King of the Ring
Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2015 9:15 pm
JIM ROSS
And there’s the second Helluva Kick on Brock Lesnar! This could be it!
JERRY LAWLER
I don’t believe it, JR! Sami Zayn has defeated Brock Lesnar! He’s going to the King of the Ring on Sunday!
JIM ROSS
I’m every bit as surprised as you are, King. We knew the kid had heart, we knew he had guts and tonight he’s proven the world wrong, what a performance, what a match!
“World’s Apart” by CFO$ blasted the PA system and Sami still couldn’t believe it. He was in the middle of the ring, on his knees looking down on to the canvas with a blank expression on his face. It was extremely rare to see somebody like Brock Lesnar lose, how was he supposed to react? Was he supposed to be confident and act like it was no big deal? Was he supposed to scream and shout and run around the ring and through the fans to show he had no self-belief but still managed to pick up the win? He couldn’t do nothing, so he did what he was used to and allowed the referee to raise his arm as he displayed the look of determination on his face, passion and the will to go all the way and he proved that against Brock Lesnar. The ‘Ole!’ chants were louder than ever inside of the Mizzou Arena and Sami showed his appreciation by mouthing the words ‘thank you’ numerous times as he made his way back up the ramp. He continued to slowly dance along to his music as he was clearly happy and the fans noticed this, but he still managed to sell the pain and injuries he would have suffered in the match against Lesnar. The cameras followed him through the curtains as he leaned against a wall and breathed a sigh of relief. He was glad that tough test was over but at the same time he wanted to re-live it over and over as he wiped the sweat from his face and continued to walk. He continued to hobble through the backstage area until he approached the locker room, he almost opened the door to get inside but his night wasn’t over just yet. The camera picked up Renee Young, chasing Sami Zayn and finally tracking him down outside of the locker room.
RENEE YOUNG
Sami! I just wondered if I could grab a quick word with you about your match out there. You just went out there and defeated Brock Lesnar! How are you feeling about THAT win and performance right now?
Sami breathed and took it all in, understanding that it was a big win and played it off well on camera as someone who truly appreciated it all.
SAMI ZAYN
Inside I’m jumping from wall to wall. Right now…it still hasn’t sunk in but I’m sure when I go inside that room and shut the door, it’ll definitely sink in. But, I said during the week I KNOW I can defeat Brock Lesnar, six days out of the week he would rip me limb from limb but tonight was MY night. And I went out there and showed every single person that I’m not somebody you just overlook. I’ve won a lot of matches and I’ve lost even more, but this right here is up there with one of the great victories in my career, he’s the beast for a reason.
RENEE YOUNG
You’re in a very exclusive club right now, not a lot of people can go out there and defeat Brock Lesnar but at the same time…it only gets more difficult because now you will go to King of the Ring and either have one match, or you could two matches if you do advance, how will you deal with all of that?
SAMI ZAYN
Well if there’s a club then I’m definitely happy to be a part of it one way or another. And you’re right, maybe that’s why I’m not celebrating just yet because as good as this win was, it would mean absolutely nothing to me and my career if I can’t go out there on Sunday and do the business and walk away as THE King of the Ring.
RENEE YOUNG
Well it is a big ask for anyone on this roster, including you. The way things are shaping up right now, you could eventually face Dean Ambrose or Justin Gabriel but to get to either of them, you must get through either Brian Kendrick or Bully Ray. Is there anyone there you would like to face?
SAMI ZAYN
Well I don’t really have a choice now, to get to the top I need to defeat everyone in front of me and these guys have fought to get here just as hard as I have and in a short amount of time we’ll all know who I face at King of the Ring. Whether it be Brian or Bully, I really couldn’t care less. They’ve done a lot in this business, they have achieved a lot too…but that was a long, long time ago and they need to realise that because they’ve reached here, it doesn’t mean it’s a free pass into the final. I’ve worked my ass off to get here and even though Brian and Bully may have had success, had being the key word, now it’s my time to shine. And once I get through them, it’ll be Dean and Justin left and the same applies to the two of them, I’ve come too far to lose now. It just won’t happen, it can’t happen. I simply won’t let it happen.
RENEE YOUNG
Well all of the guys you have mentioned have built cases to succeed in this tournament, they’ve fought hard, they’ve come a long way and they’ve defeated some big-name opposition. What do you think makes you stand out over the rest of the guys in the tournament?
Sami laughed to himself and smirked for a short while, nodding his head and acknowledging the success of his opponents.
SAMI ZAYN
You’re right, they’ve done a lot. Some have done more than me but what makes me stand out is exactly what you saw out there. I lay my body and life out in the ring, and I never let anybody else show me up. There’s no gimmick here, I won’t paint my face and body or wake up in a gutter in my own vomit or talk about my calves or look like I live in a slaughterhouse. I’m just me, and somebody like me wining the King of the Ring is exactly what the fans would want, and I plan on giving that to them on Sunday.
RENEE YOUNG
Enjoy the main event of the evening, Sami and I hope to run in to you a little later tonight once your opponent has been confirmed.
Sami nodded at Renee, opening the door and closing it behind him as he approached the television set and searched for a remote. He found it and turned up the volume as the entrances were taking place and he took a seat, finally getting some time to relax and enjoyed what both Kendrick and Bully Ray brought to the ring.
