On a recent episode of the Bryan and Vinny Show, host Bryan Alvarez offered effusive praise for Sami Zayn, declaring him an “all-time great” worker following his United States Championship defense against Malakai Black on SmackDown. Alvarez argued that Zayn has a consistent and unparalleled ability to have the best match on any card he is on, a quality he has displayed throughout his entire career.
The discussion began after Alvarez reviewed the match, which saw Zayn retain his title. He noted how Zayn was able to draw a lukewarm crowd into the action. “The first half of this match, they’re into it, alright, but by the second half of this match, this place is going nuts,” Alvarez observed. He credited Zayn’s skill in building drama and subverting expectations, which elevates his matches beyond a predictable formula.
Alvarez then reflected on Zayn’s long history of in-ring excellence, dating back to his time on the independent circuit as El Generico. “This goes all the way back to when I went to BOLA in 2006 and my buddy, JAB, told me, ‘Wait till you see this guy, Generico, he has the best match on every show he’s on,'” Alvarez recalled. “And in pretty much all the way through his NXT run, I think every single solitary show I ever saw that Sami Zayn or Generico was on, it was the best match on the show. And dude, it’s 2025 and he has the best match on every show.”
The praise from Alvarez did not stop there. He directly compared Zayn’s body of work to that of a recent WWE Hall of Fame inductee known primarily for his in-ring prowess. “This Sami, if Ishii went into the Hall of Fame just because he was a great worker, then Sami probably should go in too, because he is an all-time great when it comes to being a great worker,” Alvarez stated emphatically. Co-host Lance Storm agreed, adding, “Sami is an outstanding wrestler in the old traditional sense of he doesn’t just make himself look outstanding, he makes everyone else he’s in there look outstanding as well.”
Alvarez also pointed out a subtle but strategic change in Zayn’s wrestling style, noting his recent string of victories using the Blue Thunder Bomb, a move that for years was a signature spot but rarely a match-ender. “All of a sudden he pinned somebody with it, and I was like, ‘Well, goddamn, that’s smart,’ because now you’re guaranteed you’re always going to get a pop for the Blue Thunder Bomb because it was established as a finish,” he said. “He’s got something in his mind that he’s doing here.”
Sami Zayn was not the only performer to receive high praise from Alvarez during the show. After watching a produced video package for Jacob Fatu, Alvarez was impressed by his presence and delivery. “This guy was out of this world,” he said of Fatu’s promo. “This guy needs to be pushed to Jupiter… His fucking delivery is great.” He also singled out Je’Von Evans for his performance in a tag team match, noting his remarkable athleticism. “I think that Je’Von did the highest Undertaker dive I think I’ve ever seen in my life,” Alvarez said. “That guy flew.”
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