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Wednesday May 25 2016 – Home – Montreal, Quebec; Canada
Rami was back in Canada for a couple of days. Sticking around at home after the latest house show in Montreal, just over a week after advancing to the next round of the King of the Ring where he managed to pick up a hard-fought win over the returning Alex Shelley, somebody he had a lot of time and enough respect for. Awaiting for him in the following round would be Syxx, another opponent he was very familiar with and was excited at the thought of sharing the ring with him again, despite all of the personal issues the dirt sheets were highlighting. However, his match against Syxx was still a little while away, as the upcoming televised show was taking place on Sunday at the Death Before Dishonor event in North Carolina. At the moment, Rami had no clue if he would even be appearing at the event and even though he really wanted to, he wouldn’t have minded staying at home for a couple of more days, something he missed a lot while being on the road. Even if he wouldn’t end up on the card, he was going to be tuning in with the likes of The Miz and Dean Ambrose competing in a King of the Ring match. While a foe on screen and a good friend off screen, Kevin Owens was defending his Intercontinental Championship match in another King of the Ring encounter against Enzo Amore.
He was laying on his couch, lazing about in his loungewear in the middle of the day with his laptop resting on his stomach as he read through some of his e-mails, with one eye on his television set as he watched the Network. He continued to sip on his coffee from the table, distracting himself from the gloomy weather outside and trying to enjoy the few days off he was granted before getting back onto the road. As he continued to use his laptop and stretched his legs, suddenly, is phone started to ring as he searched for it. He sat up as the laptop fell onto his couch, before finally reaching into his pocket and realise it was from the EBWF booking team. He then played it cool, before answering the call.
BOOKING TEAM: Rami! Are you free to talk?
RAMI SEBEI: Yeah…sure…what’s up?
BOOKING TEAM: Where are you right now? We need to discuss your upcoming match and…
RAMI SEBEI: Yeah, about that…Am I still scheduled with Sean for the King of the Ring? I know all of that stuff is going on with him and I literally just read something about his retirement…shouldn’t I be in the loop about this?
BOOKING TEAM: As far as that’s concerned, you’re still working with Sean until we tell you otherwise. But that’s not why I called, this Sunday, Death Before Dishonor, we need you there, you’ve got a match.
Rami looked a little surprised to hear it this late, but was glad, he had the itch to get back into the ring and he shuffled in his seat, before hearing what the plans for his character were, he wanted to clear something else up, hoping it would be a huge night for him.
RAMI SEBEI: Yeah…I’ll definitely be there. What are uh…what are the plans for the World Championship, is Chris defending the title or…
BOOKING TEAM: No, Chris isn’t defending the title on Sunday.
Rami looked a little disappointed, closing his eyes, as he was hoping that the phone call would be an indication that he was getting a championship match. He didn’t make it obvious, though, knowing he couldn’t complain but take whatever was being handed to him with two hands.
RAMI SEBEI: That’s cool, what’s going on then? What am I doing?
BOOKING TEAM: Well…from what I can see it’s Mike and Jonathan in the main event in the King of the Ring, which means you guys are going on just before them.
RAMI SEBEI: You guys?
BOOKING TEAM: That’s right, what I have written down here is a triple threat match, number one contender for the Path to Glory Championship and it’s Sami Zayn, AJ Styles and Alex Shelley, we’ll let you know the solid plans on Sunday, so you need to get on a plane as soon as possible and get to North Carolina. Actually…you’ll be needed at the live event on Friday evening at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville. You know, hype up the crowd, get them on your side, try and get them to tune in, that kind of thing.
RAMI SEBEI: I understand, thanks for letting me know anyway, see you guys soon.
He put the phone down, although he was a little disappointed at not getting a title shot earlier than expected, he was still excited to be competing on the card against two of the finest in the business and knew the three of them were going to steal the show. He always wanted his hands on the Path to Glory Championship, and he knew that a win here could put him in prime position to eventually get a World Championship shot in the near future. He picked up the laptop once again, as he proceeded to book his flights to get from Montreal to North Carolina before Friday.
