Prior to their respective wins at Wrestlemania 39 this past weekend, "The Tribal Chief" acknowledged Sami Zayn's integral part in the events that led to this point.
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Roman Reigns’ unrivaled reign as the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion and head of The Bloodline has been one of the most significant events in professional wrestling history. However, the emotional storyline could not have achieved such heights without the participation of a number of important actors. Prior to their individual victories at Wrestlemania 39 this past weekend, “The Tribal Chief” recognized Sami Zayn’s role in events leading up to this moment.
In an “ESPN” profile about Zayn, coworkers such as Kevin Owen, Jey Uso, and Reigns remarked on the meteoric ascent of the fan-favorite superstar following his battle against Johnny Knoxville at last year’s “Showcase of the Immortals.” But “The Head of the Table” took a step further, declaring unequivocally that the tale they’ve been telling would not have worked with anyone else in the part of “Honorary Uce.”
“I believe I can do work of this level with … other guys, they’d just be different,” he said. “It wouldn’t be the same. It would be a different character, a different angle, a different layer. Nobody would be able to be the ‘Honorary Uce’ other than Sami Zayn.”
Reigns went on to say that Zayn is charming and that the WWE Universe wants positive things to happen to him. (with a hint of kayfabe). “Even if he doesn’t deserve it, you still want it for him.”
Despite capturing the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships from The Usos, Zayn, and Owens have vowed to dethrone The Bloodline. With the group still surviving following Cody Rhodes’ heartbreaking defeat, it will be fascinating to see how the new champs continue to be a thorn in Reigns’ side as a new era in WWE starts.
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It was WrestleMania’s first-ever tag team championship main event. And these four individuals delivered in spades. Zayn pinned Jey Uso with three Helluva Kicks to capture the championships for himself and Owens. It was an epic contest that matched the narrative that had been recounted for nearly a year.
Zayn has become the most popular babyface (good person) in WWE, thanks to his tale of being a compassionate figure in the villainous Bloodline gang before eventually turning on Roman Reigns and the Usos at the Royal Rumble in January. Owens eventually decided to join Zayn, his lifelong friend, after being rejected by Zayn for months and repeatedly beaten down by the Bloodline.
The whole thing has been some of WWE’s greatest storytelling in years. At one time, it appeared that the Usos would win and maintain their title. Jey blasted Zayn with his own Helluva Kick and reminded him in the corner that he should never have left the Bloodline, which was led by top man Reigns.
The Usos hit their 1D finisher on Zayn, and he kicked out, becoming the first person to ever do so. They slammed Owens against the announcer’s table. They both kicked out after a double splash on Owens from opposing turnbuckles. That was the match’s plot. Zayn and Owens were not going down for anything.
Jey went for a superplex on Owens, with Jimmy waiting on the ropes. Jimmy was dragged out of the ring and thrown over the announce table by Zayn. Owens hit Jey with a twisting suplex from the top rope. And Zayn followed it up with three Helluva Kicks on Jey, as Owens stunned Jimmy. As the SoFi Stadium crowd of around 70,000 erupted, Zayn caught a falling Jey, pressed his forehead into Jey’s, landed the last kick, and then pinned him for the win.
Later the champs joined Ariel Helwani backstage after their victory over the Usos as they celebrate becoming WWE Undisputed Tag Team Champs.
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