The WWE's current handling of the Sami Zayn and Cody Rhodes storyline has fans on edge, and for good reason. This situation is a delicate dance, and one wrong step could lead to a full-blown fan revolt.
The High Stakes of Pro Wrestling
When Sami Zayn pulled off the unexpected title win over Cody Rhodes at Night of Champions, it felt like a turning point. Zayn's victory seemed to symbolize a shift in WWE's booking decisions, a recognition of past missteps. However, the immediate rematch and potential title change back to Rhodes could be a catastrophic move.
Déjà vu and Fan Disillusionment
Wrestling fans are not easily fooled, and the proposed rematch between Zayn and Rhodes feels like a déjà vu moment. Remember when Rhodes dropped the title to Drew McIntyre, only to reclaim it and then have a lackluster main event at WrestleMania? Doing something similar to Zayn would be a huge mistake.
The Kofi Kingston Parallel
The WWE's treatment of Kofi Kingston serves as a cautionary tale. Kingston's amazing title win was quickly squashed by Brock Lesnar, and he was essentially silenced from referencing his solo run. This left a permanent mark on Kingston's career and eroded fan trust in the promotion. WWE risks repeating this mistake with Zayn, reducing his win to a mere cheap pop in Saudi Arabia.
Fan Trust and the TKO Merger
Fans are already struggling to trust WWE due to years of apparent meddling by outside forces post-TKO merger. Names like Travis Scott and McAfee evoke shudders among wrestling enthusiasts. The company has a history of fumbles, from botching John Cena's heel turn to mismanaging the build-up to a Rhodes-Orton main event at WrestleMania.
Implications and Fan Perception
If Rhodes takes the title back from Zayn, it raises questions about WWE's booking decisions and fan trust. It also reflects on Rhodes' character, who, like Cena, gives nods to deserving wrestlers only to deem them unworthy of top spots. Additionally, with the surprise Lesnar un-retirement, WWE's ability to book someone like Oba Femi properly is in question.
A Path to Redemption
The WWE has an opportunity here to make a bold statement and regain fan trust. By allowing Zayn to retain his title and keeping Rhodes out of the main event scene for a while, the promotion can show that it's committed to riding the wave of good decisions. This would be a welcome change from the laggard approach to fixing problems that has plagued WWE in recent years.
Conclusion
The Sami Zayn and Cody Rhodes situation is a pivotal moment for WWE. The promotion must choose between slamming into the barricade of fan disillusionment or nodding to its fans and wrestlers by allowing Zayn to shine. Personally, I think it's time for WWE to take a step back, reflect on its past mistakes, and make a bold move that will benefit the entire roster and, most importantly, the fans.
