Sami Zayn

At 39 years old, Sami Zayn has this physical status:

Rami Sebei (born July 12, 1984) is a Canadian professional wrestler.

He is currently signed to WWE, where he appears on the SmackDown brand under the ring name Sami Zayn. Sebei wrestled on the independent circuit before joining WWE, under the ring name El Generico, portraying a Mexican luchador with a catchy name of "Olé." "I'm afraid of going back to school for the wrong cause."

Zayn wrestled for a while disguised from his debut in 2002 to 2013.

Sebei began wrestling without a mask after being signed to WWE.

In WWE, he is both a former NXT champion and a one-time Slammy Award winner. Zayn, a two-time PWG World Champion and five-time World Tag Team Champion, had a lot of success in Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG).

He is the only person to have won both of PWG's annual tournaments, the Dynamite Duumvirate Tag Team Championship Tournament in 2010 and the Battle of Los Angeles in 2011.

Zayn has also competed in the ROH World Television Championship and the ROH World Tag Team Championship with Kevin Steen, with whom he later received the 2010 Feud of the Year award from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Zayn has also been a two-time IWS World Heavyweight Champion for the Montreal-based International Wrestling Syndicate (IWS).

Zayn won the Xw Unified World Wrestling Championship in Germany and the DDT Pro-Wrestling Championship in Japan, despite having competed internationally.

Zayn will move away from in-ring competition and into the boss of Smackdown's Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro in 2019.

Mojo Rawley's manager will also be involved in Raw Rawley's demise.

Early life

Rami Sebei was born in Laval, Quebec, on July 12, 1984. Both of his parents are Syrian immigrants who immigrated to Canada in the 1970s after being relocated from Homs.

Personal life

Sebei is well-known for his secrecy. He is married and has a child. He is a Muslim and a vegan, and he speaks in English, Arabic, and French. Sebei is also best friends with fellow wrestler Kevin Steen, who is best known in WWE as Kevin Owens. Their friendship has been well documented, dating back to 2002.

In July 2017, Sebei established Sami for Syria to help the Syrian American Medical Society.

Sebei, a Canadian citizen, endorsed Bernie Sanders in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries.

Source

Professional wrestling career

Sebei worked under Jerry Tuite and Savio Vega, making his pro wrestling debut for the FLQ promotion in Quebec on March 1, 2002 as Stevie McFly. He made his International Wrestling Syndicate (IWS) debut at the Scarred For Life tournament on July 14, 2002, a count out victory. Generico lost to Carl Ouellet in a three-way match involving Kevin Steen on October 18, 2003 at Blood, Sweat, and Beers. El Generico defeated Kevin Steen in their first-ever singles match against each other on November 15 at Payback's A Bitch. On June 15, 2004, the IWS held its fifth anniversary show "V" in Le SPAG, where Generico defeated PCO in an IWS title match for his first IWS World Heavyweight Championship, only to have Kevin Steen reclaim his number one contendership against Excess 69. Generico lost to Steen in the IWS World Heavyweight Championships.

In an IWS four-way match that was unofficially selected as "CZW Match of the Year," Generico, Steen, and Excess 69 lost to SeXXy Eddy on September 11 in a CZW High Stakes II match that was unofficially named as "CZW Match of the Year." Generico lost to Chris Bishop in the Extreme Dream Tournament's final match for the IWS Canadian Championship on August 20, 2005. Generico defeated Kevin Steen at the IWS World Heavyweight Championship at Violent Valentine on February 16, 2008. Know Your Enemies, Generico lost the IWS World Heavyweight Championship to Steen on March 22, a three-way match also involving Max Boyer.

Members of the IWS began to appear in the famed independent firm Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG). El Generico hosted the PWG World Tag Team Championship five times with four different teams: with Human Tornado as 2 Skinny Black Guys, Quicksilver as Cape Fear, Kevin Steen, and Paul London as 'Peligro Abejas! Generico is also the first person to participate in the first eight Battle of Los Angeles tournaments since 2005. During his title run with Cape Fear on February 24, 2007, Generico defeated former partner Tornado to win the PWG World Championship. Generico defeated PAC and Roderick Strong for the belts later this year, making Generico the only man in PWG history to hold both the World and World Tag Team titles not once but twice at the same time.

Generico entered a lengthy feud with Low Moral Fiber, consisting of Kenny Omega and Chuck Taylor, recruiting Colt Cabana, referee Rick Knox, and former Skinny Black Guys) to remain loyal to his side in mid-2009. Threemendous II, 2 Skinny Black Guys defeated The Young Bucks in a non-title match, giving the Bucks their first tag team defeat in almost a year and a half. During the second night of the 2009 Battle of Los Angeles, Generico and Kevin Steen lost a title match against the Bucks on November 21. Kenny Omega from Brian Kendrick and the Bucks was saved by him later and reconciled with him as they now had a common enemy.