The main event was now in the books and Sami Zayn finally knew who his opponent was going to be on Sunday, Brian Kendrick. As the events continued to unfold in the ring, cameras were backstage again as Sami Zayn was seen exiting the locker room. Now in a change of clothes in his blazer, jeans, a black t-shirt and his grey flat cap displaying his awkward fashion sense, he looked to make a swift exit as he dragged his bags behind him, but once more Renee Young was there to stop him in his tracks.
RENEE YOUNG
Sami, the main event is now over and now you know that in order to become the King of the Ring, you NEED to defeat Brian Kendrick on Sunday. He’s been on a roll recently so he’ll be a huge test, what are your thoughts?
SAMI ZAYN
Congratulations to Brian, that was a hell of a performance and I’m glad I’m against someone who wants this as bad as me, albeit for different reasons. I don’t have much else to say to him right now, he’ll go and enjoy his win in any way he chooses to and I’ll go focus on my win and then prepare for Sunday, nothing changes.
RENEE YOUNG
He has picked up some big wins, as have Dean and Justin and they too will be confident, do you have anything to say to them in case you do go on to face them? Any preference on an opponent?
SAMI ZAYN
Look Renee, we’re ALL here in the final four because of big wins and we deserve it more than anybody else. But only one will succeed and I plan on making sure that it’s me. I’m glad everyone is confident, it means everyone will bring their a-game and there’ll be no excuses, and no excuses from me either. I have no preferences, I have to face Brian whether I like it or not and I’ve never faced off against Ambrose and I’ve defeated Justin, so maybe a change of opponent is needed. Anything I have to say? Not right now, that can wait, there’s a time and a place and the perfect place to do it is inside of the ring.
RENEE YOUNG
Just quickly, before you leave. Brian is a different kind of opponent from what you’ve faced, as is Dean Ambrose…they’re a little unhinged to say the least. How do you plan on dealing with the threat they bring?
Sami looked at Renee and had a blank expression on his face, understanding the level of competition that was on hand.
SAMI ZAYN
I can’t lie, it’s certainly different. It will take something special to overcome them, but I know I can do it. They’re not unhinged or misunderstood or had tough upbringings…they are bat-shit crazy, plain and simple. I’ve understood it though, I’ve had some time to think about what those crazy bastards as well as Justin bring to the table and I know what I have to do to topple each and every single one of them. The most important thing I’m starting to realise – something I had to understand to make sure I can defeat Brian and even Dean - sometimes fighting normally won’t get you the win. To fight crazy, you need to BE crazy.
Renee looked a little confused at Sami’s final statement as he picked up his bags and nodded at the camera before walking away; remaining in a defiant mood as he confirmed he knew what he had to do if he wanted to defeat Brian Kendrick. Only then he would have the opportunity to go ahead and try to defeat Dean Ambrose and Justin Gabriel.
- - - - - - -
Tuesday June 23 2015 – The Crowe’s Nest – Anonymous Location
Sami Zayn was with a number of the EBWF camera crew who were all at the EBWF Headquarters, in the media department. Sami was running through his notes with the producer and at that moment it felt like Sami was there to deliver a generic promo, but once the cameras started rolling the fans would see it in a different life. The sets were ready and it was then clear what was planned for the segment, Sami Zayn was paying a visit to the infamous Crowe’s Nest. Nobody knew what for just yet, but all would be revealed once the cameras started rolling. The EBWF crew did a great job of creating a gritty, dark feeling and it looked as if they were outside in almost complete darkness as Sami started to talk to the camera.
SAMI ZAYN
Sami Zayn here, former Intercontinental Champion. I’m here with these guys, the dedicated EBWF crew.
Sami took the camera and pointed it at the three staff members with him before handing one of them the camera back as Sami squinted at the sudden burst of light hitting his eyes from the camera as he continued to talk.
SAMI ZAYN
We’re here at, well we don’t know exactly where it is and where we are but we finally found our destination. Last night at Warfare, I realised that an ordinary Sami Zayn can’t go to King of the Ring on Sunday exactly like I am and expect to win. I need to be more fired up than usual, more motivated, and in general a different version of myself. I need to do something different with the types of opponents I’m up against. They are unstable, unhinged, crazy, psychotic, call them what you want but it’s the truth, it’s all the same. And I decided one of the ONLY ways I can truly understand them, to get inside of their heads and see what makes somebody like Brian Kendrick tick. What makes him do the things he does, what drives him to literally be the worst human being imaginable…I have to dive into their heads and understand their thoughts. And I figured it out, rather than dive into the deep end on Sunday and fight out when it’s probably too late, I’ll do something I’m not overly proud of…but I need to do it. Which is why it brought me here, this dirty alleyway on this dark, wet evening…we’re here at The Crowe’s Nest and hopefully, just hopefully this crazy son of a bitch can give me some special insight as to what makes a psycho…well…a psycho and what makes Brian Kendrick, Brian Kendrick.
Sami exhaled and knocked on the door twice, and on the second knock the door opened and the four of them walked inside and a lot of shuffling was heard before the few lights turned on and the cameras picked up a beaming Solomon Crowe who was sat in an office chair with a cheesy smile on his face and tapping on the desk as he stared at Sami Zayn and the EBWF staff.
SOLOMON CROWE
Well don’t just stand there, take a seat, one of you needs to sit on the floor as you can see I’m still putting the finishing touches to my palace. So tell me, why is the great Sami Zayn, the man with heart and determination and the never say die attitude, at my door? Asking ME for help? I never thought I would see the day.
