Why Underdogs Matter: The Story of Sami Zayn

The story of the underdog is the story of the common folx. Most of us will never have the privilege of not having to worry about money. We all have a boss or someone we answer to. So, when we see someone who had to fight and climb their way to the top, finally win the big one, it’s a huge deal. It touches a place inside us, the place where we hold out hope and dreams for a chance to have a brighter tomorrow.

Having been a wrestling fan for almost four decades now, seeing that underdog dream come true is one of my favorite things to watch unfold. I can remember the feelings I felt when Mankind, Diamond Dallas Page, Booker T, Eddie Guerrero, Rey Mysterio, Bryan Danielson, Kofi Kingston, and Big E all won the World Championship. Wrestlers that I’d watch come up from the undercard, through tag teams and lesser titles, finally hoisting the big one, it’s magic.

It may have come a bit late (I would have had him beat Drew McIntyre at the Royal Rumble). But the important part is that at Night of Champions, in front of the people he represents every week, Sami Zayn won the Undisputed WWE Championship. And while he finishes his journey, there will always be underdogs. There will always be wrestlers we root for as they fight the uphill battle to the top. Because we see ourselves in their journey, and they don’t just win for themselves, they win for all of us.

With all that said, I wanted to spend a little bit of time reliving Zayn’s journey and how all of his ups and downs helped to tell a story that can inspire us all.

Success and Betrayal

Twelve years ago, Sami Zayn climbed another mountain. He had been trying to win the NXT Championship for months, and he was determined to win it on his terms. Refusing to cheat for an easy win. And at NXT TakeOver: R Evolution, he finally beat Adrian Neville to win the NXT Championship. And the locker room emptied to celebrate with him, including the recently signed long-time friend, Kevin Owens.

Anyone who had spent any time watching the history of El Generico and Kevin Steen knew something was up. And that something happened brutally, as Owens turned on his friend and left him lying. He was NXT Champion, but what should have been a joyous occasion was turned to ashes. And two months later, Zayn would lose the title to Owens by ref stoppage. The prize Zayn had fought so hard for was ripped away before he could really enjoy it. And the fans were also robbed of the joy of seeing Zayn represent them.

The Bloodline

Once Zayn made it to the main roster and healed up from injury, he didn’t do too badly for himself. He is a two-time Tag Team Champion, a two-time United States Champion, and a four-time Intercontinental Champion.

But he never felt fully appreciated by the company or the fans. And so in 2017, Zayn would turn heel to join up with Kevin Owens. This would eventually lead to him joining The Bloodline as the “Honorary Uce”.

He would help them win WarGames, even low blowing Owens in the process. But at the 2023 Royal Rumble, he had enough. He would refuse to hit Owens with a chair, instead hitting Roman Reigns. This would lead him to his highest-profile title shot. He would face Roman Reigns at Elimination Chamber, in front of his hometown crowd of Montreal. But it wasn’t his or the fans’ night, as Reigns would manage to beat Zayn to retain his titles.

Zayn, being the first one to defect, planted the seeds that would end that version of the Bloodline. It also made him a face again and started a three-year journey to finally win the top prize.

Three Years of Fighting

While Zayn’s focus would be on a World Championship, he did take a few detours. The biggest of them was at WrestleMania 40, where Zayn would stand up to Gunther. Gunther was on a record-setting 666-day run as Intercontinental Champion. And Zayn was ready to be the David to his Goliath.

Many fans wondered if Zayn could succeed where many had failed. Gunther was booked as an unstoppable force of nature, and Zayn was anything but. And yet at the end of their match, Zayn would finally slay The Ring General to win the Intercontinental Championship. It was a story that paralleled Cody Rhodes finishing his story and finally ending Roman Reigns’ historic reign as the WWE Champion.

Zayn would hold the Intercontinental Championship until SummerSlam, where he would drop it to Bron Breakker. And now he was free to return to his goal to become a World Champion.

Night of Champions

It would be another two years, a Karrion Kross feud, and a United States Championship run before we finally get to the conclusion. And before that, Zayn had one more high-profile title shot. At this year’s Royal Rumble, Zayn faced Drew McIntyre.

This is when I would have had Zayn go over. Or, having lost, have him win the Rumble. It was, like Night of Champions, in front of his people, and the pop would have been huge. It would have made a huge moment for the first Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia, and we still could have gotten to Orton vs Rhodes at WrestleMania.

But this is the reality we live in, and it would take six months for Zayn to get another shot. And this time, he finished his journey. The ride that the fans have been on for 12 years has finally come to an end. Of course, it isn’t THE end; there is another ride for Zayn. How long can he keep it? And can he win it a second time?

But for that one night, all of the emotional teases have finally paid off. Those of us who have stuck by Zayn have finally had our payoff, and it feels wonderful. I was in tears watching him celebrate in the crowd, and it was cathartic.

And on the note about celebrating in the crowd. Sami Zayn is the first Arab Muslim to win the WWE Championship. That is hugely important for young kids to see. When you see people like you achieve their dreams, it inspires you to chase yours. And I hope there are kids out there who saw Zayn finally achieve his dream, and got inspired to chase their own, even when the world around them tells them they can’t.

And this is why underdog stories matter; the world around us is not getting any better. It is full of people who want to push us around, to get us to give up, and to lay down and die. But stories like Sami Zayn’s show that if you keep pushing, keep trying, and keep being your authentic self, then childhood dreams can come true. So, I hope Zayn, or others like him, have inspired you to keep pushing for your own dreams, and if it has, I wish you all the luck in seeing them come true.