Generico joined forces with "Intrepid Traveler" Paul London on May 9, 2010 to form a pair called 'Peligro Abejas.'

(translated as Danger Bees!)

In the fourth annual DDT4 eight-team tag tournament, four teams competed. Generico and London not only won the DDT4 championship but also the PWG World Tag Team Championship, but also the Briscoe Brothers (Jay and Mark) in the semifinals, but also the PWG World Tag Team Championship, Generico's fifth time winning the tournament. El Generico earned himself a shot at the PWG World Championship on December 11, 2010 when he voted "Peligro Abejas!" Chris Hero and the PWG World Championship Defended the PWG World Tag Team Championship, as well as Claudio Castagnoli, the team known collectively as The Kings of Wrestling. Generico had his chance at the PWG World Championship in January 29, 2011, but Castagnoli defeated him. On April 9, El Generico teamed with Ricochet, who was unable to attend the match but lost the PWG World Tag Team Championship back to The Young Bucks. Generico defeated Claudio Castagnoli and Willie Mack in his first round and semifinal matches on August 20, 2011. Generico beat Kevin Steen in the finals on the same night, becoming the first person to have won the PWG World Tag Team championships, as well as the DDT4 and Battle of Los Angeles tournaments. Generico also earned himself a match for Steen's PWG World Championship, which was also a draw. El Generico defeated Steen in a ladder match on October 22, with no one intervening from The Young Bucks to win the PWG World Championship for the second time. El Generico re-lost the title to Steen in a three-way match that also featured Eddie Edwards on March 17, 2012. El Generico made his farewell appearance for PWG on January 12, 2013, when he and Kevin Steen entered the 2013 Dynamite Duomvirate Tag Team Championship Tournament for the first time after deciding to work with WWE. El Generico and Steen were disqualified in the finals of the tournament by The Young Bucks after triumphing over the Briscoe Brothers and Future Shock (Adam Cole and Kyle O'Reilly).

El Generico made his Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based Chikara debut on February 19, 2005, where he joined Team IWS with Kevin Steen as Team IWS. The team made it to the quarterfinals of the tournament before being defeated by the Superfriends (Chris Hero and Mike Quackenbush).

El Generico returned to Chikara three years later to compete in the 2008 King of Trios, where he teamed with Player Uno and Stupefied as Team IWS. After losing their first round match against Arik Cannon, Darin Corbin, and Ryan Cruz on March 1, Team IWS was kicked out of the tournament by Los Luchadores de Mexico, who went on to win the entire tournament later the same day. El Generico returned to the 2009 King of Trios on March 27, this time as Team PWG alongside Matt and Nick Jackson. The Osirian Portal had them eliminated from the tournament in the first round (Amasis, Escorpion Egipcio, and Ophidian). El Generico entered the Rey de Voladores tournament the next day, but Kota Ibushi defeated him in a four-way elimination semifinal match, which also included Jigsaw and Nick Jackson. El Generico was defeated by Arik Cannon in a singles match on the third night of the tournament.

El Generico's next appearance for Chikara came almost two years later, when he faced Eddie Kingston in a humiliating match. El Generico's 2011 King of Trios El Generico appeared as a team of 3.0 (Scott Parker and Shane Matthews) and produced a 3.0le! The team was kicked out of the tournament in the first round by The Osirian Portal (Amasis, Hieracon, and Ophidian). El Generico's second Rey de Voladores battle defeated Pinkie Sanchez, Zack Sabre Jr., and Marshe Rockett in his four-way elimination semifinal match, qualifying for the following day's finals. El Generico won the 2011 Rey de Voladores after the following day, beating the 1–2-3 kid in the finals. On July 30, 2011, El Generico reunited in Chikara after he reunited 3.0le! In a six-man tag team match, with Scott Parker and Shane Matthews, they defeated F.I.T. (Chuck Taylor, Icarus, and Johnny Gargano) 3.0le was the following day on the 'tile'. In a six-man tag team match, Spectral Envoy (Frightmare, Hallowicked, and UltraMantis Black) was defeated by the Spectral Envoy (Frightmare, Hallowicked and UltraMantis Black).

El Generico first competed for Ring of Honor (ROH) in 2005, winning a spot in a Four Corner Survival match at Do Or Die IV. In the Trios Tournament 2005, he competed with the Rottweilers and joined the Ring Crew Express (Dunn and Marcos). He lost to Roderick Strong at Stalemate, then joined Sal Rinauro against the Embassy at New Frontiers (and losing). He only played in a few more games, losing to Austin Aries at Fate of an Angel and winning his first match against fellow IWS alumnus Kevin Steen at The Homecoming (a match that didn't even make it to the event's DVD). At Dragon Gate Invasion, his last ROH match of the season was a loss to Homicide.