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Friday May 27 2016 – EBWF Live Event – Crown Coliseum – Fayetteville; North Carolina
The final live event before the Death Before Dishonor event on Sunday was taking place at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, around two hours away from the Greensboro Coliseum. The stars of the EBWF were out in full force to give the North Carolina fans something to cheer about and get them pumped up for the upcoming pay-per-view. As the event rolled on and fans found their seats after the latest match, the fans suddenly erupted in cheers as “World’s Apart” by CFO$ blasted the PA system and Sami Zayn danced his way through the curtains as he made an unscheduled appearance at the event to surprise the fans. He wasn’t going to be competing as he wasn’t in his wrestling attire. Instead, Sami was wearing dark blue jeans along with his traditional look of his latest t-shirt design, covered by his Lonsdale Harrington jacket while donning the usual flat cap. He danced his way down the ramp and on to the steel steps, pumping them up as they stopped singing along to his theme, before the ‘Ole!’ chants kicked off instead. He got into the ring and smiled around at the arena as he grabbed a microphone and circled the ring, waiting for the right moment to speak but the fans weren’t making it easy for him. Eventually, he managed to get the rowdy crowd to settle down as he got into the middle of the ring to address the crowd.
SAMI ZAYN: Before I begin…thank you for that reception…incredible…and I hope you guys are going to be over at the Greensboro Coliseum on Sunday to watch all of us in action at Death Before Dishonor. I’ll be there, triple threat action against AJ Styles and Alex Shelley with the winner moving on to face PJ Black for the Path to Glory Championship, so as you can tell…I’m looking forward to eventually standing in this ring or on that top rope and raising the Path to Glory Championship high in the air…quickly followed by the World Championship, because that’s exactly how it’s going to go down starting this Sunday.
Fans cheered at Sami’s determined attitude, wanting to pick up a big win before potentially going on to challenge for the World Championship, while the King of the Ring was in the back of his mind.
SAMI ZAYN: First off, I’m not going to be the guy that comes into this ring and tells you how bad of a wrestler AJ Styles is, or why I think I’m a whole lot better than Alex Shelley. No matter what I say, or what I do, the fact remains…once the dust settles, AJ Styles will go down as one of the greatest wrestlers of our generation and I’m just as excited as you all are to have Alex back in the EBWF because we…as fans…deserve the best wrestlers on the planet, and now I honestly believe we have the best. I also know that this Sunday at Death Before Dishonor, you guys are getting three of the best in the company, thrown together in one match to determine your number one contender.
He smiled as he mentioned it all, knowing that he had a massive opportunity on his hands and fans understood his excitement as he was getting closer and closer to the big one. Not only that, but they were becoming more excited for the triple threat match with three fine talents.
SAMI ZAYN: I mean, that’s what I think anyway. I mean I can’t speak for them but I hope they see me as a threat and not a pushover, they shouldn’t though…probably because I’ve beaten them both already. I’m not going to force them to change their perception of me though, I know who I am, you guys know who I am and what I bring to this ring. The days of being the fresh rookie trying to make a small splash in the big pond are over. The longer that perception remains in their minds…well…let’s just say they’re going to be in for a rude awakening on Sunday, they know I’m not one to roll over for anybody, and I don’t plan on starting this weekend. And as excited as I am about this match, and despite how eager I am to get this on right now…I can’t say I’m a little disappointed.
Fans were left wondering why Sami, all of a sudden, was disappointed, especially after he revealed he was getting a huge opportunity to compete for a singles championship yet again. Although he said he was disappointed, his facial expressions didn’t show it as he still smiled while scouting the arena.
SAMI ZAYN: I’m disappointed because this is a triple threat match, which means I don’t even need to be pinned to lose and just like that…this opportunity could pass me by and the record books will forever read that AJ or Alex managed to get past Sami Zayn without pinning him. Now that’s something I really don’t like the sound of. They both know that I’m going to be at the top of my game, there’s no doubt about that because I’m in way too deep to waste my one chance now. Last time I was in the ring, I admit, for a second I thought Alex had it in the bag but I fought and took the deserved win, so I know he’s going to come back fired up and try to take away my opportunity, just like I took his away from him. The one advantage I do have that most of the others don’t, is that I have plenty of options…plenty of options to get to the top. The match on Sunday is just one of the many options I have, and perhaps the one that’s going to fast track me to the title. The Path to Glory is option one…all I have to do is win this triple threat match, dethrone PJ and then cash it in for my opportunity. Option two…I retain my King of the Ring crown and do what I did last year by going on to challenge the champion, last year it was Dolph, this year it just might be Chris Jericho. Option three, and by far the most difficult…is to do what I’m doing right now. I step into this ring on a weekly basis, take on anybody and everybody that stands in my way. I help put on the best matches you’ll ever see and maybe, just maybe I won’t be ignored for much longer and I’ll get a shot by going down this long, tough path, but in the end the prize is the same and it’ll all be worth it. So…this weekend I’m taking option one.
He made sure that his fans were now relaxed, that one loss didn’t mean he would never be in the championship picture again as he was in a great position to eventually compete for it one way or another. Obviously, he would prefer the quicker option starting at the pay-per-view.