Sami and the EBWF crew looked at one another as they argued over who would sit on the floor, Sami quickly took a seat and avoided the embarrassment as he sighed and looked over at Solomon.
SAMI ZAYN
Help is a strong word, Solomon. I would say I need…advice? Hints? Tips? Along those lines.
SOLOMON CROWE
And I ask again. What does the noble Sami Zayn want from a petty, abnormal, strange, crazy individual like me?
SAMI ZAYN
That’s what I want. Exactly that. Crazy.
Crowe looked at Sami and the crew with a worried look on his face, backing up a little.
SOLOMON CROWE
Hey, if you’re after a crazy night of four on one action then you go talk to someone like Brian Kendrick okay, that’s not my area of expertise.
SAMI ZAYN
No, no, no. Crazy. This Sunday, King of the Ring I’m up against Brian Kendrick. And if I can beat him then there’s a slight chance I’m up against ANOTHER crazy guy in Dean Ambrose, if not him then Justin Gabriel. That’s TWO crazy guys in one night if things go the way they do…and it’s not like I can go right to wherever Brian Kendrick is crawling and ask him what makes him insane so I thought I’d come to the man who made his debut here by attacking me. If you think about it, I’m the reason you became World Champion, so I think it’s safe to say you owe me one…pal.
Crowe snarled as he looked at Sami, but eventually nodded his head and smiled and slammed the desk twice to pump everyone up.
SOLOMON CROWE
Well this is fantastic! Good! Let’s get right to work, I’ll turn you from your normal, boring, ordinary self into an Arkham Asylum inmate in no time!
SAMI ZAYN
You’re misunderstanding me. I have ZERO interest in being anything like…your kind. I just want to know what makes you tick…what makes HIM tick considering you’ve been in the ring with him and as far as I remember, he beat you. I need to know everything, how to understand him, how to get into his head and see just what goes on inside there, you’re the best person for that.
SOLOMON CROWE
My kind? Ouch. Well I don’t have anything or anyone to prepare for on Sunday unlike YOU so I guess we should get started.
Crowe grew more comfortable in his seat and put his legs up on the desk with his hands behind his head, talking like a motivational speaker as he started.
SOLOMON CROWE
You might want to take some notes, kids. This is going to be a looooong night. There’s no point going back to see what happened in his life which made him this way. Some are born insane, some turn insane because of an event or events in their life, with Brian from what I’ve seen I think it’s safe to say it’s definitely a bit of both, perhaps he was even dropped on his head, multiple times, from a two storey building. You need to focus on getting him angry, the angrier he gets, the more he wants your blood and that is when you pounce, because people would assume that is when he is at his strongest but they’d be wrong. That’s the weak point, that’s when you attack and you don’t stop until you’re not in control of your own senses any more, that’s what makes Brian Kendrick so good, you need to do the same, you need to do it better. And if you can do that then the referee will raise your arm in victory while Brian Kendrick remains in his familiar place, on his knees, crawling into whatever pit he can find and wallowing in self-pity about why his life is just so terrible.
Crowe and Zayn continued to talk, and the final clip which was being shown wouldn’t show all of the conversation. Instead the screen faded out for a brief moment and faded back in and the cameras were facing Sami Zayn. He was in a white shirt, unbuttoned and his flat cap was off. He was sitting on a wooden chair with his hands tapping his knees, nervously. It then became clear that it wasn’t the EBWF crew behind the camera. The camera turned to the left and there were the three members of the production team sat in the corner, before Crowe starting laughing and focused it on Sami Zayn.
SAMI ZAYN
Do I REALLY have to do this?
SOLOMON CROWE
We’ve been talking for hours, Sami. You wanted my help then this will help you, be more ruthless. Show more aggression, do you always have to be a goody two shoes little pussy?
SAMI ZAYN
I know, the whole attitude thing again, please don’t start. I mean all of this, is a little weird. I mean…I should report you for some of these things.
SOLOMON CROWE
Camera’s rolling buddy, and Mr. Kendrick will be watching!
Sami quietly pumped himself up and pulled out a scrunched-up piece of paper, trying to keep it out of sight as he was reading off of it.
SAMI ZAYN
Ladies and gentlemen, and Brian Kendrick…my name is Sami Zayn and this Sunday…at King of the Ring, I will defeat Brian Kendrick and…
SOLOMON CROWE
Kill! Not defeat! Come on! Haven’t you learnt anything?
SAMI ZAYN
Sorry, sorry. I will…kill…Brian Kendrick and everything he stands for. I personally believe I will be doing the world a favour because people like him are an embarrassment to the human race. Now, I have an excuse to bring out my…insane attitude against a fitting opponent in Brian Kendrick. The man likes to bleed, so I shall…slit his throat and let him enjoy it…wow…look I can’t do this, it’s all a little…disturbing? It’s not me, this is terrifying if I’m honest like really, where do you get half of this stuff from?
SOLOMON CROWE
You know, inspiration, fantasies, pretending Brian Kendrick is in front of me and I want to snap his little neck, things like that. Okay, it’s clear you’re still a pussy so we’ll move on from that. I think I have just the thing for you, things you can do that will keep even Brian Kendrick away from you.
Again, they continued to talk and discuss ideas as the camera faded to black and back again. This time Sami was still sat in the chair but his clothes were more of a mess, making it look like they had actually been doing some work. His hair was also a mess and his sleeves were folded up as he stared above the camera at Crowe who was occupied elsewhere.