Generico returned to ROH in late 2006, appearing at Dethroned, where he was defeated by Brent Albright. He participated (and lost) a Four Corner Survival contest to Jimmy Rave at Final Battle 2006, a result of all this. The fifth year Festival, Philly, El Generico formed a permanent team with Kevin Steen. They were defeated in this match, much like many previous ones, but the two guys had a memorable showing that eventually earned them a full roster spot. The two teams competed against one another over the course of 2007, including (but not limited to) a spectacular match on the ROH's second-ever ROH's second-ever. The feud came to an end after a brutal street fight at Death Before Dishonor V: Night 1, a steel cage match at Caged Rage, a pair out of three falls matches at Man Up and a ladder match advertised as a "Ladder Battle" at Man Up. This final match of ROH's third pay-per-view series came as the Main Event of the event.

Generico also broke out as a solos competitor during this period, despite a good run in the Race to the Top Tournament of 2007. In the tournament's final match to Claudio Castagnoli, he beat (in order) Delirious, Chris Hero, and Davey Richards. Generico and Steen spent several months in an inconclusive feud that lasted well into 2008. They also worked through the tag ranks and aimed to win the tag titles, but fell short of winning the tag championship tournament at Up For Grabs. At Age of Insanity, Generico put ROH World champion Nigel McGuinness to the limit, but she eventually lost.

Generico and Steen then won the ROH World Tag Team Championship by defeating The Age of the Fall at Driven on September 19, 2008. Honor VII defeated Generico in a second match against McGuinness at Glory. Generico was disqualified in another match against McGuinness at Caged Collision, which he lost. Generico and Steen lost the ROH World Tag Team Championship to the American Wolves on April 10, 2009, during a television taping (Eddie Edwards and Davey Richards). Generico sustained knee injury during his medial collateral ligament injury.

After losing to The Young Bucks and losing to El Generico on December 19, 2009, ROH's first live pay-per-view, Steen turned heel by attacking El Generico. He then formed a Colt Cabana team, and the two of them launched a rivalry with Steen and his new partner Steve Corino. The Big Bang!, Generico, and Cabana defeated Steen and Corino via disqualification after Steen used a chair on his former partner at the following pay-per-view. Steen defeated El Generico in a singles match on June 19 at Death Before Dishonor VIII. When Corino was forced to leave, Glory By Honor IX Generico and Cabana defeated Steen and Corino in a Double Chain match on September 11, when Cabana ordered Corino to call out. Steen screamed El Generico and unmasked him after the match. El Generico and Steen's year-long feud in an unanctioned Fight Without Honor brought their year-long feud to an end, with Generico's mask on the line against Steen's ROH career on December 18. Generico unveiled a new darker character and an all-black outfit in the weeks leading up to the event. El Generico won the game and pushed Steen out of Ring of Honor, and therefore kept him out of Ring of Honor. El Generico had signed a new deal with ROH on March 2, 2011.

El Generico was defeated by Michael Elgin of the House of Truth after being manipulated by a masked man led by Truth Martini on April 1 on the first night of Honor Takes Center Stage. El Generico defeated Roderick Strong, another House of Truth member, the following day, but Elgin and Martini came after the match was interrupted by Elgin and Martini. Colt Cabana came out to save the money but was halted by the House of Truth's advantage in numbers. Christopher Daniels came out, but he ended up returning to El Generico and striking El Generico with the Angel's Wings, thereby joining the House of Truth and revealing himself as the man who cost El Generico his match against Elgin. Generico defeated Daniels to win the ROH World Television Championship on June 26 at Best in the World 2011. On August 13, he lost the title to Jay Lethal at the first Ring of Honor Wrestling tapings under the Sinclair Broadcast Group banner. El Generico's return to ROH came as a result of a losing attempt in a Last Man Standing match on March 30, 2012. Steen successfully defended the ROH World Championship at Glory By Honor XI: The Unbreakable Hope on October 13, he received a parcel containing Generico's mask. El Generico descended on ROH on December 16 at Final Battle 2012: Doomsday, where he unsuccessfully defeated Steen for the ROH World Championship in a ladder battle. This was his last appearance with ROH before he signed with WWE.

Generico travelled to Japan in the summer of 2007 as the dragon Gate (DG) representative of the New Hazard stable, where he served as the gaijin (foreign) representative of the New Hazard stable. He returned to work in July 2008, where he had been named Tozawa-juku's "foreign exchange student." El Generico wrestled in Dragon Gate in October 2009, his third visit to the Kamikaze stable, when he competed as a member of the Kamikaze team.