SAMI ZAYN: So, am I angry that Alex is in this match? Not really. I mean everybody else on the roster is busy doing their own thing for championships, or the King of the Ring so maybe Alex is the perfect guy to step in and try to make an impact upon his return, even though I derailed it a little bit, I know he’ll bounce back, he’s too good not to. AJ…not so much. AJ is the addition I need to question, now I’m all for going up against the best, I’m all for opportunities so it’s not sour grapes…but why is he even here? I mean he pops up when he pleases and then leaves when things aren’t going his way, so I think we all need to be prepared for one of two things to happen. Either, he’s not going to turn up to the match on Sunday, maybe he’ll be hungover in his own bed or somebody else’s bed, maybe he’ll be passed out at the back of a strip club or in a cell for starting a one man fap zone every time he comes across a barely-legal aged woman in the middle of the street…or…he’s going to disappear for a few more months in the hope that we’ll forget AJ Styles failed to live up to his name…again. Then that’s a cycle which continued and it continued until he manages to get ONE small breakthrough and he’ll decide to stick around, but not this Sunday. Oh no, this Sunday won’t be his thousandth breakthrough in the EBWF because this time, I’m in the match and I’m taking it one way or another. The way it’s going, I’m walking out with a smile on my face and my arm raised in their air while in a couple of months when the next big star is giving his interview on screen, YOU’RE going to be the homeless man thrown out of a window and leave us thinking, “we have seen this loser somewhere before”. That’s what you need to be prepared for, his fans, AJ himself, because I’m not letting him stand a chance…ha…it sounds a little silly when I think about it and probably a lot worse when I say it, that I have motivation heading into this match. No, no, not the World Championship or my family or Chris, it’s a lot stranger than that…it’s actually The Miz.
Fans were left confused when Sami mentioned that out of everyone and everything possible, The Miz was his one motivation heading into the match with AJ Styles and Alex Shelley.
SAMI ZAYN: I know right? Why The Miz? It’s simple, a loss for me and Alex means the winner of this entire situation will end up to be…The Miz! If one of us somehow manages to lose to AJ, we know he’ll end up beating PJ because all he needs is one breakthrough. If he does that, then we all know he’ll talk and talk and continue talking smack every single week, but The Miz is always there to start barking, to get under AJ’s skin. For some reason, AJ is stupid enough to get lured into a match with him and when that match takes place, The Miz will always win and once more, The Miz is our Path to Glory Champion. Then…he finds more idiots to work for him because he’s too much of a pu…he’s too afraid to go at it alone. He’ll go and cash-in the title, become the World Champion and tarnish the prestige of the championship once again. That’s why he’s my motivation, I’m doing it for all of us, not just me, or Alex, or Chris Jericho, or Randy Orton or Bayley or Sasha Banks, I’m making sure ALL OF US avoid that and I’m making sure we all don’t have to witness another snooze fest between AJ and The Miz. I mean, that’s bound to happen if AJ wins and I don’t plan to sit around at the back of the queue in the locker room and hear the rest of the guy’s snore or complain while The Miz and AJ spend 20 minutes trying to string a sentence together, not a chance.
Fans cheered for Sami as he laughed, knowing they appreciated the jokes aimed towards AJ Styles and his current situation, trying to lighten the situation despite knowing any version of AJ Styles is incredibly dangerous.
SAMI ZAYN: I actually respect Alex, I appreciate everything he had to say about me and he knows that no matter what happens in the ring, he has a friend for like and I’m happy for him that he’s come back to the company with so much buzz and still moves like he hasn’t missed a day. But…just like I said the last time I was in the ring, there’s no way I can let him swoop in and take another opportunity from me. I said it during the King of the Ring match and I went out there and I proved it in a great match against a talented opponent. Now though, now it’s a little different, now the pressure is totally off me because as I said, …I’ve got all the options available. I won my King of the Ring match, now the pressure is on everyone else remaining in the competition to go out and try to advance and try to take the crown away from me. While they all focus on that, I’m focusing my attention on wiping out AJ and Alex from this title picture, and I know I’ll succeed.
He circled the ring again, scratching his beard with a confident walk, making it clear that he wasn’t worried about what was going to happen as he had enough belief to make it all the way.