SAMI ZAYN
Now what are you doing?
SOLOMON CROWE
Well Sami, considering you’re being a wimp about it all I feel like you have to fight fire with fire. You need to make Brian Kendrick afraid of you before he can scare you, which by the looks of things, he will. You need to pull some sort of stunt, frighten him away so you win by default. I know, I know spare me the whole speech about you wanting a match, and wanting to fight fair. It’s all psychological my friend, get in his head right now.
SAMI ZAYN
And do I really need to dress up as a butcher?
The camera focused on Zayn’s attire, panning downwards as he wore an apron with a meat cleaver in his hand.
SOLOMON CROWE
That’s just a symbol, of you chopping up all of his hopes and dreams of becoming the King of the Ring, and if you’re feeling up to it I can teach you the most effective way to chop off arms and legs too?
SAMI ZAYN
Just…get on with it, please.
Sami again pumped himself up and out of nowhere, a big pink head was thrown right at Sami’s face as Sami looked on in horror, picking it up and looking shocked to see a pigs head covering him in blood as he quickly threw it to the ground and looked at the camera in horror.
SAMI ZAYN
What…the hell…was that all about you sick son of a bitch.
SOLOMON CROWE
What? It’s a pigs head. Doesn’t everybody collect them nowadays? Look, you plant this in locker or bag and it’ll give him a small fright, but here’s hoping the man has a weak heart and he can’t handle that shock and he just…falls to the ground and struggles to get back up if you know what I mean.
SAMI ZAYN
Yeah….no that’s not going to be happening.
SOLOMON CROWE
Fine, here take this.
Crowe slid it across a red can on the ground as Sami picked it up and shaked it around and it was clear there was liquid in it.
SAMI ZAYN
What is this?
SOLOMON CROWE
This, Sami is a can full of gasoline, such a sweet smell. You take this can, you find Kendrick and you pour this all over him and then, you threaten to light him up into a lovely little bonfire unless he agrees to drop out of the match, and when he quits, you win, simple as that.
SAMI ZAYN
You’re sick. I mean, really, really disturbed.
SOLOMON CROWE
Okay, plan c it is. Take this rope. This one is simple, even you can do this to Brian Kendrick. You grab this rope, you tie it around his tiny little neck and you squeeze it, make sure it’s real tight and hang it a little higher so it suffocates him and kills…
SAMI ZAYN
I’m not here for lessons on torture! I came for advice and you’ve done absolutely nothing but waste my time!
SOLOMON CROWE
Really? People would kill to take all of this from me and use it, get off your high horse. You’re acting as if I’m asking you to crucify Brian Kendrick! Look, look into my eyes, pretend I am Brian Kendrick and I want to rip those ginger roots right out of your head and sell your body parts for drugs. What would you say? Better yet. Look into this camera. You see Brian Kendrick laughing at you. He doesn’t think you’re a threat. He thinks you’re a pussy. A pushover. He thinks he can beat you any day of the week. He’ll beat you on Sunday and the whole world will be laughing at Sami Zayn because once again, all he is…is a nearly man who simply isn’t good enough to even defeat a drugged-up lunatic in Brian Kendrick.
Sami stared into the camera, angry at whatever Crowe was saying but understanding that most of it was probably true. So he talked into the camera, as if Brian Kendrick was sat right in front of him and Crowe was loving absolutely every second of it.
SAMI ZAYN
You know…ever since I heard the name Brian Kendrick when I joined I heard a lot of impressive things. How good you are. How you have achieved a lot and usually people would be impressed. But recently, all I have heard you say is mattering. Whether you matter, whether you don’t because at the end of the day you have never mattered to me. What you have done, what you continue to do, none of it matters to me because when the night is over on Sunday, it will be you who loses to me, that’s what everyone will remember because THAT is what matters. From what I have seen, you remind me of someone who is suffering from schizophrenia. One day you are lively and open about your thoughts about wanting to achieve things but these behavioural changes have done you more harm than good. Because all of these plans of defeating me are hallucinations, they are delusions, none of these thoughts will actually come true. You are hallucinating when you see me on that canvas. You are hallucinating when you see yourself winning, having your arm raised. You are hallucinating when you see yourself crowned the King of the Ring. And then there are times, when you appear emotionless, flat, apathetic…you need serious help and you’ll understand it on Sunday when you’re unable to walk.
Sami started to tap his knees again, and his feet on the concrete ground, wiping away the sweat before continuing.
SAMI ZAYN
You know…I’m not sure whether I am scarily similar to you, Brian or whether we’re the complete opposite. Sure, on the exterior you and I probably belong to different galaxies. But we do seem quite similar, I mean you and I are both seen and treated as underdogs. We never threaten anybody, we always leave it all inside of the ring, we always impress inside of the ring and we always, ALWAYS leave the fans wanting more. People look at us, laugh because we aren’t supposed to achieve anything and then we do, the same people always supposedly believed in us. But we’re also different, because we’ve got to this place through very different tactics. You, you decide to bash the hierarchy and Wes Ikeda at every opportunity you can find, using his name to get on to a bigger platform, and you fail countless times, you try to reach those same heights you were at one stage but it’s simply not working for you. Me? All I have done is fight, wrestle, do what I was born to and face off against opponent after opponent after opponent and put I good, honest performances and look where we are. We’re on the same platform, it shows how far I have come and how much you have fallen since your glory days. I am on the same level as you Brian, and whether you hold a World Title in your honours list is irrelevant to me. I am simply what you see is what you get. I’m an ordinary guy with an ordinary lifestyle and that’s clear for everyone to see and I’m okay with that. But you? You have put a blindfold around everyone’s eyes, because you are a gimmick, your whole career has been a gimmick so I would say despite the similarities, we are different, and I am glad because if I was known to be similar to somebody like YOU, I would quit this business and revaluate my entire life.