El Generico made semi-regular appearances for the Japanese DDT Pro-Wrestling sibling Union Pro Wrestling, making his debut on January 3 over Shinichiro Tominaga. El Generico won his first title in Japan on September 19 when he defeated Isami Kodaka for the DDT Extreme Championship. After having great success in title defenses against Shuji Ishikawa and Sanshiro Takagi, he lost the title to Kodaka on January 3, 2012. El Generico has also appeared in Union Pro's parent company, DDT Pro-Wrestling, most notably defeating Kota Ibushi in Ibushi's return match from a shoulder injury on May 4, 2012. El Generico's first match in the Nippon Budokan came on August 18, defeating Konosuke Takeshita for the first time. El Generico defeated Kota Ibushi to win the KO-D Openweight Championship, the DDT's highest accolade. In a rematch against Ibushi on October 21, El Generico had his first fruitful title defense. El Generico defeated KO-D Tag Team Champion Mikami for his second straight defense of the KO-D Openweight Championship on November 25, 2009. El Generico lost the KO-D Openweight Championship to Kenny Omega in his third defense on December 23, 1993.

El Generico made his Dragon Gate USA debut on March 31, 2012, defeating Chuck Taylor, Cima, Lince Dorado, Rich Swann, and Samuray del Sol in a six-way match. El Generico made his debut for Evolve, a DGUSA-affiliated promotion closely connected to DGUSA, on April 13, losing to Low Ki on Low Ki. El Generico won his first match in the competition on May 12 after losing to Ricochet on May 11 by defeating Sami Callihan. El Generico won two singles matches against Samuray del Sol on June 28, the first by El Generico was won by El Generico, and the rematch at Evolve 15 was won by Samuray. On July 28, El Generico returned to Dragon Gate USA after he and Samuray were defeated in a tag team match contested by A. R. Fox and Cima. El Generico and Samuray del Sol, a player from El Generico, competed in another Evolve main event that was won by El Generico on September 8. El Generico teamed with Samuray in a tag team match on November 4 at Dragon Gate USA's Freedom Fight 2012, where they defeated Genki Horiguchi and Ryo Saito. The two players won on December 8 at Evolve 18, where they defeated the Super Smash Bros in battle. (Player Uno and Stupefied)

El Generico has appeared on several occasions in the German Westside Xtreme Wrestling (wXw) promotion from 2005 to 2006. El Generico won the 2012 16 Carat Gold Tournament on March 4, 2012. The El Generico won the wXw Unified World Wrestling Championship on May 19, beating Big van Walter. In a four-way match that also included Bad Bones and Karsten Beck, he lost the title to Axel Tischer on August 12, 2012. El Generico traveled to Warsaw in October 2009 to compete in the Do or Die Wrestling tournament, defeating Michael Kovac in the main event of the competition. Stand Alone, Generico's main event of Capital City Championship Combat's show in May 2010, was a success. Generico appeared at Pro Wrestling Superstars' inaugural show in Jacksonville, North Carolina, where he teamed with Paul London to beat Joey Silvia and Jake Manning.

El Generico took part in a tryout dark match for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) at the promotion's Impact on January 11, 2011. Amazing Red, a tapings loss. In another dark match the following day, he defeated T. J. Perkins. El Generico made his South American debut in 2011 as he competed for Peruvian promotion Leader Wrestling Association (LWA), fighting Apocalipsis, Axl, and Kaiser in a number one contender's match to determine a challenger for Caoz, according to the promotion's "Campeón Máximo." Kaiser came out of the match victorious. El Generico, a Chilean promotion Xplosion Nacional de Lucha (XNL), lost to Crazy Sid in an XNL Championship number one opponent's three-way match that also included XL on April 24, losing to Crazy Sid in an XNL Championship number one contender's three-way match that also included XL. El Generico visited Russia for the first time on February 26, 2012, when he met Ivan "Locomotive" Markov and defeated him. Later this year, Markov defeated them in a rematch, this time proving to be victorious. Generico appeared at Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW), losing to Masada for the CZW World Heavyweight Championship on September 8, 2012.

El Generico made his last Canadian independent appearance on January 18, 2013, when he was with the Hart Legacy Wrestling (HLW) promotion in Calgary, after signing with WWE. El Generico and Samuray del Sol were victorious over Cam!kaze and Pete Wilson, Brian Cage and Trent Barta, and Ryan Rollins in the first four-way elimination match. As a result, the two men secured their spot in the main event ten man tag team tournament, where they competed against Barta, Davey Boy Smith Jr., and Jack Evans in a losing effort against Teddy Hart's squad, Cam!za, Flip Kendrick, and Pete Wilson, with Generico being pinned for the victory by Hart.

