5 times Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn have wrestled each other in WWE

#1 Sami Zayn def. Kevin Owens (WWE Battleground 2016)

One of Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens' greatest encounters came at the WWE Battleground event in 2016

WWE Battleground 2016 saw arguably Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn's most epic encounter inside a WWE ring to date.

Owens and Zayn had squared off against each other several months prior at WWE Payback, in which Kevin Owens had left victorious. However, Zayn would receive another opportunity against his long-term rival at WWE Battleground in July.

Words can't even do this justice... #WWEBattleground @iLikeSamiZayn @FightOwensFight pic.twitter.com/9NgBezNnxM

— WWE (@WWE) July 25, 2016

Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn delivered an absolute masterclass inside the Verizon Center in Washington D.C.

The match saw numerous nearfalls that included Sami Zayn hitting a Blue Thunder Bomb, brain buster and two Half and Half Suplexes all for respective near falls. Kevin Owens seemingly had the match won at one point when he hit a pop-up powerbomb onto Zayn. However, the former NXT Champion was able to get his foot onto the bottom rope to break up the pinfall.

INSTANT. CLASSIC. 🔥@SamiZayn and @FightOwensFight took it to another level at #WWEBattleground on this day in 2016!▶️ https://t.co/IQkaGmLbkO pic.twitter.com/oHA4eVrnEL

— WWE Network (@WWENetwork) July 24, 2020

The closing moments of the match saw Kevin Owens seemingly in control. Owens pleaded with Zayn to stay down and give up. Instead, Zayn hit an incredible Exploder Suplex into the turnbuckles. This was followed by a Half and Half Suplex and two Helluva Kicks for the victory.

The match was exceptional for its emotional storytelling and investment from the WWE Universe in attendance. Some thought it would be the end of the Kevin Owens vs Sami Zayn rivalry in WWE. However, it proved to only be the beginning.