Sami smiled and leaned back, getting more comfortable in his seat before looking around and realising where he was again, trying to not get too comfortable in his surroundings.
SAMI ZAYN
Do you know who you remind me of, Brian? You’re like a modern-day Mankind. I remember growing up and watching him hang around in boiler rooms, being all misunderstood and all of us feeling sorry for him. You’re pretty much the same, because you seem to hang around at the back in any room you can find in the corner and you lift up skirts of the women like a hormonal teenager. I do feel sorry for you thought, because people have said it before and I will reiterate it…you inspire people because when we look at you we know which path we shouldn’t take because being another Brian Kendrick is the ultimate failure in life, I know what not to do and who not to be, so thank you, Brian. The EBWF, to me is a reward for the work I’ve put in my career. They showed me one ounce of faith and I repaid them and I continue to do it, whereas you use this company as a platform to fulfil your sick, twisted fantasies and let’s be honest, nobody would even bat an eyelid. Maybe you are content with the life you’re living, the career you have, but I have my fantasies as well. Your fantasies involve a lot of pain, women, sometimes both at once and that’s taken your eye off the prize lately because you’ve done nothing to actually have me worried. You know I’m actually questioning myself why I actually came here, I just realised all of you crazy bastards are the same. You’re not misunderstood. You just love to be content, you never aim higher, you love chaos and I love ending it all for you. I have fantasies too though, sure a nice lady by your side would be a great reward but for me, my fantasies involve being the King of the Ring. It involved me becoming the World Champion and do you know why? Because I have that fire. I have that determination, that hunger to succeed and I have never, ever seen the same hunger in you, Brian and nobody will ever see it again once I’m done with you on Sunday and you actually hit the lowest point of your already-low career.
Sami laughed himself a little. Laughing at himself, for thinking he was actually worried about facing Kendrick.
SAMI ZAYN
Brian, you don’t have that fire to ignite yourself and fight for what you want. Since the day you lost your World Championship in your glorious three-month reign, you fell into the world of obscurity and to be honest, when I look at you I don’t think you WANT to dig yourself out of that hole. Because if you do and you do eventually become champion, you would need to tone it down a little, be more of a model champion. The days of fondling woman and smoking joints would be over and you trade them in for anti-bullying campaigns and putting smiles on children’s faces. You don’t want that though. You have those crazy eyes for life, and inside of you I know, you will be more than happy to remain in this rut that you’re in because it gives you freedom to act like a mediocre dick. So you go ahead, continue to dig yourself into a deeper hole, ruin your own life, continue acting like a dick because you clearly get satisfaction from that. I only get satisfaction when my arm is raised and the fans are chanting my name, just like they will on Sunday.
Sami shuffled in his chair, unfolding his sleeves as if he was getting ready to leave, wiping his face before sitting up against and talking.
SAMI ZAYN
I’ve seen people like you before though. You want to hurt your opponents, you want to hurt me. You want to make sure their lives, my life is never the same and you want to give people something to talk about, put fear in them. So when they see you in public, they cross the road and give you funny looks, you love that, that’s what drives you. Of course, I’ll give you that satisfaction. You can toss me around from corner to corner and try to end me right there but when I say I WILL defeat you, I mean it. Because as of late people have started to take me a tiny bit more seriously that they did and it would be a damn shame if you fell into that trap. There is absolutely nothing you can do to me that would harm me in any way. You want to break my bones? Please, go ahead because I’ve had my bones broken before and I know it will happen again. You want to embarrass me? Go ahead, I’ve embarrassed myself more times than I care to remember and I can laugh at myself and it will definitely happen again, it doesn’t affect me. You want to try and pin me? Try your best. I lose my first match here…and my second…and plenty more after that. You want to send me back down to reality? DO IT! I DARE YOU! Because THIS is my reality1 Sure, I’m punching above my weight a little by getting this far in the tournament but this is all reality to me because I live it all. But what happens when the roles are reversed, Brian? You SAY you love pain and bleeding, but will we get any laughter from you if it actually happens in the ring? Say you break that neck? Will you laugh? Or will you cry and ask for medical assistance? I would try to embarrass you but over the years, you’ve seemed to have done a damn good job of it yourself, you did it last week, and you’ll do it again on Sunday so there’s nothing new there really. But most of all, what happens when I send YOU back down to reality? What then? When I end this charade, and end everything Brian Kendrick stands for? This isn’t reality for you, as I said it’s all a hallucination and a dream I plan to end. Do you honestly think this deranged act works with me? That it scares me? Sure, I was a little confused which is why I’m here, but I understand now. It won’t work, it never has and it never will. You think you can degrade women and yourself for that matter, and people will like it and find it entertaining? Let me know how entertaining it is inside of a cell. You talk and talk about torture as well, a little weird I’ll admit, but the only torture you need to get used to is mental torture, when you relive it all over and over inside of your head that you couldn’t beat Sami Zayn and you stay at the bottom of the barrel, exactly where you belong. And every time you try to climb out of the bottom, I will be there to kick you down. No more games, no more talking of torture or wanting to feel alive or wanted or anything like that, no touching anyone in that creepy way you do, in fact the only touching you’ll be able to do after Sunday is with yourself when you’re on a lunch break from cleaning toilets in Burger King. You have never mattered, and you never will, I was stupid enough to think I should be worried and I hope, for your own sake you accept the fact that you…are…done.
