My time
Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2016 10:14 pm
- - - - - - -
Sunday September 25 2016 – EBWF Destiny – Toyota Center – Houston; Texas
Renee Young: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the Destiny kick-off show right here inside of the wonderful Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. I’m your host Renee Young, and a little later we’ll be getting right into tag team action as Matt Sydal teams up with Mark Andrews as they take on the Young Bucks. But before that we have a special guest joining me on the panel, he’s competing in a triple threat match later on tonight, taking on long-time rivals The Miz and PJ Black for the Path to Glory Championship, good to have you here, Sami!
Sami Zayn: It’s great to be here, Renee. Thanks for having me!
Sami Zayn was appearing on the kick-off show for the Destiny pay-per-view, and as Renee said, The Miz and PJ Black were standing in his way of becoming the Path to Glory Champion. With a stacked card ahead, there wasn’t going to be any time whatsoever for Sami to go to the ring before his match for time on the microphone, so he was given a spot on the pre-show to hype up the match. He sat opposite Renee, and from what the cameras could see he was donning his infamous flat cap, along with a Sami Zayn shirt and the Lonsdale Harrington jacket. His hands were on the table, tapping it a little nervously as he adjusted the microphone on his jacket, looking back at Renee.
Renee Young: So how’s it feeling to be here, the Destiny pay-per-view in Houston!
Sami Zayn: Umm, it’s great, it’s already great when the pay-per-views are in town, and the stars are out. And I’m sure the Houston crowd will be getting an incredible night of wrestling, including my match with The Miz and PJ Black. So it feels good to be a part of the night, and it feels better knowing that I could be leaving with the Path to Glory Championship around my waist.
Renee Young: Destiny is an event that actually means a lot to you, doesn’t it? You’ve been here a few times…a mixed record is what you’re bringing to the table. How much does that come into play tonight?
Sami Zayn: I don’t know how much it’ll affect the outcome tonight, I mean, tonight is a whole different ball game to what’s happened in the past. As my memory serves me, and I could be wrong, I lost to The Miz last year for the World Championship, the year before that I became the number one contender for the Intercontinental Championship against Ted DiBiase and Chris Sabin and the year before, I think I lost to Syxx for the title. So the positive thing I’m taking into tonight that my last three outings at this event have all had titles involved one way or another, or title aspirations, and I think this year I can go one better and actually capture the championship. The record itself doesn’t affect me; it’s just something I feel like I need to do as part of this company.
Renee Young: Well we all know this is your second opportunity at the Path to Glory Champion, the first time you lost to PJ Black not too long ago. So how does all of this interlink and affect you as not only an EBWF performer, but as an individual as well? Losing to The Miz this time last year for the World Championship, losing to PJ for tonight’s title just a couple of months ago and now having to face the same men on the same night?
Sami chuckled a little, scratching his beard as he acknowledged that Miz and PJ had done well against him recently.
Sami Zayn: Yeah, this is my second crack at this title and I know I haven’t held it yet, but believe it or not it actually means a lot to me. The way I see it, this championship isn’t one to parade around every single night, to me it’s an opportunity, and opportunity I plan on taking if I get given the chance. I’d say…it’s the only title left for me here to win. That’s no disrespect to any of the other champions, I mean when I thought I deserved a Breakout Championship match all those years ago, I didn’t get it and that opportunity passed me by and honestly, it’ll probably eat me up on the inside that I didn’t get that chance. And the tag team titles, well, I’m sure we’re all aware what my record with partners is like so I wouldn’t bank on me ever becoming a tag team champion. So I guess having already held that World Title, this Path to Glory title is the last one, and I plan on getting it tonight, at long last. As for the second part of the question…of course it affects you a little, I mean it affects me. I know I’m as good as, if not better, than The Miz and PJ but the sad thing is it’s not been proven in the ring lately and that’s where it matters the most. But I think I’ve done a good job of making sure I don’t let that eat me up inside, though. PJ was the better man the last time we were in the ring, and it’s not like I’ve not beaten him before, so I think tonight that slate is wiped clean and we do it again. And The Miz, well I know he doesn’t see me as a threat, he never will and maybe that’ll work to my advantage this time. Last time it was for the World Title, that moment has passed now, it’s history and again, the slate is wiped clean and he’ll realise that I’m a lot different to what he saw last time.
Renee Young: Are you surprised with the opponents in this match? Well maybe not surprised at that, but the way this title match came about? It seems like it was from nowhere.
Sami Zayn: Yeah I can agree with that; it was a little bit of a surprise. I mean, when I defeated Seth and Baron I still didn’t have any idea that’d put me in contention, but I’m not going to complain. Obviously, not surprised about PJ because he’s the master of competing one night a month and The Miz is always hovering around this title picture, so it’s no real surprise to him either. Regardless of how much we dislike each other, how much we all think the other doesn’t deserve it, I do think we’re the three that can make this match the best of the night, and that’s something I’m looking forward to.
