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Monday May 9 2016 – EBWF Monday Night Warfare – Sprint Center – Kansas City; Missouri
Sami Zayn enjoyed a great night at EBWF Aftermath, teaming with Dolph Ziggler to take on – and defeat – the team of Kevin Owens and CM Punk. Sami hit the Blue Thunder Bomb on Punk to help his team pick up the win but he and the fans knew this was far from over. Still, Sami couldn’t dwell on that win for too long as he did with big victories in the past, instead he had to focus on what was in front of him and yet again, he was booked for the upcoming Warfare card in Kansas City. This time, his opponent was somebody he was very familiar with in Matt Sydal, who was the first man to be eliminated in the Fatal 4 Way Breakout Championship match at Aftermath. Sami couldn’t afford a loss right now, especially when he was in great form but knew that Matt proved to be a threat because of his unique in-ring style, but that wasn’t going to be a problem for Sami.
The cameras were backstage at the Sprint Center, with Renee Young smiling into the camera waiting to introduce us to her guest. A few matches had already taken place, but once one of the commercial breaks had ended, there wasn’t much time left before Sami’s music would hit the PA system and he would go give his best in the ring.
Renee Young: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my guest at this time…Sami Zayn.
The fans cheered as a smiling Sami walked into the frame, wearing his traditional grey flat cap, black wrestling tights and his Lonsdale Harrington jacket with his hands behind his back, nodding his head as he looked down at Renee.
Renee Young: Sami, what a night for you at Aftermath. We have to start there before we move on to tonight…Kevin Owens and CM Punk, a lot was said, a lot was done regarding Kevin attacking you from behind. But, you and Dolph managed to walk away unscathed, with a win. I…how?!
Sami Zayn: I always knew we had what it took to win, and we did that and credit to Dolph as well and perhaps I was wrong about him this time. But yeah, we won, we did what we had to do and we have bragging rights, for a while any way. I don’t really want to dwell on this too much, I don’t want to give Kevin and Punk so much…time here when they don’t really deserve it. I can tell you this much though, we won the match and I’m happy, but I’ll be a fool to say that this is the last we’ve seen of each other, but they should know that I’ll be ready for them if they decide to pull any stunts tonight.
Renee Young: Well, talking of tonight you’re in action in just a short while, taking on Matt Sydal, what are your thoughts on this match?
Sami Zayn: Yeah, I’m looking forward to it. It’s nice to be going up against somebody a little similar to me, loves wrestling, loves this business, wants to go out there and put on a great show. That’s the sort of thing that makes fans think, “we got our money’s worth tonight”, and for me that’s important, so I hope we can do that here tonight.
Renee Young: Matt did have a lot to say about his history with you, and what he thinks of you once he found out he was taking you on tonight, did you get a chance to see or hear what he had to say?
Sami Zayn: I…uh…yeah I heard what he said, and he made some valid points. I’m pleased he thinks so highly of me, that’s quite different since I signed with the company. Usually everyone looks down on people like me, how I got here, the way I go about things…but he seems to understand because he and I came from a similar place, not identical, but similar. But at the end of the day, he can talk all he wants about reaching the top, until he does it he doesn’t need to remind me of how to reach the top. I’ve been there, I fell down and I plan on getting back up there, it’s only a matter of time before I’m back at the top where I know I belong.
Renee Young: What is your relationship like with him? Are you guys close? Is there a rivalry there or anything like that?
Sami Zayn: Not really, I mean we’ve shared a locker room or maybe a ride to get from one city or another but we’re not close by any means. To be honest, we’ve hardly shared a ring together so it makes a nice change to face somebody like him, but it’s an opponent trying to take my spot, that’s how I see it so I know I’ll need to be at my best to counter whatever he has to bring. There were a few things though that made me question his role in the company, though.
Renee Young: Like what?
Sami Zayn: I mean, well first off, he’s a nice guy by the sounds of it. I have no ill will towards him, no animosity, no hatred, and I know that before and after the match there will be a healthy professional relationship between two wrestlers who love the business. I just learnt that winning and losing is everything in this business, and I heard that he said it doesn’t matter because he’s on some big-name opponents since his arrival. I think he needs to start understanding it as well, that wins and losses do matter in a company like this, because just like him, I want nothing more than to put on the greatest matches imaginable for THESE fans. However, I know that it’s much more enjoyable when you’re doing that with a championship around your waist, and you don’t get a championship by losing every single week, they count, they add up.
Sami looked down at the ground for a brief moment, not wanting to offend Matt and trying his best to get all of his feelings across in the best way possible.
Sami Zayn: I know the situation Matt is in, I know how experienced he is, I know where he’s competed and I know his arsenal of moves off by heart now, I think everyone in the locker room does. I know this because I was in the same situation, I know what it’s like Renee. I arrived here with a reputation too, competing here with a target on your back because the guys at the back can’t stomach it, they want to wipe out the latest indie darling, they want to destroy the latest flavour of the month and before you know it…you’re at rock bottom wondering why you ever decided to put pen to paper here. So yeah, wins matter. I learnt that quickly and it’s the very reason I’m standing here right now. I know what he’s about, I know what he’s capable of. I also know, that those losses slowly begin to add up, and before you know it, you’re out of here. Nowhere to be seen, then you’re given a few minutes at the start of a show when the cameras aren’t rolling to give it everything you have. I know that’s where I don’t want to be, and truth be told, the fear of being in that position terrifies me, because I know I’m much better than that, if I lose consistently, that’s where Wes Ikeda will put me, and that’s what I’d deserve. I can’t lose, I won’t lose because these fans agree, that I belong at the top and I’ve scratched and clawed for too long to let Matt even try and take the position I’m currently in.
Renee Young: I see…what are your thoughts on his claims that this is the real main event match? When you have Shinsuke Nakamura taking on AJ Styles right after you guys go on.
Sami Zayn: I guess it’s up to us to go out there and set the tone, set the bar for AJ and Shinsuke to follow us. But Matt needs to get this idea out of his head that you’ve made it when you’re in the ring against somebody who is doing well. I’m flattered he thinks highly of me, and I agree, I want the two of us to go out there and steal the show and leave the fans talking about out match for months to come. But, I want the best seat in the house to watch AJ and Shinksuke go at it as well. Those are the names you need to be mixing it up with, AJ, Chris Jericho, Wes Ikeda, Brock Lesnar…not Sami Zayn, not yet anyway, Matt needs to aim much, MUCH higher before he’s considered the main event players he thinks he is. He needs to aim for the titles, he needs to aim to be the best in the company but he seems to be happy just sharing the ring with - and losing to - the big names here. The talent is there, but it’s a long road, one I’ve enjoyed being on. I want the pay-per-view matches, I want the championships, I want the fans singing my name and to get all of that…I can’t afford to lose to Matt out of everyone on this roster. I don’t mean any disrespect by it because he’s a great guy and a great competitor…but at this stage in my career, I can’t afford any more lapses in concentration. I can assure you there won’t be an upset tonight, it’ll be a great match, it’ll be a fun match…but I know I’m in the greatest form of my career. The best Matt Sydal can be reborn 17 times with more than 300 variations of a dropkick…it still won’t be enough to take a win from me tonight.
Renee Young: Well, thanks for your time Sami but I'm afraid we need to head into another commercial break, good luck in your match against Matt Sydal.
Sami Zayn: Thanks, Renee.
Sami walked off, determined to stop any thoughts Matt had of winning in this match. He did share similar feelings in wanting to put a great show on for the fans, but he understood that a win alongside a good performance meant more than one or the other. He was in an advantageous position, and wanted to continue his good form against another exciting star.