the years.

On the mic, he has had some strong moments but is often underwhelming. He's mildly charismatic but will struggle to stand out in his interviews.

As both a talker and in terms of having a non-prototypical build, the obvious comparison to him is Daniel Bryan. As talented as Bryan was, WWE took a long time to stop resisting his rise. And while Zayn is a hell of a performer, he isn't on Bryan's level in the ring. 

So Zayn may face the same uphill climb with less power in his legs, so to speak.

Long-Term Potential

The path ahead for Zayn can go one of two ways. Either he'll become the next Bryan, his popularity carrying him to the top tier, or he'll follow Dolph Ziggler's footsteps and become the thrilling performer who puts other guys over and hovers around the midcard title scene. 

Hall of Famer Jim Ross believes the former is more likely. He wrote in the Q&A section of his blog, "Zayn is a main eventer in waiting, and he's likely not going to be waiting long. Talented, dedicated pro."

Zayn's ceiling is being Bryan 2.0, a world champ, beloved by fans and a constant composer of classic bouts. If that happens, it will be the audience who pushes him to that point. 

Miami Herald columnist Scott Fishman praised his ability to connect with fans: 

If that connection becomes red hot and audiences start chanting for him too loudly for WWE to ignore, expect at least a short reign as WWE champ ahead.

That's not a safe bet by any means, though. Zayn's competition to get to that point is stiff, and he has his look and general regular-guy aura going against him. That is part of why fans relate to him, but as we have seen so often, WWE prefers men like Reigns, John Cena, Triple H and Batista to rule the roost.

Id WWE taps Zayn for SmackDown following the brand split and the show becomes the hipper, more unconventional of the two, he'll have a great shot at claiming a higher spot on the card. There, he will have plenty of chances to rewrite the rules as to which wrestlers stand in the spotlight.

Be sure to check out previous editions of this ongoing series:

• Darren Young
• Charlotte
• Emma
• Enzo Amore