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By Andrew Ravens
Contributing Sports Writer
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Sami Zayn has a new brand and a new championship in his sights. On the August 15th episode of Friday Night SmackDown, the "Underdog from the Underground" made a surprise appearance to announce that he has officially moved from Raw to the blue brand.
The show, which took place at the TD Garden in Boston, opened with Zayn confronting the new leader of The Bloodline, United States Champion Solo Sikoa. Zayn's arrival has completely shaken up the landscape of SmackDown.
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A New WWE Challenger for The Bloodline
The show opened with Solo Sikoa and his faction in the ring. After Sikoa ran down a list of his recent victims, he was interrupted by the surprise appearance of Sami Zayn. Zayn made his intentions clear, stating that he has never been the United States Champion and that he wants to change that.
After Sikoa mocked him for being on the wrong brand, Zayn made his shocking announcement. He revealed that he is now the newest member of the SmackDown roster. SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis then appeared to confirm the move and booked a massive six-man tag team match for the main event.
From One War to Another
Sami Zayn's move to SmackDown is a much-needed "fresh start" for the superstar. He has spent the last several months embroiled in a brutal and personal war on Monday Night Raw. He was recently written off of television with a storyline injury at the hands of Karrion Kross and the dominant faction led by Seth Rollins.
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His return to action on a new brand allows him to leave that war behind him. However, he has walked directly into another one.
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The WWE Grand Slam Pursuit
Zayn's challenge for the United States Championship is also highly significant for his career. Throughout his decorated tenure in WWE, he has won the NXT Championship, the Intercontinental Championship (multiple times), and the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship. The United States title is the one major championship that has eluded him.
A victory over Solo Sikoa would make Sami Zayn a Grand Slam Champion, one of the highest honors a superstar can achieve in WWE. His quest for that final, elusive title is now the central motivation of his new journey on SmackDown. By confronting Sikoa, he is also reigniting one of the most celebrated rivalries in modern WWE history. Zayn, as the former "Honorary Uce," was the man who first exposed the cracks in the original Bloodline, leading to its eventual downfall.
More WWE News:
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- Released WWE Star Breaks Silence On Departure
- Released WWE Star Wants To Join AEW
For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
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