After passing all medical examinations, Sebei joined WWE in January 2013. Sebei made his debut for WWE's NXT developmental territory on February 13, but did not wrestle. The NXT in-ring debut of Sebei at a live event in Tampa, Florida, on March 7, where a tag team match was revealed under his real name. Sebei eventually settled on Sami Zayn, which was officially named after him. Zayn made his television debut on May 22 of NXT, first defeating Curt Hawkins in the first round and then battling and winning a thrilling victory over Antonio Cesaro later in the game. He participated in an 18-man battle royal to identify the number one contender to the NXT Championship this week but Mason Ryan was disqualified by Mason Ryan. Zayn suffered his first pinfall loss in NXT on June 12 in a rematch with Cesaro. Zayn failed to win another top-one challenge, which also involved Cesaro and Leo Kruger, on July 17th. Zayn appeared on NXT Champion Bo Dallas against Cesaro and Kruger on July 31; after Cesaro and Zayn staggered to the back, Dallas lost the match and later blamed Zayn for the loss. Zayn defeated Cesaro in a two-out-of-three falls match on August 21 of NXT, bringing an end to the feud. Zayn made his WWE debut at a house show in Montreal, where he defeated Cesaro on September 6. Dallas was cost Zayn's match against Cesaro's compatriot Real American Jack Swagger when Zayn came to the NXT Championship. Dallas held an open competition to determine the next champion of the prestigious tournament, but Zayn was banned from participating. However, Zayn masqueraded as the masked El Local and defeated Dallas to earn his championship shot. The match was played on the October 16 episode of NXT, but NXT General Manager John Bradshaw Layfield revived the game after Zayn defeated despite Dallas' foot being on the ropes and then Dallas converted Zayn to an open turnbuckle to hold his position.

Zayn lost a number one contender's match against Neville in November 2013, after tying a Beat the Clock battle with Adrian Neville and defeating Leo Kruger on the November 27 episode of NXT. Zayn continued to feud with Kruger, resulting in Zayn winning a two-out-of-three falls match on January 1, 2014 edition of NXT. Zayn's insatisfaction with his death to Cesaro the previous year prompted him to a rematch against Cesaro on February 27, which he lost, but Cesaro showed respect to Zayn after the match. Zayn then feuded with Corey Graves, with Zayn losing to Graves via referee stoppage on the NXT episode of April 3 after Graves capitalized on Zayn's head injury. Zayn appeared in a 20-man shoot-down royal for an NXT Championship shot on May 8 on NXT Championship Night, with Zayn taking center stage in a triple threat match tie. As a result, Zayn met Tyler Breeze and Tyson Kidd in a triple threat match on the next episode of NXT, where Kidd defeated Kidd to become the top contender. Zayn defeated Breeze in another top-one contest at NXT TakeOver on May 29, NXT TakeOver.

After Kidd abandoned him during their match against NXT Tag Team Champions The Ascension in June 2014, Zayn began to feud with Tyson Kidd. Both Kidd and Gabriel assaulted Zayn, who was rescued by his friend, NXT Champion Adrian Neville, after Zayn defeated Justin Gabriel. Zayn later defeated Kidd twice to put the feud to an end, twice in a singles match with Adam Rose against Gabriel and Kidd, the first round of a tournament for a chance of a match at the NXT Tag Team Championship. Zayn and Rose were disqualified in the second round of The Lucha Dragons (Kalisto and Sin Cara). When Zayn, Kidd, and Tyler Breeze each staked their interest in an NXT Championship match, champion Neville decided to face all three in a fatal-four-way match at the next NXT Takeover tournament. Zayn and Neville made their main roster debuts on September 8th to hype the match. At NXT TakeOver: Fatal 4-Way, Zayn nearly won the four-way match and the NXT Championship on September 11, but champion Neville dismantled him out of the match to win and keep his title. Neville and Zayn's friendships were tense as a result of this. After Zayn's loss of another match, this time to Titus O'Neil, he promised to start a "road to resurrectance" leading to the NXT Championship, which culminated in him defeating Tyson Kidd, Titus O'Neil, and Tyler Breeze in singles matches. On the November 13 episode of NXT, Zayn was rewarded with a title match against Neville, but he took advantage of Zayn's nefarious appearance during the match to win the game and keep the trophy. Neville accepted Zayn's challenge for a title rematch, with Zayn promising to leave NXT if he were to lose, if he lost.

At NXT Takeover: R Evolution on December 11, Zayn defeated Neville to win the NXT Championship, and several other NXT wrestlers were congratulated afterwards, including Neville and Kevin Owens (the former Kevin Steen). Owens and Zayn were bombing Zayn onto the ring apron to end their reunion. Zayn retained the title against Neville in a rematch on January 14, 2015 but Owens struck again in a post-match a few days later. Although an irate Zayn demanded a match against Owens, even if it meant putting the title on the line, a championship match was scheduled for NXT TakeOver: Rival. Owens took the title from Zayn via referee stoppage, powerbombed a disorientated Zayn five times, bringing an end to his reign at 62 days.

