“WWE Dropped the Ball With Sami Zayn on SmackDown” – Veteran Blasts Creative Over Bizarre Booking Decision
Sami Zayn might have walked out of SmackDown as the new United States Champion, but not everyone is impressed with how WWE booked the fan-favorite star.
On the final episode before Clash in Paris, Zayn clashed with Solo Sikoa in a heated main event. Given their explosive Bloodline history, fans expected fireworks—and they got them. But according to wrestling veteran Vince Russo, WWE’s creative made one huge mistake that “made zero sense.”
Russo Calls Out WWE’s “Lazy” Booking
Speaking on BroDown on Sportskeeda WrestleBinge, Russo blasted the decision to have Sami walk to the ring completely alone, while Solo had his entire crew backing him up.
“Here’s the problem—every Samoan had backup, but Sami Zayn is walking out there by himself? That doesn’t make sense,” Russo argued. “If you want a real crowd pop, you have Sami stop at the ramp, then bring out Jimmy Uso and Jacob Fatu one by one. Instead, they made him look outnumbered from the start. It was a four-on-one booking, and it just didn’t work.”
The Comeback That Saved the Night
Despite the questionable setup, WWE eventually gave fans the payoff. Midway through the match, Jimmy Uso and Jacob Fatu stormed the ring to even the odds—taking out JC Mateo, Tonga Loa, and Tala Tonga. With Solo’s enforcers gone, Sami seized the momentum and delivered a stunning victory to capture the United States Championship.
Still, Russo insists the buildup could’ve been so much bigger: “The moment was there, but WWE didn’t maximize it. The entrance alone could’ve blown the roof off the arena if they’d booked it right.”
👉 Do you agree with Vince Russo—did WWE mess up Sami Zayn’s big SmackDown moment, or did the payoff make up for it?