SAMI ZAYN: As you saw in my match against Alex, I’m not planning on giving up my crown easily, just like I’m not giving up on the Path to Glory Championship match easily. Now, the pressure is on him and he crumbled the first time against me. He now finds himself in another match against me and I know that in the back of his mind it’s eating away at him that after so much hype, and so much buzz surrounding his return, he can’t afford to fail getting the job done twice, against the same damn opponent. The pressure is on, he thinks he deserves the opportunity, I know I deserve the opportunity, and this is the one singles title I’ve been dying to get my hands on for a very long time. So now we wait and see, does Alex have it in him to take that loss out of his mind and make me eat my words? Or is his return going to end up on WhatCulture as one of the biggest failed returns in recent years. Y’know…despite all of my efforts the victories and support from you guys, that Wold title match just seems to be out of reach.
Sami went and sat in the corner for a little while, still addressing the fans but talking to them from that position as they sat and listened to what one of their favourite stars had to say.
SAMI ZAYN: We’ve gotten closer and closer, but every time the pay-per-view comes around, one thing or another pops up. I honestly sat at home and thought that this would be the month that I get the one important phone call where somebody from the back tells me to pack my things and get on to the next flight to North Carolina because I have the biggest match of my life coming up with the World Championship on the line against Chris Jericho! Turns out…it’s not the right time, it doesn’t fit in with the direction, maybe they’re not sold on the idea of having Sami Zayn as champion again, or maybe it turns out that this last chance saloon for Alex and AJ just has to feature myself to really prove whether I belong or not. I mean, I’ve done everything in my power, every single week by coming out here to beat everyone standing opposite me. Hey…maybe I’ll be in for a surprise in a second and Chris’s music will hit and he wants to defend his title against me and when that pig finally lands on the ground, and the match begins, I KNOW that it would be me walking up this ramp with that championship. So yeah, I can get frustrated but this time I won’t complain because this is just another opportunity for me to prove myself. It's for me to solidify myself as the top contender, it's just a matter of time and with all of you guys, it won’t be too long before we’re back here and Christy over there is introducing me as YOUR champion.
Sami stood up and faced ringside, looking over at Christy before turning over to the titan-tron, addressing those at the back.
SAMI ZAYN: In fact, I want to thank the booking team in advance for giving me the chance to become the Path to Glory Champion, because I’ve beaten Alex so I’ll do it again. I’ve beaten AJ…and I’ll take great pleasure in doing that again and I know you’ve one eye on this match and you’re paying attention so PJ Black…I’ve beaten you before so enjoy your final few weeks as champion because the next time we meet I’m taking that championship. My plan has no flaws, it’s crystal clear for everybody here to see! I’m walking into Greensboro Coliseum on Sunday, singing and dancing and I’m taking the win from Alex and AJ’s hands and I’m dancing my way back up that ramp. I’m dancing my way down the ramp to dethrone PJ and I’m singing and dancing my way back out and then nobody can stand in my way when I dance my way down the ramp and pin the shoulders of the champion down on this mat and become the new World Champion.
He walked back into the middle of the ring, calming himself down but clearly pumped and ready for Sunday.
SAMI ZAYN: So, that brings up the question, why do I have more appreciation and respect towards Alex than I do with AJ? They’re at the opposite ends of the spectrum. I hate losing, but if a man proves he’s better than me on the night then I’ll walk away knowing the better man won, I know the same applies to Alex so if that happens I know I lost to a worthy winner and future champion. He’d deserve the title, but not AJ. He’s disrespected me a lot in the past and I’m going to make sure he leaves North Carolina with great respect for me and my boot mark across his face so I can ask him how it feels now that this fresh-faced rookie that wasn’t supposed to make it just kicked his ass in front of thousands of fans…again.
Sami exited the ring with the microphone in his hand, but his music wasn’t playing. Instead he slowly started to walk up the ramp backwards while talking to his legions of fans.
SAMI ZAYN: Does Alex deserve it? Does he deserve to be in this match? That’s probably not for me to say but if he thinks being one of the longest running World Champions here is going to make me back off, he’s wrong. If he seriously thinks the one-man revolution is good enough to beat me, I think by now he knows he’ll need a lot more than one man to stop me from reaching the top. Sunday is my night again, so it’s about time Alex understands that. Friendship and respect aside…I’m not Syxx…and I sure as hell am not the same generic guy he fought many years ago. He got a glimpse of what I’m about and if he slips up even once, I won’t hesitate in capitalising and end his hopes of reaching the top for a very long time.
Sami finally reached the stage and was about to walk away. Instead he turned around for one final comment addressed to his opponents.
SAMI ZAYN: Alex will leave Sunday knowing he came extremely close, I’m leaving the match as the number one contender, but AJ? Well…AJ is leaving Greensboro as Sami Zayn’s bitch.
He dropped the microphone on the stage and waved at some of the fans with a determined look on his face, walking through the curtains in defiant mood that nobody on the entire roster could stop him from succeeding at Death Before Dishonor.