Zayn was introduced by Bret Hart as John Cena's enemy for his weekly "U.S. Open Challenge" for his United States Championship, which takes place in his hometown of Montreal on May 4. The crowd favored Zayn over Cena, but the match was ultimately decided against. Following the match, Cena allowed Zayn to receive the ring to an ovation from the live audience. However, Zayn had injured his shoulder before the game and underwent an MRI for further examination. Unstoppable at NXT TakeOver: Unstoppable on May 20, Zayn's NXT Championship rematch against Kevin Owens resulted in a no contest when Zayn was unable to continue the match. Owens continued to assault Zayn until Samoa Joe made the save. Zayn recovered from injury on the December 23 episode of NXT (taped at the NXT TakeOver: London event on December 16) defeating Tye Dillinger after a seven-month absence. In the latter's debut match at NXT TakeOver: Dallas on April 1, Zayn was defeated by Shinsuke Nakamura, and although Nakamura left the ring, he was left waving goodbyes to the NXT faithful, marking his final appearance in NXT.

Zayn defeated Kevin Owens in the Rumble match at #20 on January 24, 2016, but Braun Strowman was able to eliminate him. Zayn made a surprise return to the main roster on March 7 and assaulted Owens, who was attempting to hurt Neville after their match. On SmackDown, Zayn and Neville defeated Owens and Miz, resulting in a tag team match. Zayn continued to win over The Miz and Stardust's likes. Zayn competed against Owens, Dolph Ziggler, The Miz, Stardust, Sin Cara, and Zack Ryder in a ladder match for the Intercontinental Championship, which was won by Ryder on April 3. On the April 4 episode of Raw, Zayn was supposed to compete in a deadly four-way match against Owens, AJ Styles, and Chris Jericho to determine the number one contender for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, but Owens, who assaulted him with a Powerbomb through a table backstage, was replaced by a returning Cesaro. Shane McMahon gave Zayn another chance to be a top-one contender on the April 11 episode of Raw by beating Styles, who had already won the competition the week before, but Zayn lost to Styles. Owens defeated Zayn and Owens in a game at Payback on May 1, which Owens won. Zayn defeated The Miz on May 9 of Raw to advance to a crucial four-way match at Extreme Rules, but Miz retained the title. On the May 23 episode of Raw, Zayn defeated Sheamus to qualify for the Money in the Bank ladder match, but the briefcase was not successful as Dean Ambrose won the briefcase. Zayn was drafted to Raw in the 2016 WWE draft on July 19. Zayn defeated Owens at the Battleground on July 24, 24.

On August 21, Zayn and Neville defeated The Dudley Boyz on the kickoff show at SummerSlam. Zayn appeared on Chris Jericho's Highlight Reel segment, where he was attacked by Jericho, triggering a match of Champions on September 25, which Jericho won. After preventing Zayn from confronting Raw General Manager Mick Foley on the October 17 episode of Raw, the two men began a feud with Braun Strowman. Zayn appeared in a match royal to qualify for Team Raw at Survivor Series on October 31, but Strowman was last eliminated by Strowman. Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler put on an open challenge to any wrestler from the Raw brand on November 1 episode of SmackDown Live. Mick Foley wanted him to face Ziggler, but Rusev's boss, Stephanie McMahon, said Zayn would face Rusev for the title, while Rusev defeated Rusev to advance to the title; Zayn earned the title over. The Miz defeated Ziggler for the championship on November 15, the following day, when Zayn faced The Miz for the Intercontinental Championship at Survivor Series on November 20, which Zayn lost. On the November 21 episode of Raw, Mick Foley ordered Zayn to participate in a match against Braun Strowman as punishment for failing to bring the Intercontinental Championship to Raw; Strowman then assaulted Zayn before the match and ordered him to leave the field before Foley was able to finish the match. Zayn slammed Strowman during Strowman's match on November 28th, resulting in a faceoff between him and Foley. On the December 12 episode of Raw, Zayn defeated Jinder Mahal, but after Zayn defeated Jinder Mahal, he refused to be traded to SmackDown and wanted a match with Strowman. On December 18, the match was called Roadblock: End of the Line with a time limit of ten minutes, which Zayn won after completing ten minutes. Zayn lost a Last Man Standing match to Strowman on January 2, 2017, putting an end to the feud.

