August 30 2015 was a massive night in Sami Zayn’s career. After all of the doubting and the laughter and the disrespect thrown his way, Sami finally managed to capture the EBWF World Championship at SummerSlam against Dolph Ziggler. That feeling of being the champion didn’t sink in for a while, in fact it probably still hasn’t and it won’t sink in until the night he drops the championship to the next guy. Regardless, Sami was on top of the world and had the championship title to show off for all the effort he had put in since arriving to the company a little over a year ago. He was never going to forget that Sunday evening, when he was handed that championship title with those tears of joy streaming down his cheeks, but that’s the moment the hard work started. Sami highlighted how he was going to be a fighting champion unlike Dolph, but last week his night to celebrate with the fans didn’t exactly go to plan thanks to The Miz and the rest of Vertex deciding to steal his limelight.
It was revealed by The Miz that he intended on cashing in his Path to Glory Championship at Destiny on Sami, but Sami wasn’t going to be fooled into another beat down at the hands of Vertex. Sami hadn’t even addressed the fans about his title win, but he already had a match at Warfare and a championship match at Destiny booked. Tonight would be Sami’s first opportunity to address a number of things, his championship win, and his situation with The Miz but all of his focus was going to be on his opponent for the evening, Stardust.
Sami had run-ins with Stardust in the past. He already proved himself as a fierce competitor and he was an opponent Sami genuinely enjoyed facing off with because of how good of a performance they were able to put on in the ring. But now it was different. Everybody already knew how good of a wrestler Sami was before he came to the EBWF and he had set his own standard to compete at. He set the bar pretty high for himself, and now that he was the World Champion he knew he’d have to step up even further against Stardust to prove he was the worthy champion the company desperately needed. It was up to Sami to go out there and do just that, being the best version of himself he could possibly be and bring something to the ring nobody had seen before.
The night was already in full swing. Most of the matches had already taken place and the match Sami had one eye on was the match between The Miz and Justin Gabriel. With a small amount of time left until the main event was scheduled to begin, the lights turned to shades of red and yellow as “World’s Apart” by CF0$ started to blast on the PA system and the fans inside of the Legacy Arena suddenly erupted in cheers. The Birmingham crowd didn’t waste any time in starting the ridiculously loud ‘Ole!’ chants as the rest of the fans were singing and dancing to Sami’s catchy theme music. Eventually, Sami emerged on the stage and the cheers grew louder with a huge smile beaming on his face. He was already in his wrestling gear, his black tights with the flags of the many countries he has competed in printed on to them. Along with his green ‘Sami Zayn and the Zayniacs’ t-shirt printed on the front and the ‘Underdog from the Underground’ printed at the back. But nobody was really paying attention to his attire, all of the focus and attention was on the one thing Sami was point at towards his waist. The EBWF World Championship title.
He slapped the centreplate a few times with his left hand before screaming “Let’s Go!’ into the camera in sync with his theme song before dancing his way down the ramp in typical Sami Zayn fashion. He slapped the fans’ hands on his way down before jumping on to the steel steps and slapping the championship title some more. He got into the ring as he was introduced to the EBWF Universe and picked up a microphone from the outside, scanning the arena at the thousands of passionate fans screaming his name, chanting a certain catchphrase or simply dancing to his theme music. His music then faded out as he stood in the center of the ring, unable to move or speak as the cheering was simply too loud. He then looked down to the mat and laughed to himself, unbuttoning the title from around his waist and staring at in in one hand, before raising it above his head and raising the microphone towards his mouth.
SAMI ZAYN
Well…looks like we did it, right?
He raised the title in the air defiantly with a determined smile, and the fans went crazy for it as he couldn’t help but laugh. He then brought the title back down towards his face, staring at it for a short while before throwing it over his right shoulder and walking around the ring.
SAMI ZAYN
Where do we even begin? So much has happened so quickly. I mean we have Stardust tonight in just a little while, maybe we can begin with him? Or maybe we can start with The Miz and Vertex…oh but we also have this, the EBWF World Championship, a good a place to start as any.
For so long now, I’ve been saying how I’m ready and how I’m determined to get my hands on this championship. Granted, along the way people pointed and laughed and kicked my ass and jumped me from behind but now it all feels like it’s worth it. I did what I set out to do when the King of the Ring started, I wanted to beat Dolph so bad he never shows his face around here again and that’s what it even felt like at one stage, that we had finally got rid of him and it finished 2-1, it’s over for good. But enough about him, for too long we had a stale World Champion but now, you all have a champion I hope you can all be proud of and now it’s my job to continue proving to all of you and everyone at the back that Sami Zayn is the champion this company needs.
