Sami Zayn vs. Chris Jericho's Best Booking Options for WWE Clash of Champions

Sami Zayn and Chris Jericho had a confrontation on Monday's edition of WWE Raw, and that has led to a match at WWE's upcoming Clash of Champions event.

Jericho's fans likely see this as just another opportunity to watch their favorite entertainer on the big stage. But Zayn's supporters surely see this as the best way for him to finally reclaim his momentum in the company.

Where did it go wrong for Zayn? How did a guy with so much ability and promise end up living off the crumbs that fell from WWE's main event table? While Kevin Owens and Finn Balor have come in and claimed their spots as Raw's top guys, Zayn has continued to struggle in his attempts to find his place.

He's capable of more, and he's proven that every time he's stepped into the ring. The stories he told with Owens alone are enough to warrant consideration for him, but he's still hanging on at the mid-card level. However, all of that could be changing now.

Jericho is here to save Zayn.

This is what Y2J does, and there's no veteran better for the job in WWE. Jericho can get over on the mic and work the crowd as only he can, then he can get in the ring and give Zayn all he can handle. But in doing so, he will be opening the door for Zayn to get over too.

This is what needs to happen, and it's the best possible scenario for Zayn right now.

The Build

This is the fun part for fans.

Zayn's Raw promo on Jericho showcased his skills on the mic. It gave fans a chance to see him as the well-spoken and down-to-earth veteran that he is. He came across as very honest and professional. He proved he can stand face-to-face with a legend and hold his own. 

He will do much more of that on the road to Clash of Champions.

Jericho needs a straight man to be his foil, someone he can play off of and essentially play the fool at the same time. Jericho will become the inadvertent butt of the joke here, while Zayn maintains his composure and gets the crowd on his side.

This might be an impossible task for anyone else, but Jericho is just so good at what he does. It's hard to hate him for any length of time.

But Zayn has good will built up with fans because of his talent and his personality. He's very likable, and that will definitely work to his advantage against Jericho. The two should have great chemistry, and that's a good thing for fans who love entertaining feuds.

The Match

As if the promo work between them won't be entertaining enough, the match itself should become an instant classic.

Zayn has the aggressive athleticism that has become a hallmark of WWE's new style. His moves are high risk and high impact. He goes full throttle every time he's in the ring, and he channels Daniel Bryan's controlled chaos in his move set.

He brings the crowd to its feet, and he does it all the time.

But all of this will be complemented by Jericho, who brings a more traditional style into the ring. Y2J will ground Zayn, make him earn it on the mat and humble him at every turn. Beating Jericho will not be easy, because he's great at what he does, and he's too clever to let Zayn outwork him.

Zayn will have to bring everything he has to this match.

He has been part of some classics against Owens in the past, and this will be the case when he faces Jericho. The bout will likely steal the show and shine a whole new light on Zayn, who has worked hard to climb the ladder in WWE.

The Outcome

So who goes over?

This has to be Zayn's match to win. Jericho's involvement signals WWE's desire to advance Zayn's cause, and that means Y2J should not get the victory. While a long rivalry could benefit Zayn as well, WWE is notorious for doing quick feuds and moving guys on to the next storyline.

This will likely happen here, though the more time spent with this feud, the better.

If that does happen, then Jericho will win some along the way. Otherwise, he won't be as effective and Zayn will be left looking like he can't get the job done. But ultimately, it must be Zayn who comes out on top in the end.

Jericho gives back. It's what he does, and he's done it for a long time now. Y2J has pushed his ego aside in favor of allowing others to get their shot, and he likely has no problem doing the same for Zayn.

Zayn will come out of this match looking better than when he went in, and that's the key to elevating him in the minds of fans. If they see him succeed against a legend like Jericho, then suddenly his value will go up. That means he's worth more, and his future is worth more as well.

Zayn has worked hard to get where he is, and he deserves the chance to prove he can do more in the company. Beating Jericho is the next logical step here, and it's the best way to get Zayn where he needs to be in WWE.

Tom Clark can regularly be seen on Bleacher Report. His podcast, Tom Clark's Main Event, is available on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Android, Windows Phone and online here.