5 matches that were also contested outside WWE 

#2 Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens faced each other before joining WWE

Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens in WWE

How many times have we seen these two go at in WWE over the last few years? Plenty. But they always deliver. Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens have had a rivalry in NXT, and multiple times on the main roster. They've even teamed up together, taking on Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon at the WrestleMania 34 pay-per-view.

Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn literally never miss #SmackDown Once again proving why they should fight forever pic.twitter.com/iiwjUURNcw

— Wrestle Views (@TheWrestleViews) July 3, 2021

Before they arrived in WWE, they were battling each other all over the world on the independent scene as El Generico and Kevin Steen. They became best friends in their early careers and have remained best friends every since.

What's that? El Generico and Kevin Steen chants!? ID GIVE ANYTHING #AEWDoN pic.twitter.com/u9394vswar

— 🦇lizzie🦇 (@gemin_eyed) May 26, 2019

Kevin Owens told Sky Sports in the UK about his first meeting with Sami Zayn:

"We first met at a random wrestling show back home in 2002 - and he annoyed me from the very beginning because he was so loud and bouncy! That's why we are more like brothers - I never asked to travel with him, I ever asked to be with him, we were just positioned together by default. Now that Sami and I are in WWE, I think we are going to be here for a long time and do great things." Kevin Owens said (h/t Sky Sports)