I’ve been here for a year now, and somehow I’ve managed to achieve more in one year than I ever did in my wrestling career before that. Now I’m going to make sure I stay at the top because I know I belong at the top and every single week you guys continue to show why you think I deserve to stay at the top. This title may have my name etched on to the nameplate but all of you played a part in this just as I did. Now whether you cheer me or you boo me, whether you’re a superstar or diva at the back that has supported me and congratulated me or tried to tell everyone I was not good enough, or whether you’re on the board watching me right now in this ring thinking I was never good enough and never had it in me but decided to take a risk…it’s all worth it for this title.
But even I knew that the journey only gets tougher. Being the champion means everyone wants to pounce and make sure you’re nothing but a flash in the pan and we saw that last week…with The Miz.
Fans booed as Sami mentioned The Miz, and he couldn’t help but laugh at their instant reaction to his name. He nodded his head as he understood how they felt about him, before continuing.
SAMI ZAYN
I agree, I feel the same way. I’ve hardly held the championship for two minutes and we already know The Miz is going to try and take me out of the picture. It’s fine by me though, I said from the start I want to defend this championship against anybody that deserves it and regardless of how much of an arrogant son of a bitch The Miz is…he has the Path to Glory Championship and nothing will stop us from going at it at Destiny.
I’m not stupid though. I know what he tried to do last week. The Miz would find it more enjoyable making sure I can’t get to Destiny so he wins by forfeit than having to compete. You could have finished Solomon inside of that ring, I wouldn’t have changed my mind. I do know this though, The Miz will continue to stoop low and try embarrassing me, and I’m expecting it. I’m also expecting Vertex to continue trying to take me out of the picture. I won’t give any of you that sort of satisfaction though. Nobody is going to be taking out the World Champion, I don’t care if it’s Kyle O’Reilly, and I don’t care if you send me Ted or yourself or if you bring out the big dog in Kevin Owens. At Destiny, you and I will go at it one on one and I’m going to kick your ass…something which should have been done a very long time ago. There are guys at the back simply queuing up, forming a line to get a shot at taking down The Miz and I’m in the prime position to do just that. Come Destiny, The Miz is over. Come Destiny, The Miz’ championship hopes are over and come Destiny…Vertex will be over.
Sami calmed himself down by walking around the ring, almost turning red as he wiped sweat from his forehead. Eventually he stopped walking and shifted the title back onto his shoulder as it almost fell off.
SAMI ZAYN
With THAT out of the way…now we focus on tonight…Stardust.
More boo’s echoed throughout the arena as Stardust was mentioned, but Sami wasn’t really laughing at the reaction as much as he enjoyed the reaction they gave to The Miz. He did offer a little smile though before raising the microphone.
SAMI ZAYN
Stardust – for me – has always been a funny opponent. You just never really know what to expect with him. Especially in recent weeks because he aligned himself with Luke Harper. Do I expect him at ringside to try and rip my head off after I beat Stardust? I guess we’ll find out in a moment. But I’m already at an advantage heading into this match, I believe so anyway.
Stardust and I both had a match at SummerSlam, he walked in with gold around his waist, but I’m the one that walk out of the arena with gold around my waist, the biggest prize available in this company and now Stardust needs me more than ever. That’s because he’s attracted to gold, whether it’s to rub over his face like he’s at an 8 year olds birthday party or wear around his waist, and now I have the cosmic key he so desperately needs. The sad thing is, I’m not going to give it up so easily. I know what a victory over me could do for him and his title chances, and he may be talented but there’s nothing on my schedule tonight that says Stardust is going to defeat me, because it simply cannot and will not happen, ever.
One thing I do know is that you fans are in for a great match, a great main event, a great end to an evening because I know I’m in the form of my life. I’m telling you know that I’m going to put my body on the line…but that’s not really good news for Stardust I guess. You’re coming off a loss, I’m coming off a win and I know I have pressure on my shoulders to prove to the fans and everyone at the back watching that I am the right man to hold this title and I’m sorry if it hurts, but you’re going to be the one I use to prove I am the best.
Fans cheered for Sami as he pretty much told Stardust he was going to defeat him and would do anything to look better than Stardust in their match.
SAMI ZAYN
I do hope you’ve learnt from everyone else’s mistakes though. I do hope the underestimating has stopped, because I might be taking on the Prince of Dark Matter but you my friend are going up against the King of the Ring AND the World Champion! I’m pretty sure I can get past the Prince of Dark Matter, can you tell me you’re ready to face off against a version of Sami Zayn you have never seen before? I certainly hope so, it takes two to put on a great match. I need you on top form tonight, buddy.
