WWE: 10 best matches of 2016
By Luke Norris
4. Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens – WWE Battleground
I don’t care if it’s Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn or Kevin Steen vs. El Generico and I don’t care if it’s in WWE or ROH or PWG or wherever. Just give me these two guys in the ring together and I’ll watch.
When Zayn and Owens were both finally on the main roster, it was only a matter of time until their history came into play and it was a build that was executed beautifully. It was Zayn who eliminated Owens from the Royal Rumble in January. They then butted heads again during the Intercontinental Championship ladder match at WrestleMania and delivered a phenomenal match at WWE Payback a month later. After both men failed to win the Money in the Bank ladder match, this match was set as the final encounter and it delivered on every level.
In a match that went longer than even the much-hyped main event that saw all three members of The Shield battle for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, Owens and Zayn wowed the live audience in Washington, D.C. and those watching on the WWE Network with yet another classic that in my opinion was their best match together since their time on the indy circuit. They told a great story in the ring that night and hit some great spots as well. Owens turning a Helluva Kick into the Pop-Up Powerbomb almost got the job done but Zayn was able to get his foot on the rope to avoid the loss. Owens pleaded with his rival to stay down towards the end but The Underdog from the Underground hit an amazing combination of suplexes and two Helluva Kicks in the corner to get the victory.
It’s kind of crazy to look back on this now as Kevin Owens didn’t suffer from the loss and went on to become WWE Universal Champion about a month later and Zayn unfortunately hasn’t come anywhere close to that level besides being thrown into an Intercontinental Championship match at Survivor Series that everybody knew he couldn’t win. I’m hoping that creative can find something better for him soon so he can fully display all of the talent he showed on that night at WWE Battleground. Great match.