5 reasons why Sami Zayn could turn heel at WWE Hell In A Cell 2017

For the second WWE pay-per-view in a row, Sami Zayn is set to miss out on a spot on the show.

The “Underdog from the Underground” is one of the most popular champions in NXT history, and his chase throughout 2014 to win the title from Neville is among the best stories told on WWE programming in the recent years.

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However, things just haven’t worked for Sami on the main roster, both on Raw and SmackDown Live, so perhaps it’s time for a drastic change of character.

In this article, we give five reasons why a heel turn could be on the way.

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#5 Zayn is underused as a face

Sami Zayn wasn't on the SummerSlam card

Let’s get the obvious reason out of the way first.

Sami is barely in big storylines these days. The general feeling during his run on Raw was that he was lost in the shuffle and he’d be much better suited to SmackDown Live.

However, since making the move to the blue brand, he’s been in two underwhelming storylines, feuding with Baron Corbin and then Mike Kanellis, and he didn’t even make it to the SummerSlam card.

Underrated on the mic and unquestionably one of the best in-ring talents WWE has, he is simply too good at what he does to be missing major pay-per-views. And if a heel turn allows him more opportunities, then a heel turn it shall be.

#4 Create a heel turn for the ages

Tommaso Ciampa turning on Johnny Gargano

There are just some people you don’t expect to turn heel: Daniel Bryan, Becky Lynch, Johnny Gargano… Sami Zayn.

But at this point, would a heel turn really hurt Sami? Instead of having him compete in meaningless matches on SmackDown, why not try him out as a heel and create a moment fans will remember forever in the process?

Let’s say he’s involved in the main event. Imagine a situation where Kevin Owens looks set to defeat Shane McMahon when, all of a sudden, Zayn appears. Maybe his jolly music hits. Maybe he sprints to the ring to save the day. Maybe he prevents KO from shoving Shane O’Mac off the cell.

However it’s set up, just at a moment when Zayn looks set to rescue Shane, he could decide to turn on him instead. If that happens, I dare say it’ll be up there with KO/Y2J and Ciampa/Gargano for double-cross of the year.

#3 SmackDown has enough faces

AJ Styles & Shinsuke Nakamura

This time last year, the SmackDown Live roster was lacking babyfaces at the top of the card.

Dean Ambrose was getting mediocre reactions as the good guy feuding with AJ Styles, while Dolph Ziggler only began to get fans on his side when he feuded with everyone’s favourite bad guy The Miz.

Nowadays, it’s different. Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura are over wherever they go; Bobby Roode is going to stay a face as long as he’s shouting ‘GLORIOUS!’ 10 times a match; Randy Orton’s RKO is more popular than ever before, and Breezango are the stars of every show they’re on!

The booking on the blue brand over the last few months says Sami isn’t viewed as a top babyface, so why not see if he can make it as a top heel instead?

#2 Zayn has a motive to turn heel

Sami Zayn hasn't held gold since NXT

Kevin Owens recently mentioned how Sami arrived in WWE two and a half years before him but still hasn’t had a single title run to his name since making the jump from NXT.

If Sami does turn heel, it could have been prompted by KO’s words getting in his head in recent weeks, and the motive could be his failure to win a title in WWE.

Assuming AJ Styles retains his US Championship against Baron Corbin, the “Phenomenal One” will need a new heel challenger in the near future.

#1 He can reunite with Kevin Owens

Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn... together again?

Is anyone else slightly suspicious that we’re seeing Zayn and Owens involved in another storyline together already? The former best friends fought during late 2014/early 2015 in NXT, and again in WWE when Sami returned from injury in 2016.

With Owens still a heel and Zayn still a face, it seems pointless for another feud between these two to take place. Maybe there’s more to Sami’s involvement in this Shane-KO feud than the fact that he used to be BFFs with Owens.

I’d happily be proven wrong, but I think I’ve just talked myself into believing he’s going to reunite with KO at Hell In A Cell.

Agree? Disagree? Can you see Sami turning heel at HIAC? Let us know in the comment section!