There was an awkward silence as Sami stared into the camera and then we quickly heard a clap of hands as Crowe started to speak, mockingly wiping tears from his eyes.
SOLOMON CROWE
There we have it, THAT is what I needed out of you. You’re right, he doesn’t matter, now go out there on Sunday and prove it once and for all.
SAMI ZAYN
Well, it’s certainly been an experience, in the nicest way possible I really hope I never have to come here again.
Crowe handed the camera back to the production team as he scurried them out of the room, fresh off a defiant statement from Sami Zayn who was adamant he was going to defeat Brian Kendrick and go all the way.
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Friday June 26 2015 – EBWF Headquarters – Media Department
A couple of days had passed since Sami Zayn last paid a visit to The Crowe’s Nest, a segment which was now available on the EBWF website and was of public knowledge and Sami Zayn was back at the EBWF Headquarters. This time he was going to be sitting down with Michael Cole in a sit-down interview, hyping up the upcoming King of the Ring pay-per-view, where on the night Sami Zayn would take on Brian Kendrick in the hope of facing Justin Gabriel or Dean Ambrose in the final. The scene opened up inside a dark-ish room, with background lights on display, and the cameras picked up on Michael Cole who was sat there in his usual sit as he smiled into the camera with his guest sitting opposite of him.
MICHAEL COLE
Ladies and gentlemen, this Sunday at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri, the annual King of the Ring pay-per-view takes place and with me at this time is one hopeful who hopes to go all the way…Sami Zayn. Sami, welcome.
SAMI ZAYN
Thanks for havin’ me Michael, good to be here again.
MICHAEL COLE
Well I think there’s only one place to start, a strange start to the week for you, you defeated Brock Lesnar, you found out your opponent was Brian Kendrick and you decided to pay a visit to Solomon Crowe. How have preparations gone?
SAMI ZAYN
Definitely an interesting start, I have to admit even though I had the belief in myself that I’d bring down Lesnar, I was still surprised in myself so I;m using that as a performance to build upon, starting with Brian on Sunday. Yeah, that visit to Solomon was certainly something, I think I’ll be keeping my distance from now on but it really did open my eyes and that moment there with him I understood that Brian Kendrick can be beaten regardless of this roll he’s on. In case people are forgetting, I’m not doing too bad either so that will make for a good match but I said it last week when I said I’d defeat Lesnar and become King of the Ring, I’m standing by that statement, Kendrick is just another stepping stone for me now, I feel unbeatable, nothing and nobody can bring me down.
MICHAEL COLE
You did have a lot to say about Brian Kendrick, a different approach to say the least, something you’re hoping is effective?
SAMI ZAYN
I actually couldn’t care less if my words were ineffective. I didn’t do it to play mind games. I didn’t do it to plant seeds in his head, I did it because I wanted to get the truth out there, everything I said was the truth including the part where I said I’ll pin him in the middle of the ring, everything I do inside of that ring is effective, and you’ll all see that.
MICHAEL COLE
Any final words to Brian Kendrick?
SAMI ZAYN
Well I can certainly say something, whether he’s fit enough to reach a television set and watch is a different story. Brian…you do a hell of a lot of talking, most of which is disturbing. Now is the final opportunity for you to prove to me and the EBWF Universe that there is a spark in you and that you do still matter. I highly doubt that I’ll see anything different, just the same twisted, sicko everyone is used to, but I’m sure the fans you do have are living in false hope so for their sake…I hope you can prove that you matter.
MICHAEL COLE
Let’s move on now Sami, the both of you have said a lot and I’m sure this match between the two of you will be one to remember. Let’s move on now though, of course you are confident you will win, which is good. Let’s assume you win, and you have a short amount of time to prepare yourself for the potential main event…Dean Ambrose? Dangerous opponent, isn’t he?
SAMI ZAYN
He’s very dangerous. He’s similar to Brian Kendrick so my mind-set will be almost the same if it is Dean and I in the main event. He too has done a lot to get to this stage and I know people didn’t expect that either, so he’d be a worthy opponent and a difficult one too. I’ve never been an opponent of his so it’s going to be something new for sure. But we have shared the ring, especially at Survivor Series last year, spending some time around him so I do know what strengths and weaknesses he possess and I’d be lying right now if I was saying I wasn’t going to try my best to expose on the weaknesses he has.
MICHAEL COLE
It was interesting though for us viewers, you visited Solomon Crowe for let’s say…motivation to defeat Brian Kendrick, yet you didn’t ask about Dean Ambrose? We know the history they have so it was strange.
SAMI ZAYN
They have history, it runs deeper than the EBWF and I feel like trying to exploit that would be out of character for me. I don’t really need Solomon as motivation which I realised; if anything he motivated me to stay on the path I’m on and not end up as him or Kendrick, but for me motivation lies in the rewards, in this case being the winner of the King of the Ring. There was no way I wanted to exploit their history in my favour. He’s done what he had to do to get to this stage, as did I. If I put on a good performance and give it my all against him and win, of course I’ll be happy and I’d still congratulate him. If I go out there and the fans chant my name and I do well and I lose…nothing would change. He’d be the worthy winner, and I’d still shake his hand. But in my head, Michael…I don’t see it playing out like that. If it comes down to it, I’ll soak in everything Dean throws my way and I’ll and I’ll throw it back his way twice as hard, twice as fast and I’ll defeat him, simple as that.
