Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens' Feud Will Elevate Both NXT Superstars

Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens will be a crowning achievement for both men, a stellar rivalry transported to NXT.

The best rivals draw out electricity that others can't. WWE sticks countless pairs of wrestlers together hoping for the next Ricky Steamboat vs. Ric Flair, The Rock vs. Steve Austin or CM Punk vs. John Cena.

With Zayn vs. Owens, the company knows that sparks are coming; they have already been shooting off these two warriors for years.

Great matches, abundant spotlight and proven chemistry is going to make this rivalry one that is a career-changer for both prospects.

Their history alone has made this engaging from the get-go. Going back to their days on the independent circuit, they have been friends and enemies for a long time.  

As one man's journey took them to New Jersey or the United Kingdom, odd small-time promotions like Inter Species Wrestling to Ring of Honor, the other was there to greet him, either as a partner or a rival. They co-held tag team titles with several promotions and famously clashed throughout much of 2008.

WWE is wise not to ignore that. No need to invent the wheel all over again. There is ready-made chemistry and animosity to be had.

As we saw before Owens even debuted, WWE took advantage of that. Owens mentioned his past with Zayn in a vignette hyping his first appearance:

In it, he told fans, "I traveled the world for 10 years with Sami Zayn. I consider him my best friend."

On his first night at NXT, he embraced his friend in the ring. Zayn had just knocked off Adrian Neville to become NXT champ. Owens was there to squeeze him, tears in both men's eyes, Owens' bloody nose sticking to Zayn's shoulder. 

Then, just as he did to split apart their friendship in the past, Owens struck. He floored Zayn, powerbombing him on the ring apron.

Credit: WWE.com

WWE pressed "play" on a feud that had been paused of years.

And why not? They have been magical together.

Their 2010 feud at ROH won the Feud of the Year from Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

So many of their battles were classics. At Final Battle 2010, Final Battle 2012 and Showdown in the Sun 2012, Owens and Zayn put on memorable performances, clicking together as if they were designed in a lab to fight each other.

Of their bout at Showdown in the Sun, Brian Leahy writes for Pro Wrestling Torch, "Just when you thought you’d seen Kevin Steen and El Generico give everything they can in every conceivable match, they were thrown into a Last Man Standing match and produced the goods once again."

PWInsider.com's Stuart Carapola called their brutal match at Final Battle 2010 "unbelievable." 

Note: Video contains brief NSFW language.

With as often as they have churned out excellence together, there's no doubt that their NXT matches will be among the best the company has ever seen.

Zayn has improved as a performer since his days as El Generico. He's mastered the art of emoting through facial expressions and connecting with the crowd.

After a great run where he thrived against Neville, Tyler Breeze and Cesaro, he gets a shot at the man with whom he has had the most success.

This is the perfect showcase for Owens. He immediately walks into the top tier of NXT—and against a familiar rival no less. Fans will quickly see why so much buzz has surrounded him. 

And he's sure to bring out a darker side of Zayn, as this feud has already turned personal, a friend leaving another in need of medical attention. 

During their ROH clashes, Zayn had to step up his aggression to combat Owens. As he sharpens his claws in preparation for this relentless beast once again, he'll get to show that he's more than a plucky, likable hero; he's a gladiator as well.

Theirs is a compelling dynamic that will make this latest incarnation of their feud highly memorable.

An underdog takes on a bully. A speedster takes on a bruiser. The well-liked Zayn is an established entity at NXT, while Owens is the newcomer.

Credit: WWE.com

Add that to the fact that the NXT Championship will be at the center of this, and one can't help but salivate.

Owens gets to make a big impression early. Composing great matches along the way, expect him to dive right into his character.

After all, it's essentially who he has played up to this point. While other prospects are working out the kinks in their gimmicks, Owens' comes prebuilt and ready to go. 

Look for WWE to make full use of their past to amplify this story. Look for them to regularly main event episodes of NXT. And as they restart the violent drama that began elsewhere, count on matches that will force WWE officials to take notice. 

Zayn's past now comes charging into his present. The collision is going to be spectacular.