Randy Orton returned at WWE Elimination Chamber after months out of action. (Credit: WWE/Getty … [+] Images)
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Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens delivered a WrestleMania worthy match at WWE Elimination Chamber, and in fact, they set one up in the process: Owens vs. the returning Randy Orton.
In a brutal Unsanctioned Match in front of raucous crowd in Toronto, Owens defeated Zayn in vicious fashion, the latest development in the seemingly never-ending saga between two stars who’ve been joined at the hip for much of their WWE careers. In the weeks leading up to Elimination Chamber, it appeared that Owens vs. Zayn were destined to clash at WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas next month.
Instead, WWE decided to book an Unsanctioned Match between two of WWE’s most beloved Canadian stars in their hometown country. Judging by the the crowd response, that was the right call.
Even despite his loss to Cody Rhodes at Royal Rumble, Owens has been doing some of the best work of his career as a former babyface-turned-heel who feels justified in recent dastardly actions. Those actions include turning on not one but three of his closest confidants in Zayn, Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton. Speaking of Orton, he finally made his long awaited return after Zayn and Owens’ instant classic in Toronto.
As Owens prepared to continue his beatdown of Zayn after his victory, Orton’s music hit as the Toronto crowd went crazy for “The Viper.” Orton hit the ring and unloaded on Owens, teasing a punt kick on Owens before it was broken up by WWE officials and Owens was escorted backstage.
Cue Orton vs. Owens at WrestleMania 41.
Orton has been nursing a storyline injury after an attack by Owens late last year, and now, Owens vs. Orton is reportedly planned for WrestleMania 41 in what would be one of the most anticipated non-title matches on the show’s card. Orton was reportedly once slated for a Royal Rumble return, which obviously never happened.
But patience is a virtue, and Orton’s Elimination Chamber return was well worth the wait.
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The unfortunate reality of that comeback for Orton, however, is that it leaves Zayn without a clear path to WrestleMania 41. That’s a shame, too, because, much like Owens, Zayn has been a cornerstone of WWE’s programming for the past few years. In fact, he’s consistently cemented himself as one of the company’s most important and most relatable TV characters.
A WrestleMania 41 match against Owens would have been a wise booking move, but so too was running that match in Toronto. As expected, Owens and Zayn tore the house down inside the Rogers Centre, proving that they would have done precisely the same at WrestleMania in Las Vegas.
But Orton was clearly set up to come back and seek revenge on Owens, and it’s obvious that WWE views Orton as a bigger star than Zayn, who’s inexplicably still failed to capture world title gold. That’s a testament to Zayn’s ability to stay relevant even without a title, but just as it’s a blessing, it’s also a curse.
Owens’ Elimination Chamber win was necessary in order for Owens to regain his momentum after suffering a few high-profile losses to WWE Champion Cody Rhodes in recent months. Zayn, widely loved by WWE fans, was the right man to take the fall because he’s proven more than capable of recovering from major losses.
Sami Zayn Has An Unclear Path To WrestleMania 41
But WWE’s next challenge will be to find an engaging storyline for Zayn on the road to WrestleMania as Owens splinters off into a feud with Orton that seemingly won’t involve Zayn, at least in a wrestling capacity. WWE has teased a possible feud between Zayn and Karrion Kross, but with Kross largely failing to get over on the main roster, that would be a colossal letdown.
Just as Owens appears to be getting another big spotlight at WrestleMania 41, Zayn should get one, too.
Yet, there’s only so much special at the WrestleMania table, and Zayn unfortunately may not get to eat this year. Or, at the very best, he’ll be fighting for scraps.