MICHAEL COLE
Any final words for Dean Ambrose?
SAMI ZAYN
Well…you and I have never seen eye to eye. We don’t hang out, but we don’t hate each other. The least I hope for is a good match if we do end up meeting then may the best man win…and that’ll be me.
MICHAEL COLE
One man, someone we haven’t talked about yet, he seemed to slip under your radar, another potential final if you can defeat Brian Kendrick…Justin Gabriel.
SAMI ZAYN
Hmm I wouldn’t say he slipped under my radar, I’m aware of who is doing what even if we don’t know each other. I’m a fan of this business, I’m lucky to be here so I always…always do my homework, and I’ve analysed Justin more so than anyone, even if I haven’t been as vocal about him as others.
MICHAEL COLE
He is completely different to the others in the tournament, isn’t he? Would you say you have underestimated him that he’s got this far in the tournament?
SAMI ZAYN
Yeah it’s definitely a strange final four. We haze crazy, crazier, a daredevil and well…me. I wouldn’t say I’ve underestimated Justin, I never have and I probably never will. How can I underestimate someone who is used to all of this? He’s been here twice already. If anything this is me in the deep end and I know Justin will try to capitalise on that if we do end up meeting in the final.
MICHAEL COLE
This is potentially the most exciting tie if it does come to fruition, your styles work well together as we’ve seen in the past. You say you’re someone who like pleasing the fans, surely this would be the match you feel you could do that in?
SAMI ZAYN
It is exciting, and you’re right probably the most exciting so far…if it does happen, it’s a big if. I do feel like this is a match that could bring out the best of Justin Gabriel but it should bring out almost the best version of Sami Zayn anyone has ever seen since I stepped foot inside of a wrestling ring…almost.
MICHAEL COLE
You had some harsh words for Brian Kendrick, and you’ve never faced him. What about Justin? You’ve faced him before, you know what he brings, anything to say to him?
SAMI ZAYN
Oh of course, we can sit here all night and talk about why I’m better and why I’ll win. But I can’t lie. And I won’t lie. I like what Justin Gabriel brings to the table. I like his style, his presence, and the way he goes about things in life, living it on the edge and he’s portraying exactly what he is in real-life which is exactly the same thing I do. We both have the passion, we both have that drive to succeed but at times, to me, it feels like different things motivate us, now I don’t exactly know what motivates Justin and I know for a fact it’s not the same as me, and I plan on exploiting that on Sunday.
Sami shifted in his seat, getting more comfortable and leaning forward to talk in conversation manner to Michael Cole who listened patiently.
SAMI ZAYN
But as talented as he is, I can’t help but think he always has an excuse ready. He always has something or someone to blame. Hey, when I lose I’m kicking myself for not being the better man, but I never blame an external factor like Justin does and the likelihood he’ll continue to do that, because even though he’s learnt to win on the odd occasion, he still hasn’t learnt how to lose. And he has around three days or so to learn that to the best of his ability. I know what he has said and continues to say, he’s come close to winning this tournament before. Not once but twice, but they key factor here isn’t that he reached that stage, it’s that he failed on both of those stages and he has nobody else but himself to blame. At the end of the day, he wasn’t good enough on both occasions, and he’s not good enough to topple me either, deep down he knows that. Two occasions, that’s two more than 90% of the EBWF roster, and this year Justin is adamant that this year belongs to him, he thinks it’s his for the taking because the big names are out, but I’m sorry, I have to be the one to end his hopes yet again. I understand his confidence, in fact I am glad he is confident and he should be because he finally defeat Randy Orton, definitely the favourite in this tournament because of the success and Justin finally exacted his revenge and I’m happy for him and he needs to use that win to move ahead. But he needs to realise he’s not the only one who has a big name victory in the books. In case he’s forgetting, I slayed a certain beast to get to this stage, something I say is much tougher. But still, congratulations to him, he stopped the Orton hat-trick. But unfortunately, Justin Gabriel will have a hat-trick of his own, a hat-trick of losses, so close yet so far.
Michael Cole tried to get a question or two in but Sami still had things he wanted to say and stopped Cole on multiple occasions.
SAMI ZAYN
You know at one stage, I thought it was the end for me here. I know how much one loss can damage a career. Look at Trent, look at Brian Kendrick, look at Justin…I felt like that when Chris Jericho took the Intercontinental Championship form me and I was adamant that it was over for me and I would be just one of many lost in the pack, I’d end up as a jobber. But I’ve never been happier to be wrong, during that rough period Justin had the golden opportunity to overtake me but again, like the majority of his career, he has failed. It seems like while I was in a slump then on the rise, Justin Gabriel continued to play catch up, it has become synonymous with him in the EBWF. Since the day I arrived he has been playing catch-up because while he was that wild card, that exciting factor he could ease it up and get by…that was until I arrived and he didn’t know how to deal with that and let someone more exciting, someone better join the EBWF and since then it’s affected him and he’ll show it on Sunday because Justin is not good enough to defeat me when I’m in a mood like this. It’s funny though, because usually when someone tells me Justin Gabriel is in action, I want to tune in because you all know I love wrestling, I want to see excitement but recently I’ve seen more excitement in the videos he uploads than what he brings to the ring. What is he going by now? Dare Wolf? Look it sounds cool and all, but nicknames are only cool when you earn them and the only name I want associated with mine is King. I don’t want to be a Dare Wolf or a Star Lord or a Terminator, because it does nothing for me, it proves nothing, whereas me being the King proves to everyone that I am the best around, now it’s time to prove it.
