The WWE 'NXT 5' - Where are they now?

#2. Sami Zayn - WWE (Friday Night SmackDown)

Sami Zayn is currently off of WWE television due to COVID-19 concerns

El Generico signed with WWE in January of 2013, making his WWE NXT television debut in May under the new ring name of Sami Zayn. During his tenure with NXT, Sami Zayn would become the 'heart and soul' of the black and gold brand, becoming a hugely popular underdog babyface.

This popularity would lead to Sami Zayn finally capturing the NXT Championship in December 2014 at the NXT TakeOver: R Evolution event. However, this event would also see the beginning/resumption of his feud with his long time best friend/rival Kevin Owens.

Zayn would make his main roster debut in May of 2015 on Monday Night Raw, answering United States Champion John Cena's Championship open challenge. However, Sami Zayn would injure his shoulder during this match, leading to Zayn being out of action through injury for 9 months.

Sami would make his triumphant return during the 2016 Royal Rumble match, resuming his feud with Kevin Owens and officially moving to the WWE main roster in the process.

Since then, Zayn has feuded with various Superstars on the WWE roster, turned heel for the first time in his professional wrestling career. He would win the WWE Intercontinental Championship for the first time at the Elimination Chamber pay per view in 2020, ending his 5-year Championship drought in WWE.

Although he is a member of the SmackDown roster, Sami Zayn is not currently appearing on WWE television, after refraining from competing during the COVID-19 pandemic. This has lead to Zayn being stripped of the WWE Intercontinental Championship, with his reign lasting 65 days.