Monday 10th November 2014 – Monday Night Warfare – The Richmond Coliseum – Richmond, Virginia
Confidence was high for Sami Zayn, he was the newly crowned Intercontinental Champion after defeating Syxx and Ted DiBiase and his first match as the new champion would be against the newly crowned Breakout Champion in Stardust, who ended Damien Sandow’s lengthy reign; so it was never going to be an easy task but one Sami believed he could overcome, and overcome convincingly. After some strong words to pump himself up for the match against Stardust, Sami was in for the shock of a lifetime, when his own complacency resulted in the Intercontinental Champion practically running into the Dark Matter, allowing Stardust to pick up the three count. The referee called for the bell as Sami sat up with a huge shocked look on his face, arguing with the referee; adamant that he kicked out but the referee was having none of it. Sami smacked the mat out of frustration three times before putting his head in his hands and running his fingers back through his hair. He then finally stood on to his feet as Stardust’s music continued to play on the PA system as the fans still cheered for Sami in a valiant effort. He went to ringside in front of the announcer’s desk and quietly applauded the fans as well as Stardust before picking up his Intercontinental Championship which Christy Hemme handed to him and he made his way towards the side of the ring and then up the ramp, with his Intercontinental Championship in his left hand and the strap dragging along the ground.
Sami eventually reached backstage as Monday Night Warfare went into a commercial break, walking towards Renee Young with a disappointed look on his face after his loss. As Warfare returned from commercial the cameras went straight to Renee Young who had Sami Zayn standing over her.
RENEE YOUNG
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my guest at this time, the Intercontinental Champion…Sami Zayn…Sami a loss to Stardust in your first match as Intercontinental Champion, how are you feeling?
SAMI ZAYN
I’m feeling like I went out into the ring and put on the worst performance of my life, Renee. That wasn’t me in the ring and I’m disappointed in myself more than anything. But…I am always gracious in defeat and I applauded Stardust out there for taking advantage of the situation and I’ll do the same, a fierce competition. Weird, but still fierce.
RENEE YOUNG
So how do plan on regrouping and regaining your focus for the next time you’re in the ring?
SAMI ZAYN
The next time I am in the ring will be next week, I can assure you of that, Renee. One loss won’t change anything, next week; whoever the bookers decide to put in front of me, I’ll kick his skull right off of his shoulders…
Sami walked away from the set as Renee looked on whilst the cameras faded to black and back into the arena ready for the main event. Sami continued to walk towards his locker room, opening the door and shutting it behind him, placing his title belt on a table and taking a seat next to it; breathing heavily after a fast-paced match with Stardust. He could hear CM Punk’s theme music blasting the PA system and then turned on the television set in front of him to catch the final match. He leaned forward and then turned the volume down, standing up and getting things he needed for a quick shower and change of clothes.
Moment later Sami emerged back into the locker room as some time had now passed since Zayn’s sudden loss to the Breakout Champion in Stardust. After spending some time dwelling on his loss, Sami knew thinking about it too much wouldn’t be beneficial to him in any way especially since he’s now a champion. Dwelling on the odd loss could have an impact on his future title defences so after a change of clothes, Sami sat down in his seat next to his bags and his belt before turning up the volume of the TV where CM Punk and Justin Gabriel were battling it out for the Path to Glory Championship. He moved to the edge of his seat with his chin resting on his knuckles as he was into the match and leaned back when he saw what occurred in the closing stages. Watching in amazement as he witnessed The Big Guy, Ryback and Bad News Barrett join forces to take out CM Punk in vicious fashion, leaving Gabriel free to retain his championship.
Monday Night Warfare was now coming to a close, some fans were sticking around whilst others were trying to avoid the traffic. The cameras moved backstage where Sami Zayn was standing next to a table full of food and drinks for the EBWF talent. Wearing his usual flat cap, blazer, jeans and an ‘InZayn’ t-shirt, he reached out for a bottle of water and turned around to face the backstage area and not the wall. He leaned on to the edge of the table before picking up his title and placing it on his shoulder as it kept falling down his arm. He opened his bottle of water and was close to taking a sip, he froze and his eyes moved towards his right as the fans started to cheer once they saw a recovering CM Punk walk into the frame. Punk clutched his midsection as two paramedics checked on him. Punk pierced though them with fiery looks, signalling them to leave. Punk composed himself and ran both hands around his hair, driving his mahogany bangs of hair backwards. Punk reached for a jar of water and chugged it down, spilling halfway down his chest. He looked at Sami and acknowledged his presence with a nod. He then extended his right hand at the Intercontinental Champion.
CM PUNK
[/color]Huge fan of your work.
Sami closed his bottle of water before he even took a sip and placed it on the table behind him. He then scratched his beard as he looked down at Punk’s hand. Eventually he raised his hand towards CM Punk’s hand as they shook firmly, with Sami acknowledging his compliment and still a little confused that a huge star had stopped to talk to him.
SAMI ZAYN
Thank you…and likewise. It’s not every day you get stopped by the Best in the World; unlucky out there tonight. I really thought you’d pull one out of the bad.