After Rollins was distracted by Triple H, Zayn appeared on #8 and lasted more than 47 minutes before being eliminated by The Undertaker on January 23. On the January 30 episode of Raw, Zayn defeated United States Champion Chris Jericho in a non-title match but lost the title the following week. Zayn responded to remarks made by Samoa Joe during a backstage interview and was chastised by Joe on February 13. Zayn lost to Joe at Fastlane on March 5th. Zayn defeated Owens in a no disqualification match to end their feud, saving his career, and qualifying for Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 33 on April 2, which he failed to win.

Zayn was traded to SmackDown as part of the Superstar Shake-Up on April 11, but not before. Following losing a six-pack match, Zayn failed to become the top contender for WWE Championship this week. Zayn defeated Baron Corbin at Backlash on May 21. On June 18, Zayn was listed as one of the participants in the Money in the Bank ladder competition alongside AJ Styles, Corbin, Dolph Ziggler, Kevin Owens, and Shinsuke Nakamura, which he was unsuccessful in winning. Zayn appeared in a brief feud with Mike Kanellis, whom he lost to in the latter's debut match on SmackDown's July 18 episode. On July 23, Zayn defeated the two teams in a rematch at Battleground.

Kevin Owens beat Shane McMahon in a Cell match on October 8, beating him in a Hell in a Cell match, turning heel for the first time in his WWE career. Despite SmackDown being dubbed the "land of Opportunity," Zayn referred to Owens as his "brother" and explained that his events were due to McMahon's failure to offer Zayn opportunities. Zayn lost to Randy Orton on the October 24 episode of SmackDown Live, unable to secure a spot on Team SmackDown to face Team Raw at Survivor Series. On November 19, Zayn and Owens defeated Breezango (Tyler Breeze and Fandango). Owens and Zayn played in the main event and assaulted Shane, which backfired after Shane assaulted both with a steel chair and Orton gave Owens an RKO. After a quick count by Bryan, Owens and Zayn defeated Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura in a tag team match at Battle of Champions on December 17 with SmackDown Commissioner Shane McMahon and SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan. On specific episodes of SmackDown Live, Zayn and Owens then earned a title shot against Styles, despite losing the crown in a handicap match at the Royal Rumble on January 28, where they failed to win the title. Tye Dillinger's #10 spot at the Royal Rumble match was later robbed by eventual winner Shinsuke Nakamura, but the match was eventually ended by eventual winner Shinsuke Nakamura.

On SmackDown Live, Zayn walked out on Owens during a tag team match against Styles and Nakamura two nights later. On the February 6 episode of SmackDown Live, Zayn met Owens to determine who would face Styles for the WWE Championship at Fastlane, resulting in Styles' disqualification after Styles, a commentator on commentary, sluggishly chastised Zayn and Owens, prompting SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan to call a triple threat match between Owens and Zayn. Zayn declared that he would lay down Owens but that Zayn would pin Owens in a vital five-way match. Styles defended the WWE Championship in the six-pack challenge at Fastlane on March 11, 2008. Zayn and Owens were (kayfabe) fired by Bryan as punishment for an attack on McMahon the week before. Owens and Zayn lost to Bryan and McMahon on April 8, and if they had won, they would have been rehired to SmackDown. They asked Raw General Manager Kurt Angle for a job on the following Raw as free agents. Angle was apprehensive, staging a match between the two teams with the winner receiving a Raw deal, which resulted in a no contest, leaving them both as free agents. Raw Commissioner Stephanie McMahon awarded Raw contracts on the episode of Raw, Zayn, and Owens on April 16. In a losing effort, Zayn and Owens met Bobby Lashley and Braun Strowman in a backlash on May 6. On June 17, Zayn lost to Lashley at Money in the Bank. It was announced after the occurrence that Zayn underwent surgery to repair both of his rotator cuffs. He was later reported to have undergone a fruitful double shoulder surgery.

After ten months of inactivity due to injuries, Zayn returned to Raw on April 8, 2019, losing to Intercontinental Champion Finn Bálor. Zayn defeated Strowman with the assistance of Baron Corbin and Drew McIntyre, gaining the Money in the Bank ladder match for the second week. Zayn was hit backstage and left unable to participate by what was thought to be Braun Strowman, but it was later revealed to be Brock Lesnar, who took Zayn's place in the match. Zayn began working with Owens again, and they beat The New Day (Big E and Xavier Woods) at Stomping Grounds on June 23. However, Zayn and Owens' team fell apart again after Owens turned face and reignited his rivalry with Shane McMahon. Zayn defeated Rey Mysterio twice, first at Raw Reunion and second in the gauntlet match the following week, after their team disbanded. Zayn then competed in the King of the Ring tournament, but lost in the first round to Cedric Alexander.

