Zayn-Owens Rivalry Has Long History Dating Back to 2014
Tonight’s grudge match between Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn at WWE Payback promises to be an epic clash, since the two have been “frenemies” since they met 18 months ago at Florida’s Full Sail University.
Their rivalry dates back to December 2014, when Owens came to the ring ostensibly to congratulate Zayn for winning the NXT Championship, but viciously powerbombed him instead.
Ever since then, the duo have been engaged in a bitter rivalry driven by professional jealousy, making it one of the longest-running wrestling feuds in recent history.
Although a small-but-vocal minority of wrestling fans insist the feud dates back even further, a Google search for “Kevin Owens vs Sami Zayn” does not turn up any results prior to 2014.
The misguided fans are likely confusing Owens and Zayn with a pair of independent wrestlers who frequently battled one another in promotions such as Ring of Honor and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla — namely Michael Elgin and Delirious.