Punk’s facial expression slowly shifted from pain to a confident smirk as he pressed his tongue against his lip, making his lip ring protrude above the skin of his lower lip…
CM PUNK
Oh, there’s still plenty of time for me to pull one out of the bag. Believe me, those three haven’t seen the last of CM Punk.
Punk leaned against the table, exhaling a little as he applied pressure on some of the bruises he received.
CM PUNK
Word of advice…always keep an eye over your shoulder. I’ve seen you in the ring, you’re good. Very good. So good that soon they will be after you, trying to nullify you when you turn your back.
Sami chuckled a little to himself and nodded his head in agreement to everything Punk had just said to him.
SAMI ZAYN
Trust me, if I know you as well as I think I do then I look forward to the moment you put those guys to sleep.
Sami then once again picked up his Intercontinental Championship and ragged it over his arm and placed it back over his left shoulder.
SAMI ZAYN
Well, I am glad somebody recognises the hard work I put in the ring, so thank you, I mean it. Y’know, I think you and I are cut from the same cloth to a certain extent. We’ve both struggled to make ends meet before all of the glitz and the glamour the WWE and the EBWF has brought to our careers. Some people don’t realise that and they never will. Which is exactly why I know you’re not going to let this rest and I know you’ll do something about it. Me? I know that now I have an even bigger target on my back. And just like you Punk, there is no way I am running away from anyone.
Sami’s words were music for Punk’s ears.
CM PUNK
I can relate to that, Sami. I might be at a numbers disadvantage, but that has not stopped me before. I doubt it’d stop you either…As for something, yeah. Right now I just want to kick Wade Barrett’s teeth down his throat…But you know something? I’ve already done that, didn’t work. Sometimes a bigger statement should be made. And who better to make a statement than us men with honor?
Punk smiled, folding his tattooed arms after the hint he dropped for Sami.
Sami then looked down and thought about something for a second, before looking back up at Punk and grinning, he scratched the back of his head and soaked in the cheers that were coming from the arena as they knew exactly what Punk was hinting at, and Sami did too. He then finally leaned up from the table as he answered Punk.
SAMI ZAYN
You’re right, it’s never stopped you and it will never stop me. That’s what I meant by the two of us being cut from the same cloth; we’re not like everybody else. We have something else running through our veins compared to any other guy in the back or inside the ring; we have the wrestling passion and determination which cannot be matched…and you said it…we have the honor.
The members of the crowd who were into the independent scene were cheering louder than the rest, realising that two of the indie stars who weren’t supposed to make it were currently in the limelight and signing off Warfare; and seeing the two men team up on a huge stage would be something special in itself.
SAMI ZAYN
Look, I like you Punk and I like everything you stand for and will continue to stand for, I see a lot of myself in you. There’s a lot of guys who would run away from what happened inside that ring but you took an ass kicking like only we can. Now…I don’t want to jump to any conclusion here but if you are asking me what I think you are asking me then…this…this could be fun.
The fans in attendance couldn't get enough of the interaction between the two legends from the independent scene. Punk seemed a lot jollier now, a chuckle escaped his lips.
CM PUNK
Well, probably not as fun or inspiring as taking care of orphans in Mexico, but yeah... You get to have quite a bit of fun when you're around CM Punk.
SAMI ZAYN
Cookie Monster Punk?
[color=#FFF00]CM PUNK
[/color]Its been so long no one has asked, I forgot.
Punk shrugged, gave the intercontinental champion a pat on the back and walked away.
Monday 17th November 2014 – Monday Night Warfare – WVU Coliseum - Morgantown, West Virginia
A week had passed since Sami Zayn had lost to Stardust and this week his attention was now on Daniel Bryan. A loss to Stardust before taking on Daniel Bryan wouldn’t be an ideas situation for Zayn but he knew he could live up to the big ask; and there were still talk and rumours surrounding a certain hint CM Punk had dropped to Sami Zayn a week earlier to close out Warfare. Tonight Sami Zayn had to overcome another tough customer in Daniel Bryan, someone he had looked up to for years as he made it to the top but was struggling in recent months in the EBWF, a loss to Vampiro didn’t help him and Zayn was looking to use that to his advantage as both men were coming back from a loss, and the two were the ones who were kicking off Monday Night Warfare this week.
As soon as the pyro’s finished for the opening of Warfare, World’s Apart blasted the PA system as the fans erupted in a mixture of cheers and ‘Ole!’ chants as the Intercontinental Champion danced his way on to the stage, wearing his black wrestling tights and an ‘InZayn’ t-shirt; but most importantly he made sure the fans saw the gold around his waist as he shouted ‘Let’s Go!’ into the camera along with his music as he danced his way down to the ring, with the camera getting shots of the audience dancing along. Eventually he ran up the steel steps and got into the ring where Christy Hemme introduced him to the fans before handing him a microphone so he could talk before the match. He waited for the fans to settle down as his music then faded out allowing him to speak.
