Is WWE’s Sami Zayn the top performer in all of professional wrestling today? ‘Hurricane’ Shane Helms certainly thinks so.

Zayn joined WWE in 2013 and was called up to the main roster in 2016.

A former NXT Champion and three-time Intercontinental Champion, Zayn has been featured prominently in recent months as part of the Bloodline.

The Top Performer?

Zayn has entertained fans with his antics trying to become part of the Bloodline, but this is just the latest in a series of successes for the former NXT Champion.

On a recent edition of the After the Bell podcast, Helms praised Zayn’s career of popular moments (via Fightful.)

 “I have no problem saying this, Sami is the top performer in this entire industry. That’s how good Sami is. It’s daunting sometimes, Sami has a reputation you know. He’ll drive you bananas, but the end result is always a home run or grand slam.

“Sami [Zayn] is the top performer in this entire industry.”

Hurricane Shane Helms.

“[His WrestleMania match with Johnny Knoxville] was definitely a grand slam. He was the perfect guy for that. His personality and Johnny’s, they were so [compatible] to each other, using all the members of all the Jackass crew and all of the gadgets.”

Tensions in the Bloodline

On last week’s SmackDown, Zayn was officially added to the Bloodline, being given the shirt as an ‘Honorary Uce.’

While the group has welcomed him, Jey Uso isn’t buying Sami’s allegiance to the group.

In a backstage segment this week, Jey told Zayn “I see right through you” and has vowed to take Sami out if he does anything to hurt the Bloodline.

Two weeks after the attacks on Sept. 11, a then 12-year-old Jacob Grondy was on his way to the airport – and he was scared.

Not only was this his first flight, but he was dealing with what many in the country were feeling – fear of flying due to the recent attacks. But a surreptitious introduction with a few pro wrestling passengers – thanks to the just-released Pro Wrestling Illustrated Top 500 issue – assuaged his fears.

Grondy’s flight out of the Raleigh, N.C. airport was shared by the Hardy Boys, Amy Dumas – who wrestled for the WWF at the time as Lita – and Shane Helms on board. They were four of the hottest acts in the WWF at the time and were heroes to a 12-year-old Grondy, especially after they turned what could have been a traumatic experience into one of his favorite childhood memories.

“I was honestly trying to act tough,” Grondy said. “But as we were getting closer to the airport, I was visibly scared. I wasn’t talking at all, which was extremely rare (for me) as a kid.”

On the way to the airport, his dad gave him a copy of the PWI 500 issue to read and keep his mind off the recent attacks. Growing up in North Carolina, Grondy said he was immersed in pro wrestling. As a kid he watched WCW and the WWF religiously and was excited when ECW made its TNN television debut. He’s continued to be a fan well into adulthood. He hosts a podcast called Curtain Jerkin’ on Spotify.

The issue provided a bit of a distraction, but it was who he saw in the airport that relieved his fears.

“I don’t remember anything other than getting to the terminal, sitting down and looking up – and there was Jeff Hardy,” Grondy said. “He was dressed exactly how you would see him on TV. I leapt up in excitement. My dad had a pen on him and gave it to me so I could ask to get my PWI signed.”

Jeff walked Grondy over to his brother Matt Hardy to get his autograph. Matt then said they should get him Lita’s as well. As he walked back to his dad, his dad was smiling with relief, that he wasn’t as scared as he had been when he got to the airport. As he sat back down, he was approached by Shane Helms – who had just joined the WWF after the WCW sale and was beginning his Hurricane Helms gimmick. He said Helms asked to sign the issue, then asked if he could read it on the plane.

“As I let him read it, that’s when I realized that no terrorist was going to take down this plane, Team Extreme wasn’t going to let that happen,” Grondy said.

Grondy shared this story with Jeff at a meet-and-greet a year ago.

“He thought it was pretty cool.”

Grondy and his dad were flying to the United States Grand Prix in Indianapolis. It was the final race of the Formula 1 season, and was the first international sporting event to take place after the Sept. 11 attacks.

