Perhaps no two stars in WWE history have as much of a connection as Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. The Canadian duo began their careers together, advancing from the Indy circuit to the big time. Both have also been two of the most prominent and decorated performers in recent memory. Over the years, the two real-life friends have not only stood side by side - capturing the Undisputed Tag Team Titles together - but also engaged in one of the more intriguing rivalries in WWE.
Heading into WrestleMania 41, it appeared that Zayn and KO were scheduled for another clash. Owens unleashed a vicious assault on his frenemy on a February episode of WWE RAW on Netflix, dropping him on his head with a package piledriver. The stage was set for a showdown in Sin City, but that's not going to happen. This year's WrestleMania, however, will continue a unique record that ties Owens and Zayn together even more than fans would normally think.
Sami Zayn and KO Will Not Appear at WrestleMania 41
Both Stars Have Been Ruled Out For The Show Of Shows
Kevin Owens has been ruled out of the show due to injury. The 40-year-old is reportedly out for an estimated 6–12 months with a serious neck injury. An MRI revealed major damage suffered in January, and Owens was slated for surgery but revealed on last week's episode of RAW that he intends to make a full comeback. Randy Orton will have to find a new opponent for WrestleMania 41, and hopefully Owens will come back soon, stronger than ever.
Zayn, also 40, has also been left off the WrestleMania 41 card, but it's unclear why. Some reports state that Zayn has requested time off, and he has been traveling with his wife, so at least fans know he's healthy. It will be odd to see two major players in World Wrestling Entertainment not slated to appear at the biggest event on its calendar, especially considering the stellar quality of their recent work. But ironically, it's not the first time since the two arrived in the promotion that this has occurred.
Zayn and Owens Have Only Missed The Same Two WrestleMania in Their WWE Careers
Both Stars Have Only Failed to Appear at WrestleMania Twice
In a sad twist of fate, these two lifelong friends had also missed the event at the same time before, adding to their shared legacy. They entered the promotion at nearly the same time, and they both made their WrestleMania debut in 2016. Since then, they've only missed one other 'Mania, in 2019 - when Zayn was injured and Owens was left off the card. In every other edition, they both appeared, culminating in their celebrated victory of the Tag Team Titles in the main event of WrestleMania 39 Night 1.
It's not a small feat to participate in almost every WrestleManias in a decade, and it's a testament to the legacy of these two Superstars. By ironic coincidence, they have shared glory and have also fallen prey to unfortunate occurrences at around the same time. In many ways, they have formed a brotherhood in the business that extends much further than many performers could ever have. Hopefully, Kevin Owens will be able to return to full strength in 2026, so his shared story with Sami Zayn can continue.
