WWE Is Wise to Be So High on NXT's Sami Zayn

In NXT star Sami Zayn, WWE knows it has a stick of dynamite waiting to be lit.

When the company scooped him up from the independent circuit and stripped him of his mask and ring name, many wondered if Zayn would just be another story of missed opportunity. Signs, though, point to WWE being fully invested in the thrilling athlete once known as El Generico.

The latest of these signs emerged when WWE visited Zayn's hometown of Montreal for a recent house show.

According to PWInsider Elite (subscription required; h/t Wrestling Inc) Zayn closed the show, serving as the babyface who cleared the ring of bad guys. On that brawl, Pro Wrestling Torch added, "Sami Zayn hit a dive on all the heels to end it. The faces then celebrated in the ring with Sami Zayn's theme playing in the background."

Zayn appreciated the love from the fans:

He also clearly has WWE behind him. The aforementioned PWInsider report notes that WWE Hall of Famer Pat Patterson is a big supporter of Zayn. 

Seeing how much WWE has focused on him and the share of the stage he's been offered speaks to him having support from others as well.

Being such a big part of a live event isn't an honor handed to just anybody, especially not someone who isn't even on the main roster. The only other NXT prospect to compete in Montreal was Adrian Neville.

That's been a recent pattern. He and Zayn have been wrestling in main roster events on a regular basis as of late. WWE Fans Indonesia shares this shot of both men competing against Sin Cara and Bo Dallas:

They both traveled to Tokyo in July, per Pro Wrestling Torch, competing alongside some of WWE's biggest names. As reported by ProWrestling.net, Zayn battled main roster stars at WWE house shows in Saudi Arabia on both April 17 and 19. Most recently, Zayn worked a dark match before Tuesday's Main Event, as listed by ProFightDB.com.

He continues to get opportunities that other NXT talents don't.

When WWE chooses to have a Superstar visit NXT, it often selects Zayn as the man to face him. The list of opponents from the main roster he has faced is a long one, per CageMatch.net:

• Cesaro
• Tyson Kidd
• Titus O'Neil
• Sin Cara
• Justin Gabriel
• Bo Dallas
• Dolph Ziggler
• Heath Slater
• Billy Gunn
• Dean Ambrose
• Brodus Clay
• Tensai
• Jack Swagger 
• Curt Hawkins 
• Damien Sandow

That's proof of the company's confidence in him. Mojo Rawley isn't taking on Cesaro. CJ Parker hasn't battled Swagger or Ziggler.

Chances like these are not only ways to help transition Zayn to the big leagues, but they show how much the company believes in him.

And it's choosing the right guy. Zayn's NXT tenure has been an ongoing showcase of his ability to connect with the crowd and his uncanny athleticism. A Zayn match is so often a moving experience, facial expressions and body language as key as dives over the top rope.

Last year, Jim Ross wrote of Zayn on his blog, calling him "a keeper" and writing that he has a "great attitude and skill set." Ross is right on here.

In his big bout against Cesaro at NXT Arrival, in his work each week, Zayn has shown himself to be one of the best high-flyers on the roster. Beyond that, his magnetism screams star. He makes it so easy to care about what's going on in the ring, allowing the crowd to ride shotgun as his journey reaches struggles and triumphs. 

WWE seemed to resist Daniel Bryan's rise for so long, unsure of his ability to handle a marquee role.

That's not the case with Zayn. In positioning him at the top of NXT's ladder alongside Neville, in having him travel with the main roster and making the live event in Montreal "The Sami Zayn Show," WWE is hinting at a big push for him in the future.

You don't invest in a prospect as WWE has done with Zayn only to make him a comedy-relief midcarder or the next flash in the pan. WWE sees big things ahead for Zayn, and one has to applaud that vision.

Credit: WWE.com

In the past, WWE might have completely ignored Zayn. He doesn't have the typical "comic book hero" look and isn't exactly a big guy at just 6'1'', 205 pounds. 

But NXT is embracing the evolution of the business.

The act of signing Kevin Steen, Finn Balor (Prince Devitt) and Hideo Itami (KENTA) speaks to that. Treating Zayn like a star in the making makes a similar statement.

WWE is laying out a red carpet for him en route to the main roster, and he won't disappoint once he strides down it.