WWE has been giving clear signs that it intends to keep Sami Zayn, Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae together for longer, exploring this relationship of loyalty and manipulation.
On Friday’s SmackDown, Gargano once again defended the current Undisputed WWE Champion, putting himself in front of Trick Williams during an argument.
This idea of manipulation is pointed out by WWE itself. In a recent analysis on its official website, Zayn was described as someone who constantly manipulates Gargano, despite maintaining the narrative of being the last truly good man in the company.
The relationship between them reached new levels in September, when Gargano demanded a shot at the Undisputed WWE Championship, previously promised by Zayn. Instead of the title match, Sami got spots in the Money in the Bank qualifying matches for Gargano and LeRae, demanding loyalty in return.
Gargano accepted the deal and said that he would be by Zayn’s side until the end. Candice, however, showed distrust toward the proposal.
This whole situation bears a great resemblance to the period when Sami was part of The Bloodline. In fact, he seems to have learned everything he is executing today when he was in the group. At that time, Roman Reigns demanded constant demonstrations of loyalty from Zayn, who ended up rebelling against him at the 2023 Royal Rumble.
WWE has also been highlighting this dynamic for Crown Jewel. In the official preview of the match between Zayn and Reigns, the company pointed out that Roman began wrestling without interference from family members, while Sami adopted questionable methods to be able to remain champion, which directly contrasts with the past.
The two will face each other on Nov. 7 for the Men’s Crown Jewel Championship. Before that, Zayn will have a face-to-face with Reigns on Monday’s Raw.