After attacking The Miz, Zayn joined forces with Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura on August 20 episode of SmackDown Live. Zayn was positioned as Nakamura's mouthpiece. On September 15, he helped Nakamura keep his title at Battle of Champions. Zayn was introduced to the SmackDown brand as part of the 2019 draft. He will also become the boss of Cesaro after the draft. On November 24, Zayn joined Nakamura in a non-title match against United States Champion AJ Styles and NXT North American Champion Roderick Strong, which was won by Strong. Despite Zayn and Cesaro's interferences, Nakamura lost the title to Braun Strowman on the January 31, 2020 episode of SmackDown.

Zayn, Nakamura, and Cesaro triumphed in a 3-on-1 handicap tournament to win the Intercontinental Championship; Zayn defeated Braun Strowman by pinning Strowman in a 3-on-1 handicap match at the Elimination Chamber on March 8. Zayn started a feud with Daniel Bryan on March 13 on SmackDown, where Bryan and Drew Gulak met Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro in various games. On the first night of WrestleMania 36, Zayn defeated Bryan to keep the title. He was barred from participating during the COVID-19 pandemic on May 12, snapping his reign at 65 days. Zayn insulted Intercontinental Champion Jeff Hardy and declared himself the "tru" Intercontinental Champion, reuniting with Cesaro and Nakamura backstage, but Cesaro barred him from the locker room so that they and Nakamura could have some discussion by themselves on August 28.

Zayn defeated Hardy and AJ Styles in a triple threat ladder match on September 27, reclaiming the Intercontinental Championship by handcuffing both with the ladders. Zayn defeated Hardy to keep the title on the SmackDown episode on October 2nd. Zayn retained the title against Apollo Crews by counting out on November 13 of SmackDown. Zayn lost to United States Champion Bobby Lashley in a champion vs. champion match at Survivor Series on November 22, 2014. He lost the Intercontinental Championship to Big E on December 25 of SmackDown, his second appearance in 89 days.

Zayn entered at #3 at Royal Rumble in 2021, but Big E was pushed out by Big E on the next episode of SmackDown, where he worked with King Corbin and defeated The Mysterios (Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio) to qualify for the Elimination Chamber match at the namesake event. Zayn was the second man eliminated by Kevin Owens at the February 21 festival. His gimmick would be turned into a deranged conspiracy theorist who suspected that WWE executives were holding him hostage, and he would resurrect his rivalry with Owens. On the second night of WrestleMania 37, Zayn lost to Owens but beat him in a rematch in a Cell on June 20. Zayn failed to qualify for the men's Money in the Bank ladder match at the namesake event on July 2nd, bringing an end to the two teams' rivalry.

Zayn qualified in the King of the Ring tournament in October, where he defeated Rey Mysterio in the first round but lost to Finn Bálor in the semi-finals. On November 6, Zayn was announced as part of Team SmackDown at Survivor Series, but Zayn met Jeff Hardy in a match with the stipulation that whoever lost was booted from the SmackDown Survivor Series team, which Zayn lost, effectively removing him from the contest. Zayn will compete in a royal match to determine the top contender for the Universal Championship on November 26, with Jeff Hardy defeating him to win the game. Zayn would face Roman Reigns for the title on December 3 but lost in 15 seconds due to Brock Lesnar's attack prior to the match. Zayn defeated a 12-man gauntlet match on December 24 to become the country's top contender for the Intercontinental Championships.

After Knoxville announced that he would be entering the Royal Rumble match on January 7, 2022 episode of SmackDown, Zayn became a feud with Johnny Knoxville. Zayn debuted at #8 at Royal Rumble on January 29, defeating Knoxville before being banned by AJ Styles. Zayn defeated Shinsuke Nakamura to win the Intercontinental Championship for the third time in his career on February 18 (taped February 11) episode of SmackDown. Zayn lost the championship to Ricochet after a lot of graft from Knoxville, putting his reign to a stop at 21 days (recognized by WWE as 13 days). Zayn then faced Knoxville in a match at WrestleMania 38, which was declared shortly afterwards. In a rematch this week, Zayn lost the Intercontinental Championship from Ricochet. Zayn introduced an Anything Goes stipulation to their match on March 18, and Knoxville accepted the challenge later. On the second night of WrestleMania 38, Zayn lost to Knoxville after the latter's Jackass co-actors interfered in the match.

Zayn wanted to find favor with The Bloodline after feeling as though he had lost respect and authority in the locker room beginning on the SmackDown episode on April 22. Zayn was branded a "honorary Uce" and became an associate and the group's MVP on May 27 on SmackDown's May 27 episode. Zayn defeated Nakamura to qualify for the Money in the Bank ladder match on June 24 on SmackDown's episode. Although Zayn failed to win at the eponymous function on July 2, the tournament was ruled by Theory. He competed in a critical five way match on August 19 to determine the top contender for the Intercontinental Championship, which Sheamus won by.

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