MICHAEL COLE
Do you think Justin will bring ‘it’ to you on Sunday?
SAMI ZAYN
I genuinely have no idea. I need to ask him myself, what WILL you bring to the table? What will you do to REALLY surprise me? To REALLY give me the shock of my life? I think I know that the answer is…nothing but excuses as per usual. And he needs to understand that I’m no pushover, I’m no Velvet Sky because the second he tries to push me around I will not hesitate in clipping off his wings while he dives out of his latest airplane and watch him crash and burn to the ground where his hopes of defeating me to become the King burn along with him. But what really makes me laugh, is the latest excuse. This whole conspiracy against Gabriel. Look man, the fact of the matter is there is no conspiracy against Justin Gabriel. Whenever you lost, on both occasions and in title matches…it wasn’t down to anyone else but you. It was down to your own incompetence. It was down to your own inability to go that extra mile. It was your own over confidence so don’t run around running your mouth off and blaming others for a job you couldn’t do yourself, step up and be a man if you know how to be one. If you don’t then ask yourself what you’re even doing in this tournament. I don’t care what you’ve done in this tournament, if I did then I would overlook you because I KNOW you are capable of better and I really couldn’t care less if you did cheat to get here or not, because that won’t weigh on my mind. The only thing I am hoping for is that you bring everything you have, all guns blazing because at the end of the night I want the people talking about how Justin Gabriel brought the greatest version of himself possible to the ring, he brought everything he had but it was simply not enough to stop Sami Zayn.
MICHAEL COLE
Well we’re almost out of time, Sami. Again I have to ask…any final words before we call it a day?
SAMI ZAYN
Look Justin…I don’t care if you jump out of planes or buildings, it takers more balls to step inside of this ring. What I care about is what you bring to this ring and to our potential match and by the looks of things, it looks as if you won’t bring anything new to put me in any sort of danger and you’ll crumble under that pressure like you did on two occasions. You’re going to fall at the final hurdle AGAIN because it was never in your destiny to win this tournament. You’ll fall at this final stage because it’s now MY time to succeed and I’ll do anything, absolutely anything to defeat whoever is in my way, whether it’s you, Brian or Dean. I don’t want to be the next Justin Gabriel, I’ma voiding that at all costs because right now I’m pretty content with where I’m at and I know you’d love to switch places with me. I faced you twice last year, you beat me the first time and then I defeated you the second time to become the number one contender to the Intercontinental Championship, a heavy loss for you. I know that will be weighing on your mind too and I’ll put you out of your misery and end these little hopes and dreams of yours. It’s time to put an end to it, and it’s time to show the world who is the better wrestler. For years people have called ME the nearly man, and right now I’m almost on top of the world, perhaps people need to put you under the microscope and then they’ll understand that the ONLY nearly man in this business is not Sami Zayn, but it’s you, Justin.
MICHAEL COLE
Thanks Sami, and good luck this Sunday at King of the Ring.
Sami sat there and shook Michael Cole’s hand to end the interview. A fired-up Sami Zayn was determined as usual to go out there and defeat whoever it would be up against him and he was ready for all three of them, Brian Kendrick, Justin Gabriel and Dean Ambrose.
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Sunday June 29 2015 – King of the Ring – Scottrade Center – St. Louis; Missouri
The night was finally here inside of the Scottrade Center in St. Louis; Missouri, where a new King of the Ring would be crowned between Justin Gabriel, Dean Ambrose, Sami Zayn and Brian Kendrick. The excitement could be felt in the air as the cameras went backstage right before the first semi-final between Gabriel and Ambrose. Renee Young was standing backstage with her guest, Sami Zayn.
RENEE YOUNG
Ladies and gentlemen, my guest at this time…Sami Zayn. Sami, I understand you don’t have much time here but thank you for joining me. Well this is it, it’s been a whirlwind week, all the talking and preparation is done for this night, how are you feeling?
Sami exhaled as he cracked his neck and jumped on the spot to get his blood flowing.
SAMI ZAYN
I’ve been ready since the day my name was drawn in the tournament. I’m coming here off a big win, and I can tell the St. Louis crowd cannot wait for me to get in there and do what I was destined to do. I can feel it coming in the air, that victory, the raising of my arm, and the rise of Sami Zayn. I’ve got my eye on this next match and I can’t wait to watch Justin and Dean rip each other to shreds and me and Brian will do the same to each other a little later on. Brian…you can bring me all of the pain you can think of and I’m throwing it back in your face. Dean is simply going to self-destruct tonight and the hopes Justin Gabriel has of winning this tournament are last will remain just that…hopes. This is reality buddy, and the reality is this is the Sami Zayn era, everybody knows it and tonight the three of you will too.
Sami walked away as he went off to prepare for his match with some final words for Brian and his potential opponents on the evening. Was he right about this being his time? Only time would tell whether this really was the rise of Sami Zayn, or whether he would live up to his nearly man reputation again.