“(I) couldn’t tell you who won the race we went to, but every year the PWI 500 comes out I look back at that moment fondly. It was definitely a childhood highlight.”

Hurricane Helms (aka Shane or Gregory Helms) wrestled AJ Styles on a match taped for WWF Jacked in 2002. The bout took place at the BI-LO Center in Greenville, South Carolina, USA on January 21st, 2002.

A clip from the match was recently posted online and Hurricane commented on some backstage heat he got for it at the time.

“I did everything in my power to get AJ hired at a time when WWE didn’t know about him. Even got heat for letting an ‘unknown’ do too much. I knew he was good even back then. And now he’s one of the best in the world. Incredible journey,” Helms Tweeted.

AJ Styles replied to Hurricane’s comment. He noted that he heard Helms had gotten in trouble for using the vertebreaker during the match.

“Didn’t u get in trouble too for doing the vertebreaker? I’m pretty sure I was the last one to take it on TV,” Styles Tweeted in response.

“I got a ‘warning’ for that. I did it once or twice more before it got the official shutdown. Stevie Richards was the last one to take it on TV I believe. Justin Credible took a good one as well,” Helms replied.

There is no record of Styles and Helms having wrestled against each other before or after this match.

WWE 24/7 champion R-Truth was a guest recently on IGN Live during the San Diego Comic-Con. As he is the 24/7 champion, however, Truth needed to be on his guard at all times during the convention. Naturally, a comic book-inspired wrestler in Hurricane Helms would challenge Truth for the title at Comic-Con.

Video of Helms making a play for the title during IGN Live can be viewed in the player below:

Truth was being interviewed about being the 24/7 champion when Hurricane showed up. The champion didn’t believe Hurricane was the real version at first, however, saying he looked a little “too thick.”

Hurricane tried a quick roll-up but Truth kicked out. This led to Drake Maverick in a banana costume attempting the same thing but was also unsuccessful. Maverick then apologized to the crew from IGN and proceeded to chase after Truth.

R-Truth 24/7 Championship

Truth might have to defend the title against some returning legends this Monday on RAW. The man who introduced the title back in May, Mick Foley, hinted that he’s coming to take the title back on Monday.

Truth is now officially a 9x WWE 24/7 champion and has held the title for a combined 46 days. Drake Maverick is a 2x champion having held the title for 16 days. Nobody else has held the title for longer than a few hours.

• R-Truth Discusses His Intitial Thoughts About The 24/7 Championship, How It Has Impacted The Locker Room

Hurricane Helms is not happy with how David Arquette was booked at the Game Changers Wrestling PPV over the weekend. Arquette was filling in for an injured Joey Ryan and was busted open pretty badly in a hardcore match with Nick Gage.

Arquette made a public statement that he’ll no longer be participating in any deathmatches. He said he has nothing but respect for Gage, Joey Janela, and the rest of the team from GCW.

Helms made his comments in response to Arquette’s statement.

With all due respect, they took advantage of your name value and put you in a situation that you weren’t trained or prepared for, and it came close to ending very badly. Regardless of whether you wanted to do it or not, that’s shitty and irresponsible booking. https://t.co/LynHWT5Ds6

— Hurricane Helms (@ShaneHelmsCom) November 20, 2018

“Regardless of whether you wanted to do it or not, that’s shitty and irresponsible booking,” Helms Tweeted.

22-year-old Marko Stunt broke his fibula in a match with Eli Everfly on the show as well. Joey Janela injured his knee in several places on a September 21st GCW event in a match against Psychosis. Janela was diving from the ring ropes to the floor when the injury occurred.

Hurricane Helms on David Arquette’s Deathmatch

Helms continued to comment on Arquette’s booking as his followers responded to his initial comments.

They put a barely trained guy in a death match that resulted in him being hospitalized. Does someone actually have to die before you admit that that was irresponsible? And of course they took advantage of his name, they wouldn’t have booked him in the main otherwise. ?????

