Sami Zayn Betraying Roman Reigns, Bloodline Is WWE's Greatest Storyline Ever

Sami Zayn's betrayal of Roman Reigns after the main event of the 2023 Royal Rumble was so much more than a checkpoint on a modern pro wrestling tale.

It was proof that long-form storytelling done well can outweigh nearly anything else the sport can provide for fans, to the point that it outclassed the breakup of The Shield with a new chair shot heard around the world.

Reigns' title match against Kevin Owens, with Paul Heyman and Zayn at ringside, was one of the better in-ring performances of the past year. The two have world-best chemistry and Zayn's "trial" of sorts included him being conflicted about helping The Tribal Chief fight dirty to win.

Yet the tension somehow ratcheted up to heights pro wrestling hasn't really seen in the aftermath.

The Bloodline joined Reigns in a vicious beatdown of Owens, who had already been dropped head-first onto steel steps twice during the match. Eventually, they handcuffed KO to the ropes, and Zayn intervened as Reigns was about to deliver a chair shot to his unconscious friend.

So, Reigns made Zayn do it to prove his loyalty and wrestling history ensued:

That pop isn't edited. There's no funny business where WWE dives back in and ups the noise or whatever. It's legit one of the biggest of all time, and rightfully so. It was a payoff more than nine months coming and yet somehow only signals that we haven't arrived at the finale just yet.

It speaks well of the Triple H creative era that this displaced both actual Rumble matches as the main event (and in the minds of someone probably saved the show as a whole given predictable results and an awkward musical performance).

Because if fans are being honest, that was edge-of-seat tension pro wrestling hardly ever achieves. It's a great development for both the company and its fans: Here's proof paying attention to and investing in weekly storytelling each week will have massive payoffs.

It's almost hard to put into words what the segment accomplished, so try this thought exercise: The Rock or "Stone Cold" Steve Austin coming out would have ruined it.

That's a stunner, so to speak. There was not one solitary moment in the segment where a fan yearned for one of those speculated legends to come out as a surprise and save the day. It would have cheapened the moment and not made sense.

From a storytelling standpoint, Zayn's tipping point fractured Reigns' empire with a single action. He paid the price, but Jey Uso walked out instead of participating in the beatdown of The Honorary Uce. The damage is done.

Compelling acting performances from Reigns and Jey for months on end now sure didn't hurt to get everyone to this point. But the narrative threads, hints and emotion have far outweighed anything else. The pop speaks for itself, as did 51,000-plus people throwing an expletive chant at Reigns for a nuclear heat rarely achieved.

No legend or surprise return pop compares. WWE has this thing with trying to attract non-wrestling fans with non-wrestling names like Logan Paul, too. But this is how pro wrestling companies can make waves of new fans.

Sit somebody down in front of the last 15 minutes of this pay-per-view with no prior knowledge and watch as they don't move. It's captivating like the best television or other media. The peaks of this storyline (another reminder it's not done) are pro wrestling at its finest. It's a wide net with little wiggle room to escape once cast.

Maybe WWE knew little else would compare well in the aftermath and that's why it announced roughly 27 of the men's Rumble entrants beforehand.

One of the surprises was Booker T, another was Paul back from injury early. Cody Rhodes was announced beforehand and unceremoniously shoved into the No. 30 slot to get the win, overcoming the No. 1 entrant to earn his shot. The pop to his music and win were, understandably, mild by comparison.

Like any great storytelling, the whole thing leaves fans wondering just how things might develop from here. It's hard to imagine WWE will look at one of its best-ever stories and relegate it to a tag team match at WrestleMania 39.

Rhodes is in an unfair position too, as he has two months to come up with something that even sniffs this zip code of fan interest and investment if him taking down Reigns is the plan.

And like any great storytelling, the current aftermath will leave impassioned fans fantasy-booking endlessly. Maybe Rhodes will compete for a new Raw-centric title. Maybe Reigns defends both nights. Maybe some combo of Jey and Owens ultimately help Zayn overcome Reigns. Who knows?

These things are important to bring up because if WWE can't stick the landing, it sours everything that came before it. Whatever comes next can't afford to go back to the usual WWE-isms and insert parts that don't make sense or ignore a very real Daniel Bryan-esque situation here. Not botching the post-main event on Sunday night was an encouraging start.

WWE, through this storyline, has come a long way from just slapping a top title on a part-timer who might not be around often and is just winging it. Reigns, Zayn, Jey and all involved deserve kudos for resetting the bar.

What comes next is combing the internet for theories, rewatching the greatness and making sure to tune in for the next bit of the saga on a weekly basis. It's pro wrestling at its finest, this crumbling of an empire, and the fall is both captivating and riveting and almost funny in that it's so pro wrestling to think it started with the silly inclusion of Zayn into a stale reign.

Things aren't so silly anymore, and the resolution of the tale will be the stuff of pro wrestling legends.