SAMI ZAYN
A very loud crowd here tonight and as much as I’d like to sit here and listen to each and every single one of you chant my name I’m afraid the powers above me won’t like it if I did do that. Very loud Sami Zayn chants here, very loud ‘Ole!’ chants but I have no idea what that means…and a lot of dancing too which is great to see. But one name I can’t hear you guys chanting…is Daniel Bryan, how times have changed. But, we’ll get to Daniel later because just like the last few months it seems like he isn’t really relevant, there’s always something more important than Daniel Bryan…and that’s what happened in this very ring last week when I lost to Stardust.
Fans started to boo when highlights of the match are shown on the titan-tron, the cameras cut back to Sami Zayn is seen smiling at the tron before laughing to himself and thinking of what to say.
SAMI ZAYN
Really, I mean I don’t know how that happened, I thought I had it and he hit the Dark Matter out of nowhere. But first off I’d like to apologise to my own fans and obviously to the guys backstage when I cut short the interview. Look, I’m not mad, the freak beat me fair and square in the ring and for the whole week I’ve been hearing how the Intercontinental Champion couldn’t beat Stardust…how the hell is he going to beat Daniel Bryan? Well very soon all of your questions will be answered in this very ring when we kick things off on Warfare tonight!
Fans cheered as Sami tried to pump up and energise the crowd for the evening ahead, smiling at them and nodding his head before waking around the ring and talking over chants of his name and ‘Ole!’
SAMI ZAYN
And now…we move on to tonight’s order of business. Let me start off by saying even though I poke fun at Bryan, I like the guy. I mean he has achieved so much in his career, he was at the top of the world, he could beat the odds when nobody gave the guy a chance, he was a fantastic wrestler and he had the determination, the hunger, the desire to prove everyone wrong; kinda like me. The only differences between myself and today’s Daniel Bryan are that one; I have this Intercontinental Championship around my waist and that means Sami Zayn is better than Daniel Bryan and two…Daniel Bryan was the greatest technical wrestler on the planet, ask yourself right now whether you believe Daniel Bryan is the same man, I certainly don’t think so. Daniel Bryan, the man who wasn’t supposed to make it still hasn’t made it in the EBWF and even though I am a huge supporter of Daniel there’s no way in hell I’m going to let my development stop just to let this big figure get back to where he rightfully belongs.
Sami then triggered chants for Daniel Bryan as well as for himself before continuing to talk.
SAMI ZAYN
The problem is that everywhere I have gone, you’ve been there and you’ve always been ‘the man’, you’ve always been better than me and you need to realise that around here the roles have reversed. This isn’t Ring of Honor, this isn’t PWG, this is the EBWF and this time the gold is around my waist and finally – you have no idea how great it feels to say this – you are chasing me. You want what I have, the Intercontinental Championship and Daniel I’m not the same man you saw years ago, I’ve matured as well, yeah we know you got better and better and better but that doesn’t mean the rest of us stopped improving ourselves. Okay, I lost last week but I feel like I am in the form of my life and it’s unfortunate that this week you were booked against me. I mean you just about managed to defeat Bray Wyatt and last week you lost to an aging vampire; and now you’re in the ring with me…it’s really not looking good for you tonight Daniel because I don’t feel sorry for you, a great guy, a great person; but it’s time for the future, the future is now and Sami Zayn is the future of this company and if that means I have to stick that final nail in the coffin for Daniel Bryan then I will do it with a big smile on my face and carry about my EBWF career and take down any and every single superstar the company puts in front of me.
Sami walked around the ring as he took off his Intercontinental Championship and threw it over his shoulder before laughing to himself before talking again.
SAMI ZAYN
I mean if I am being honest I genuinely cannot remember the last time I ran into you in person, compared to when I saw you every single day, on the road, in the gym, inside a ring; you need to take a long, hard look at yourself in the mirror before you make your way down that ramp and into my ring. Ever since Fanniversary bowed out for another year, that moment, that event switched our roles, gone are the days I try to achieve half of your success and trying to be like Daniel Bryan and now you’re going to try and beat Sami Zayn – years ago you’d expect me to just roll over and take my loss like a man like I did to all of the guys who were above me in the hierarchy, but now I’m higher than you, bring me everything you have and more and I will show you that Sami Zayn, is better than Daniel Bryan. With, or without the Intercontinental Championship. I will be the first to admit though Daniel, you’re possibly the best I have seen inside a ring, you deserved all the success you got in every promotion and you’re one of the few genuine wrestlers who deserved his spot at the top unlike some of the other guys so it was great to see one of our own reach the top. But to me, I can’t help but feel it will take something remarkable for you to get back to that spot, something we’ve never seen before and it’s a shame you’re inside the ring tonight with somebody who can actually work in the ring because one thing is for certain, I will never let you one-up me and certainly not while I am a champion. Tonight we need the Daniel Bryan of old, one who can prove to me while he was the man, why I was never able to make it to the top because you were just that damn good. If I get anything less than that, if these people get anything less than that, then I will be disappointed in you and disappointed for these fans who won’t get the Bryan they’ve been used to, and disappointed in myself for not being happy after a victory over Daniel Bryan, a victory over the so-called best technical wrestler in the world.
Sami Zayn dropped the microphone as he walked around the ring with his Intercontinental Championship over his shoulder whilst the fans chanted ‘Ole!’; waiting for Daniel Bryan to make his way down to the ring to kick off Monday Night Warfare.
