WWE SmackDown: 2 Superstars who flopped and 3 who impressed – Roman Reigns’ next feud, big heel turn teased on the show (Jan 8th, 2021)

#1 Flopped on WWE SmackDown: Sami Zayn

Sami Zayn deserves better on WWE SmackDown

Truth be told, it is borderline criminal to book Sami Zayn on WWE SmackDown in this fashion. It would be unfair to blame him entirely for his current run on the blue brand. Hence, this one is mostly the creative’s fault.

Zayn was one of the contenders in the Gauntlet Match tonight that would determine the next challenger for Roman Reigns.

He walked out to face Rey Mysterio, and while walking down the ramp, Zayn delivered a passionate speech about being unfairly treated in WWE. He led with his usual complaints about the ‘conspiracies’ against him before arguing how he deserves more respect. Unfortunately for him, the next couple of minutes on WWE SmackDown did not help his point.

As soon as Zayn got ready for the match, Mysterio hit him with a 619 before delivering a frog splash. This allowed the latter to pick an easy pinfall while a frustrated Zayn was forced to walk roll outside the ring.

The Great Liberator could have been given a few more minutes to show that he can still pose a threat to the titles on WWE SmackDown. Unfortunately, it now looks like his gimmick is slowly becoming the biggest threat to his in-ring potential.

About the author

Shruti Sadbhav is a WWE writer at Sportskeeda Wrestling. With a triple major in Journalism, English Literature, and Psychology, she has always been drawn to writing. As an avid sports lover, writing about sports was the finest way to combine her passion with her prowess.

Whenever she writes, Shruti puts herself into the shoes of fans to see how she would appreciate an honest account of anything related to something she follows wholeheartedly with engaging and relevant information to cater to the readers' needs.

Shruti has seven years of experience. She previously worked as a content manager at Fox Sports Asia and as an assistant manager and digital marketer at Kickstart FC. Shruti previously worked in multiple roles in Sportskeeda, where she was a WWE features writer, editor, and content manager. She has over 40 million+ reads across all her writer profiles, giving her an immensely diverse audience across WWE and football.

When it comes to pro wrestling, Shruti does not particularly remember the first match she watched. However, she recalls accompanying her brother and getting hooked when she saw The Undertaker – a fascinating wrestler that she, like thousands of others, believed in.
Her views on pro wrestling evolved as she grew older and understood the intricacies of the business. This allows her to appreciate those who dedicate themselves to the craft and, once in a while, it does become what it has always been touted to be – magical. Her favorite wrestler is Finn Balor due to his persistence.

When she is not working as a writer, Shruti loves to read, enjoy a good cup of coffee, and let Manchester City dictate her weekend plans.

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Edited by Alan John