— Hurricane Helms (@ShaneHelmsCom) November 20, 2018

“They put a barely trained guy in a death match that resulted in him being hospitalized. Does someone actually have to die before you admit that that was irresponsible? And of course they took advantage of his name, they wouldn’t have booked him in the main otherwise.”

Helms continued:

And he already said he didn’t realize how bad it would be. Don’t forget, I know him personally. I’ve seen people agree to shit a bunch and get taken advantage of. And don’t throw SOLD OUT like it was a 10,000 seat arena dude. FOH with that. They wanted the attention he’d bring.

— Hurricane Helms (@ShaneHelmsCom) November 20, 2018

And finally:

You see the attention it’s gotten? Think that would happen if it was Billy Bob from the ant farm? Did TMZ cover Marko’s injury like they did DA’s?

— Hurricane Helms (@ShaneHelmsCom) November 20, 2018

“Think that would happen if it was Billy Bob from the ant farm? Did TMZ cover Marko’s injury like they did DA’s?”

Hurricane Helms and Cody Hall were involved in a social media beef earlier today. Things started innocently enough when Hall expressed he isn’t a fan of comic books or super-heroes.

Am I the only one who never liked superheroes and comics?

— ? The Last BadGuy ? (@Cody_Hall1) November 13, 2018

Normally, little would come from this. Comic icon Stan Lee died yesterday, however, likely meaning the topic is a sensitive one for some.

Hurricane Helms vs Cody Hall Via Twitter

Helms then offered advice for Hall, telling him he should delete his account. At this point, the two men realized they share the same move in their arsenal. Hall commented on his chokeslam versus Helms’.

My chokeslam is better than yours.

— ? The Last BadGuy ? (@Cody_Hall1) November 13, 2018

This led to a conversation regarding who gets paid more to do the chokeslam.

Mine pays better. ??

— Hurricane Helms (@ShaneHelmsCom) November 13, 2018

Hall then brought up a time when his father paid for Hurricane’s lunch, which seems nice of the legendary Scott Hall.

I remember when we had a tag match, my dad paid for your lunch before the show , you didn’t even say than you after. Guess you don’t get paid too much.

— ? The Last BadGuy ? (@Cody_Hall1) November 13, 2018

It should be noted that at this point even most of each guy’s Twitter followers stopped chiming in and just allowed the two to have their own public conversation.

Exactly. I tagged with you my third match, you gave me no advice, only cared about doing your pose and chokeslam spot, and hustled a free lunch and didn’t even say thank you. I couldn’t be less off a mark for you. Don’t @ me

— ? The Last BadGuy ? (@Cody_Hall1) November 13, 2018

Helms then disputed Hall’s claims he offered no advice during the match.

Well the crowd had to pop for something. ????? Also, I gave you no advice? I put that match together to hide your greenness. If you didn’t learn from that, then that’s on you.

— Hurricane Helms (@ShaneHelmsCom) November 13, 2018

Somebody finally at this point decided the conversation should go into DMs. Evidently, Hall disagreed with this, however.

Wow. You type this cool guy response at the same time you DM me. Really….. green me was way more impressive than some guy clinging to comedy and face paint to find a spot in the business.

— ? The Last BadGuy ? (@Cody_Hall1) November 13, 2018

Hall then offered up the following when Hurricane responded that he had at least found a spot in the wrestling business.

You were a jabroni and you know it. Your only anyone because you were around when wrestling was hot, and you know. Your lucky the rock had a match with you, that’s all I even remember of you, you know it. Go do a shoot interview on how I picked on you. You got nothing left.

— ? The Last BadGuy ? (@Cody_Hall1) November 13, 2018

Things finally came to a stop after Hall posted the following:

“Stand back, there’s a bitter old man coming through”

— ? The Last BadGuy ? (@Cody_Hall1) November 13, 2018

Cody Hall is currently competing in Pro Wrestling NOAH’s Global League. He’s 0-2 so far, having lost to Maybach Taniguchi and Go Shiozaki.

