WWE’s Masterful Work in Connecting the Paths of Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn

Heading into the recent Royal Rumble match, WWE had a major problem on its hands. And that problem goes by the name of Sami Zayn. Ever since the former Honorary Uce’s integration into the Bloodline some nine months ago, the Montréal native’s reception by the WWE Universe has gotten louder and louder. That problem was demonstrated in the recent betting odds for the 2023 Royal Rumble match. Indeed OddsChecker, which compares combat sports odds and free offers, made Rhodes the favorite to win the match, with Zayn just behind him on the betting list. 

And as we all know, it was indeed the American Nightmare that lived up to the billing, winning the match and punching his ticket to the main event of WrestleMania. Zayn meanwhile didn’t even enter, however, he would turn on Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns at the culmination of the main event. He drove a steel chair into the back of the Head of the Table, before being pummeled into submission by Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa. 

Now Sami Zayn has gotten himself a shot at ending Roman’s reign at the Elimination Chamber event in his hometown. But with WWE already promoting Reigns vs Rhodes as the main event of this year’s WrestleMania, many thought that Zayn’s title shot would be an afterthought. That was until the recent editions of Monday Night Raw and Friday Night Smackdown.

Paul Heyman’s masterful promos with both Rhodes and Zayn 

Cody Rhodes and Paul Heyman’s – Roman Reign’s special counsel – paths finally crossed on the February 6th episode of Monday Night Raw, with the pair going back and forth in an unexpectedly emotional promo. The number one contender told Heyman how he was grateful that he helped out Cody’s father Dusty at the turn of the millennium when times were rough. Heyman was equally respectful until he said that Roman Reigns was the son Dusty always wanted. 

Cody naturally took exception to this. However, he reiterated the same mantra that he has echoed since he returned to the company last year. He is simply trying to win a wrestling championship. And it is this plotline that has opened the door for Rhodes and Zayn to interact. 

Following that interaction, Heyman would appear on Friday Night SmackDown pontificating about the importance of the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion. He would go on to say that the titles are the island of relevancy and that they are the tribe of which Reigns is the chief. At this point, he was interrupted by Zayn. The Canadian superstar would go on to tell Heyman that he needn’t worry about Cody Rhodes, because he would be the one to take the titles from the champion. 

Rhodes and Zayn’s paths finally cross 

For weeks, the big worry of having Cody Rhodes win the Royal Rumble was the fan’s reaction. It’s clear that they want to see Sami Zayn succeed. But after Cody Rhodes and Paul Heyman’s interaction, it’s clear that fans also want to see Rhodes succeed. It isn’t just Zayn’s story that fans are interested in; the fans are interested in both. And WWE has been smart enough to realize it. 

 

Fans were in for a treat on the February 13th edition of Monday Night Raw when Sami Zayn hijacked the show and immediately called out Cody Rhodes. The pop from the crowd just from hearing Zayn mention the American Nightmare’s name was deafening. As the pair squared off in the ring, the fans were chanting “This is awesome,” something unprecedented for a promo segment. And it was here, where Cody’s chasing of the titles, rather than Reigns himself, is crucial. 

 

Cody made it abundantly clear to Zayn that his focus is the main event of WrestleMania, and he would rather see Sami Zayn there than Roman Reigns. Fans erupted, and it put that grain of doubt in their mind that Zayn could actually be the one to topple Roman. We haven’t seen such an intertwining of stories for decades in the WWE, and it remains to be seen how the whole situation will play out.