NXT Takeover V Kevin Owens v Sami Zayn

The latest chapter in the long friendship-turned-rivalry between Sami Zayn and NXT Champion Kevin Owens will be written at NXT TakeOver: Unstoppable on May 20, live on the award-winning WWE Network, when the two clash in one of the most anticipated rematches in NXT history.

Their last encounter came at TakeOver: Rival on Feb. 11, when Owens absolutely demolished Zayn. Two months to the day after his arrival in NXT, Owens silenced the NXT Universe as he picked his former ally apart, powerbombing Zayn into the canvas five times, leaving the referee with no choice but to stop the match and award Owens the NXT Championship.

Zayn did not appear inside an NXT ring for a month after the brutal match. Upon his return in April, however, Zayn made it clear that he was out for retribution and to regain the NXT Championship. After turning away the challenge of the raging Rhyno, Zayn set his sights on the man he once considered his best friend. Thwarting Owens’ attack on Alex Riley, Zayn set off a brawl that could not be contained by the NXT locker room. Owens was seen scrambling away from the chaos, looking vulnerable for the first time.

Owens emerged the next week, looking to finish the fight, but NXT General Manager William Regal stopped the two before things could escalate and made the match for May 20. At first, Owens refused to put the title on the line, until Zayn used Owens’ old tactics against him, saying that the prize wasn’t fighting Owens at TakeOver: Unstoppable, but the NXT Championship. Owens reluctantly agreed, but promised that Zayn would regret asking for the rematch.

Later that night, Owens interjected himself into Zayn’s match with Alex Riley, attacking both Zayn and Riley in ruthless fashion. After surveying his damage, the NXT Champion walked away from the carnage with a sick smile across his face.