The Rock and Gregory Helms have only met in single’s action once. It was a NO DQ match from March 10th, 2003. Despite the Rock being arguably the greatest sports entertainer of all time, it was Hurricane Helms who came out the victor that night.

The Rock and Helms were often involved in backstage skits together during this time. Recently, Helms posted video of one of the segments to his Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BkhtjbNHJFs/?utm_source=ig_twitter_share&igshid=10o52vnkczmr8

The Rock took to Twitter to offer praise to Hurricane. He also explained why he lost to Helms in their only match back in 2003.

Dude always a pleasure working with you. Never an ego and always down to do whatever it took to entertain the fans. And to be honest, I only did “the job and put you over” because you paid me in hamburgers. https://t.co/8wsHGmYlxI

— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) June 27, 2018

“Dude always a pleasure working with you. Never an ego and always down to do whatever it took to entertain the fans. And to be honest, I only did “the job and put you over” because you paid me in hamburgers.”

Hurricane Helms in 2018

Hurricane Helms began the year by being a surprise entrant in the men’s 2018 Royal Rumble. He has since continued competing for promotions such as Ring of Honor and Tommy Dreamer’s House of Hardcore.

Helms also played a key role in the most recent WWE documentary on Matt and Jeff Hardy. As a long time friend of the brothers, Helms is shown on camera often speaking on what the brothers have gone through over the years.

The 43-year-old is a former 3x cruiserweight champion (2x WWE, 1x WCW), European champion, Hardcore champion, and twice won the WWE tag team championships. Most recently Helms wrestled two matches on ROH’s State of the Art tour in Texas.

– Hurricane Helms’ appearance at the Royal Rumble last month may only be the beginning of his WWE return. Shortly after the Rumble appearance Helms had this to say:

“If that was my last time in a WWE ring, and I don’t think it will be, to have probably the loudest pop of my career, what a way to come full circle.”

Current 205 Live star Daivari posted a Tweet to promote his match against Buddy Murphy last night, announcing his intentions to go on and win the Cruiserweight Championship. Helms responded by telling Daivari to keep the title warm for him, indicating he may soon be joining 205 Live:

https://twitter.com/AriyaDaivariWWE/status/966031207174520834?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ringsidenews.com%2F2018%2F02%2F20%2Fhurricane-helms-returning-wwe-205-live%2F

Keep it warm for me. https://t.co/OV2ZFnVuRr

— Hurricane Helms (@ShaneHelmsCom) February 20, 2018

– SmackDown Live Tag Team Champions The Usos recently took part in a conference call for Catch Au Quotidien. During the call they were asked about New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) stars The Young Bucks. This caught the attention of Matt Jackson of The Bucks, who said he’d love to work with the SDL Tag Team Champs in the future:

https://twitter.com/MattJackson13/status/966083188027146240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ringsidenews.com%2F2018%2F02%2F21%2Fyoung-bucks-love-face-usos%2F

– Below is video of Charly Caruso talking to “The Hurricane” Shane Helms after his quick Royal Rumble appearance on Sunday. Helms says the WWE Universe spoke to him again and as soon as the music hit, the signal went up and it said stand back as the Universe knew a hurricane was coming. Helms tells Cathy to always remember through howling winds and pouring rain, all evil shall fear The Hurricane.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3Fv119IeZY?rel=0&w=560&h=315]

– WWE posted this new promo for The Road to WrestleMania 34 on the WWE Network – RAW’s Elimination Chamber on February 25th, SmackDown’s Fastlane on March 11th and the biggest show of the year on April 8th.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gpq5GXInQpM?rel=0&w=560&h=315]

– RAW Commissioner Stephanie McMahon, RAW General Manager Kurt Angle and SmackDown Commissioner Shane McMahon tweeted the following on the men’s and women’s Royal Rumble matches, which were won by Shinsuke Nakamura and Asuka. As noted, Nakamura vs. WWE Champion AJ Styles is the only official match for WrestleMania 34 as of this writing.

