WWE can both put a jet pack on Sami Zayn's back as he moves up from NXT and make the most of the end of Rusev's winning streak with a David-and-Goliath story.
The company has told the story of Rusev's rise to the United States Championship extremely well. It has been even more successful in the narrative that has been dubbed Zayn's "road to redemption." Merging those tales is the best way to approach Rusev finally tasting definitive defeat.
Rusev began his current tear by wiping out WWE's bottom feeders. Zack Ryder and Xavier Woods fell at his hands, for example.
It was then on to a midcarder on the rise in Big E. The former Intercontinental champ gave Rusev the hardest fight of his career to date, but couldn't stop the Russian freight train.
Next came Jack Swagger, Mark Henry, Big Show and Sheamus.
each step, Rusev faced stiffer competition. Each new foe offered more resistance. Each time, though, they failed.
Where does WWE take this story from here?
The Bulgarian Brute is currently colliding with Ryback. Few expect Rusev to succumb to his latest challenger. A quartet of former world champs couldn't stop Rusev; Ryback enters the battle as a long shot.
Should Rusev hold off Ryback, one would assume that he eventually faces John Cena. All the top heels face Cena at some point.
Most often, Cena cools off hot streaks and puts WWE's villains down for the count. He thwarted Bray Wyatt, Henry, Alberto Del Rio, Seth Rollins and Damien Sandow in the last two years.
There's an easy story to tell here of the troop-saluting hero taking down the big, bad foreigner, but what does that win do for Cena? The last thing the 15-time world champ needs is more accolades. That result reeks of predictability too.
Having Rusev survive his showdown with Cena is the better option. It elevates Rusev courtesy of a win over the company's top dog, it provides a shocking result and it adds to the value of Rusev's winning streak.
Fans will be wondering, "If Cena can't beat him, who can?"
That's when WWE can go in an unexpected direction that won't soon be forgotten. Enter Zayn.
The story at NXT was that Zayn couldn't win the big matches. He put on great performances, but came up short against the likes of Cesaro and Adrian Neville. After retracing his steps, he triumphed over several of the men who had defeated him in the past. He capped that off with a title win over Neville, a victory that brimmed with emotion.
With every show-stealing performance, Zayn proves he's main-roster ready. His resume in 2014 speaks to that.
Of the 25 matches WWE.com ranked as the year's best, Zayn wrestled in three of the top 10.
WWE has a needs a way to introduce him to the portion of the audience who doesn't watch NXT. A gutsy triumph over the wide-shouldered wrecking ball that is Rusev is a fine way to do that.
Have Zayn answer an open challenge from Rusev one night on Raw. To play up Rusev's power and size, WWE should then let him steamroll over Zayn. Zayn asks for another shot, which he gets on SmackDown.
Again, he fails. Rusev doesn't just beat him, he overwhelms him. The announcers are actually concerned for Zayn's health by the end of it.
Rusev moves on, picking up a few wins elsewhere. Zayn, meanwhile, is determined to get a third shot at the U.S. champ.
He knocks off Tyson Kidd (who has beaten Zayn twice on Main Event ) and a few other Superstars to rebound from his losses to Rusev. The NXT transplant then enters a Battle Royal to decide the No. 1 contender for the U.S. title.
Zayn, Sheamus and Roman Reigns are the final three men standing in that match. Sheamus and Reigns collide near the ropes, allowing Zayn to slip in from behind and toss them both out.
On Zayn's third try, he suffers Rusev's superkicks until he is groggy, barely able to stand. He kicks out again and again, somehow surviving against the champ. Eventually, Zayn hits two Helluva Kicks in the corner to stun Rusev long enough for the referee to count to three.
Going this route, assures WWE a classic match to wrap up the story of Rusev's dominance. Zayn has shown himself to be a guy who thrives under the spotlight and his speed and high-flying contrasts well with Rusev's power.
Zayn gets the huge rub that comes with being the man to finally down Rusev. He then begins his career on the main roster with plenty of momentum, providing a stunning moment in the process.
For Rusev, he gets to extend his streak until Zayn's arrival, put a win over Cena on his resume and become a central figure in a storyline filled with potential.
Rusev's winning streak has the power to boost another star's career and a chance to deliver an indelible climax. Zayn is the right man for the job, that dramatic arrival to the big leagues the perfect place to showcase his gutsy-warrior ways.
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