Whether he's a loveable, underdog babyface or an annoying, over-the-top heel, Sami Zayn has always been unbelievably entertaining. In the ring, Sami is a top-tier talent, who can put on brilliant matches with anybody, yet on the microphone is where he really thrives, being able to really push any storyline.
Zayn has no problem in shaking things up when it comes to his character, whether it be small tweaks or big changes. This has allowed him to remain fresh throughout his career. At the very top is where he belongs, but which version of Zayn is the best?
10 Feuding With Bobby Lashley
Quite easily the worst version of Sami Zayn's career to this point came during his feud against Bobby Lashley. Sometimes working an over-the-top gimmick is entertaining, but when it's done like this, it can be flat out ridiculous.
Sami Zayn calling out Bobby Lashley and his 'sisters' remains one of the worst segments in Raw history, with the writing for this particular storyline being WWE at its absolute worst.
9 Losing Streak
After WrestleMania 34, Sami Zayn began to seriously lose direction within WWE. It was a period of serious losses for him, with Sami struggling to pick up any form of momentum and not getting any real storyline of note to work on.
An injury gave Sami a needed break, but when he returned it was simply more pointless matches and storylines, which didn't help his career. Whether it was fighting against Finn Balor or being taken out of the Money in the Bank ladder match by Brock Lesnar, Sami just didn't work at this point.
8 Feuding With Braun Strowman
Sami Zayn working against Braun Strowman was a feud that had real potential, but it never quite got to the point where it fully clicked. Sami certainly worked well in his matches against Braun, as he was entertaining and believable at points against him.
Sami would take a beating well, but always come back fighting, which is what made the character work so well. However, this was a very one-sided storyline, and ultimately that is what stopped it from reaching the next level.
7 Early Main Roster Run
After his initial feud with Kevin Owens was over, Sami Zayn began moving from feud to feud, with WWE pushing his popularity without making Sami a focal point. He got the chance to work against the likes of Dolph Ziggler, Rusev, and Chris Jericho, which showcased his ability.
This period of time worked well for Sami as it allowed him to establish himself on the main roster, but is also a period of time that fans will likely not remember when his career is said and done.
6 Artist Collective
Sami Zayn being the leader of his own faction was just something that made sense. He's a great talker and someone who is great at bringing the best out of others, which he managed to do alongside Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro.
This faction was a lot of fun to see, and the fact that Sami ended up as Intercontinental Champion really helped. It made the group feel important and as he tried to avoid confrontation as much as possible, which was a great way of getting heat.
5 Teaming With Kevin Owens
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn have certainly had a long-standing history as rivals, but they also have worked as partners as well. This includes in WWE, where Sami Zayn saved KO during his Hell in a Cell match with Shane McMahon, which then led to them working together.
They had a great run together on the main roster, especially once Daniel Bryan returned to action. They were able to step up as the ultimate heels when they attacked him, and because their chemistry is so great, they worked perfectly together.
4 El Generico
Long before he was able to reach the world of WWE, Sami Zayn worked under a completely different gimmick as El Generico. The masked gimmick was one that worked really well and helped to make him one of the most well-known names in wrestling.
Of course, this gimmick died when Sami opted to sign for WWE, but it is one that fans absolutely loved and it helped make Sami stand out as it was different.
3 The Underdog From The Underground
When Sami Zayn first appeared in NXT, he brought an incredible amount of joy, passion, and energy to everything that he did. He was the ultimate babyface as the Underdog from the Underground, and the WWE Universe loved him.
His in-ring work was sublime as he put together some amazing matches in order to rise to the top of NXT. Eventually becoming NXT Champion was the pinnacle of this run, and even though that didn't last too long for him, it was certainly a great journey to get to that point.
2 Feuding With Kevin Owens
Sami Zayn's run as NXT Champion didn't last long because his good old friend, Kevin Owens was there to ruin his moment. Their on/off friendship/rivalry has been one of wrestling's best, and bringing that to WWE was a smart move.
This started in NXT with some great moments, but it only continued once they both got to the main roster. Their match at Battleground was the pick of the bunch, showcasing just how great their chemistry is.
1 Intercontinental Champion
Right now, fans are being able to enjoy the absolute best version of Sami Zayn, who appears to be firing on all cylinders at the moment. While he may no longer be the Intercontinental Champion, ever since he returned after a hiatus due to COVID-19, Sami has been amazing.
His in-ring work has been sublime, but it is the character work that has made this run feel important. Sami's over-the-top cockiness as a heel works really well, and it has made him really enjoyable to watch.