Congrats to @ShinsukeN and Raw’s own @WWEAsuka for their Royal Rumble wins. #WrestlemaniaMainEventBound #itstrue

— Kurt Angle (@RealKurtAngle) January 29, 2018

I could not be more proud of all the women who competed in the first ever women’s #RoyalRumble match and every woman who paved the way. Their sacrifices, their perseverance, and their incredible talent led to this moment. I’m in awe. Congrats ladies, you deserve it! #RumbleForAll

— Stephanie McMahon (@StephMcMahon) January 29, 2018

To the Artist Known as @ShinsukeN on the winning the #RoyalRumble match and going to the main event of @WrestleMania. https://t.co/aSsR1ZSlCO

— Shane McMahon (@shanemcmahon) January 29, 2018

Former WWE Superstar and longtime girlfriend, herself a pro wrestling personality, Reby Sky, were officially married on Saturday.

Hardy’s brother, Jeff Hardy, was the best man at the wedding and former WWE Superstar and longtime friend, Shane “Hurricane” Helms, was one of the groomsmen.

Among those in attendance at the wedding were Marty Garner, Jason Ahrndt (aka Joey Abs of the Mean Street Possee), MVP, Scotty 2 Hotty, Drew Hankinson, Amber O’Neal, former WWE referee Kevin Keenan, Gunner, Jayme Jameson, Steve Corino, Jordan Corino, Larry Dallas, Thomas Simpson, Nigel Sherrod and Andrew Wright.

Congratulations to both Hardy and Sky and best of luck on their journey through life together from this point forward.

For photos from the wedding, check out this 24Wrestling.COM article:

PHOTOS: Several Pictures Of The Matt Hardy & Reby Sky Wedding

-WWE Hall Of Famer Jerry “The King” Lawler will be the next guest on the “Steve Austin Show” podcast. The latest edition of the show, which features Shane “Hurricane” Helms and was released today, can be accessed online at PodcastOne.com.

-WWE Superstar William Regal will be holding “An Audience With A Wrestling Villain 2” on Monday, November 11th at The Frog & Bucket Comedy Club on Oldham Street in Manchester at 11:00PM. For more information, visit Facebook.com/ErosComedy.

-30 Rock star Judah Friedlander has signed on to pen the introduction to the Headlocked comic book, which features contributions from pro wrestling stars such as Jerry “The King” Lawler, Rob Van Dam, Shane “Hurricane” Helms, Ken Anderson, Christopher Daniels, Beth Phoenix and others. For more information, visit Kickstarter.com.

REPORT: Steve Austin vs. CM Punk “99% Likely” For WrestleMania XXX [READ MORE >>]

-The man currently embroiled in a legal battle with TNA Impact Wrestling, Scott Steiner, celebrates his 51st birthday today. “Big Poppa Pump” was born on July 29, 1962.

-A fan recently commented to former WWE Superstar Chris Jericho on Twitter his opinion on what would improve the quality of WWE’s new reality show, “Total Divas.” The fan noted, “Total Divas would be so much better with Chris Jericho.” Jericho, who is apparently not the biggest fan of Total Divas, jokingly responded by saying, “Haha, I told them to edit me out!”

Follow Chris Jericho on Twitter @IAmJericho.

-nWo founding members Kevin Nash and Scott Hall, along with former WWE Superstars Shane “Hurricane” Helms and Big Daddy V, will be appearing at the Slam Pro Wrestling “Summer Heat” event this Saturday, August 3rd, in Sparta, Tennessee. Tickets are still available by calling 931-265-6507. For more information on Saturday’s “Summer Heat” event, visit the official website at Slam-Pro.com or the official Twitter page at @Slam_Pro.

nWo To Return?, Chris Jericho’s Retirement, + Scott Steiner/TNA Lawsuit Update!