Heyman got involved in professional wrestling in the 1980s at the age of 13, took over ECW in 1993, and eventually made his way to WWE in 2001. In that time and beyond, he’s seen plenty of talent ranging from those who, in his opinion, couldn’t connect with the audience but should’ve been wildly successful to others who shouldn’t have drawn a dime only to have lengthy, sustained, and healthy careers. The secret, as he continued to learn, was simple. And when asked, he’d say as much.

“What works, works. What doesn’t, doesn’t,” he declared. “And that saying has become tied to my theory of this industry.” Zayn’s infrequent interactions with The Bloodline weren’t ever supposed to turn into anything more until they did. Eventually, the crowd getting behind him couldn’t be ignored.

While he was loathed as the “Master Strategist” and jeered during his program with Johnny Knoxville, Zayn reinvented himself. The audience celebrated when he was given the distinction of “Honorary Uce.” They lost their minds when he hit Reigns in the back with a steel chair at the Royal Rumble. They nearly willed him to victory at Elimination Chamber and erupted when he and Kevin Owens hugged it out. What worked, worked.

“The Sami story was the story of acceptance,” Heyman acknowledged.

If you use any quotes from this article, please credit “Tetragrammaton” with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.