Honestly? I do believe I’m better than you now. I mean you certainly turned heads when you arrived on the scene, but when I arrived, I was laughed at and every single week since then I’ve continued to make strides. Every single week I improved to make myself better and I added three championship to my collection, I added one win after another win after another win and now I’ve added this World Championship to myself. You? Well…the only thing you seem to be achieving recently is adding a new accessory to your already-ridiculous wardrobe. And that says a lot because mine is terrible. No but seriously, what have you got to prove to me that you’re going to beat me? I mean the one thing you had to match me was a championship title around your waist and we all know how that match turned out for you.
Sure…you might terrify certain people with your words and your intense in-your-face style and there’s no denying it…you’re one of the most talented guys in the company. But the fact is, when you told me the first time we faced off that you were going to do all of these crazy things to me and make sure I was never the same and how my career will never be the same with you break me and snap me in half and whatnot. And then, well you defeated me. You actually…defeated me and yeah sure you stuck to your words and made sure YOU were right and I was wrong. You made sure the world knew about it too.
After that, I was at the bottom. I had no idea what to do to or how to do it, to become relevant again, but I did it slowly and I became the Intercontinental Champion. Somehow…the gold around my waist attracted you again. So then…we met in the ring again. And AGAIN you told me how you’ll change my life and break me, you took your weird levels to levels beyond imaginable even for you. That time, I defeated you.
Sami then circled the ring a little before nodding his head. He then looked over at his championship title and lifted it off his shoulder, staring at it before pointing it towards the camera.
SAMI ZAYN
Things have changed now. Now, we’re at it again so I hope you learnt a valuable lesson here. You’re more than welcome to go on and on and on about how you’ll want to take me to new depths. How you will change my life and my face forever. How I will never see myself as the same person, how I will be extinct and that I will have no identity. You can waffle on and on. At the end of the day I’ll still be standing in this ring with my World Championship while you try and force yourself to believe that you can defeat me, or change me.
You can do whatever it is you want, you have a free pass to try anything you want to. I’ll always be back in this very ring, the very next night ready to fight. You see, the thing is I’ve dealt with the worst. Solomon Crowe told me exactly the same as you, he kicked my ass on his first night here, but I got back up. Brian Kendrick, he has told me this time and time again. All of these…twisted things he’d do to me and my body on a number of occasions and the ONLY thing people now remember is the fact that I beat him at King of the Ring.
The Miz and Vertex continue to try and make my life a living hell, they tell me the same over and over, and we all know how Miz never shuts up. Telling me how I’m not good enough and the fact they continue to jump me from behind. I can already tell you come Destiny, I will retain the championship because I’m a better wrestler than I am a talker. People like Miz, they’re better talkers. So now I have to ask you…are you a wrestler, a superstar, a fighter? Or are you just like one of them at the back? A talker. What makes you so special? What will make ME want to take YOU seriously any more after how far one of us has come? I guess tonight is your one and only chance to prove it. How the tables have turned.
Fans cheered as Sami put the championship back over his shoulder, he then walked towards the end of the ring, almost ready to take his shirt off and throw the microphone away.
SAMI ZAYN
Pressure. Which one of us do you think can handle pressure better? I mean I’ve had my back against the wall time and time again, and I’ve fought to get here to be the champion, and I’ve come too far to let somebody waltz in and try to prove they’re better than me. Especially you. We both had pressure on our shoulders heading into SummerSlam, so I think that answers that. Which one of us can handle pressure the best? Well…only one of us walked out of SummerSlam with a title around his waist.
Don’t worry though, the pressure is on me tonight. Nobody else. I’m the champion, it’s time to prove it. You’re just the same old Stardust I met months ago, you have nothing to lose whatsoever. I’m the one that has made strides, a loss to you would be the biggest negative on a career which is on the way up. This company is famous for having the crazy psychopaths, maybe it’s time we started to clear you guys out one by one. You just come out here and do what it is you do and we can send these fans home happy once I kick that silly face paint right off of your face in that corner, and pin your shoulders to the mat…some things will never change.
Sami laughed a little as he tried to rile Stardust up with some below the belt comments. He took off his shirt and put the EBWF World Championship over his shoulder again. Quickly warming up and waiting for Stardust to make his way to the ring. Sami was right though, all of the pressure was on his shoulders. He had the most to lose, what would people say if the champion lost his first match since capturing the title? Sami was determined to win, and head into his title defence against The Miz in very good form. Whether he could do it was going to be revealed in just a few moments.