Renee Young: Well, let’s start with The Miz. A rich history between the two of you, some excellent matches along the way as well, what should we expect tonight?
Sami exhaled, staring into space as he thought his previous encounters with The Miz, and how he’d need to be at his best to make sure he doesn’t leave with the championship.
Sami Zayn: I’ve said it plenty of times in the past. The Miz is a motivation, it motivates me and others to make sure we don’t end up like him but I think he’s obviously in this match for a very good reason and as much as I hate seeing him here time and time again, there’s not much I can do about that but get to that ring and prove why I’m better and I think even though he doesn’t show it or admit it, he knows that I’m not to be taken lightly.
Renee Young: What do you think The Miz is thinking about your chances then? Do you think he knows what you can do, and how you also stand a realistic chance of winning?
Sami Zayn: Ha ha, y’know, what I find fascinating about The Miz is how he’s managed to make a living out of living in his own bubble, his own world where the outside world doesn’t even exist. Somewhere where he has no idea what’s going on, he doesn’t know which movies are in the theatre, who’s number one in the music charts or whatever. In his bubble, The Miz is in every movie out there and musical artists don’t come better than Mike Mizanin, that’s just how it goes with him, especially with that other doofus blabbering all of this in his ear to boost is over-inflated ego. In his head, he’s the king, and he picks and chooses these moments to remember. So, in his world, he still thinks he’s the only guy that matters and that all of these rewards should fall at his feet. But then he chooses to forget that there are other guys, guys like me impressing and picking up win after win. And in his bubble last year, I didn’t even exist so I’m happy that I’ve no graduated to the joker, the jester of the pack to his king. And for some strange reason, he just refuses to acknowledge that I’m not the same indie kid that walked through the doors all of those years ago. I’m not the same guy that gets walked over because he caught a lucky break into the business and I had to take the long road to get here, so that doesn’t mean that you think you have this power of guys like me any longer. In fact, this past year I’ve probably done more than he has done in a long time, so it’s time I burst this bubble of his and slap him into reality because The Miz really isn’t as good as he thinks he is and I certainly don’t need a stupid hype man by my side to make him understand that.
There was a bit of a silence as Sami shifted in his seat, awaiting Renee’s response.
Renee Young: Well The Miz we know probably won’t change his ways, and maybe that’s why he’s so successful and is adamant as the most must-see star in the company, so perhaps…
Sami Zayn: Is The Miz still must-see? I mean honestly, is he? I get it at one time he was incredible doing all of these things, but now? He’s been here for quite a while now and I don’t know if it’s just me and whether or not you’re allowed to admit it on television Renee, but I think you’re a little bit sick of him as well, sick at the sight of him. I mean it’s the same thing with The Miz every week and after being here for so long, he STILL doesn’t understand that having Alex Riley boost his ego, telling him how good he is, making him feel like a real man, telling us all he’s the most must-see star in history, telling us how awesome he is…you think after the first 400 times he’d get the hint and realise nobody but those two believe all of that. Not even his parents believe it. He’s gone from being a one-week must-see star to the must-avoid star because whenever I hear his stupid voice on the PA system screaming I’m Awesome on the speaker’s backstage, I’m not standing in gorilla watching what he’s doing. Actually, nobody is there watching what he’s doing, that’s when I decide to go and take a leak because every single time, it’s the same story with The Miz, and I guarantee you this past week he was full of the same old bullshit. “I’m awesome, I’m must-see, hold me Alex, tell these people how great I am Alex, make sure you read me a bedtime story Alex, what shall I say to the people to make them believe that I belong in this match Alex.” Nothing ever changes, there won’t be a five-star classic wrestling match with him involved, but he’d still come out the next week saying it was incredible and how nobody else can match him despite not doing anything of note or of any relevancy since taking my World Title.
Renee Young: So aren’t you worried about the threat that The Miz brings to the match?
Sami Zayn: I am, I just know his sneaky ways won’t be enough tonight, that’s all. If I had it my way, I’d take on The Miz right now in the first match of the evening. Not just to take him out of the title picture, but to show him that one on one, I’m still better than him. Then I could go and focus on PJ, because PJ and I have some unfinished business and he knows I came close last time, and this time I’m going one step further and that means I’m taking his championship. But unfortunately, that can’t happen and we’re stuck in this triple threat, even if there was that possibility I highly doubt The Miz would accept it, being the weasel that he is.
Renee Young: His last victory came this week, defeating Kevin Owens, a close friend slash bitter rival of yours. Do you think a huge win like that puts him at an advantage? Or maybe Kevin could have been in this match if he won?
Sami thought about it for a brief second, before shaking his head as he started to speak.
Sami Zayn: No, I don’t think so. I mean, yeah, Kevin is a great competitor and it’s a big win, but I just beat Seth Rollins and Baron Corbin in back to back weeks, so I’d say the momentum is on my side. But yeah, I’d say PJ is the confusing one here, because he’s the freshest by having competed less, but he’s probably not got that momentum compared to us. I don’t think it’ll matter, PJ isn’t winning anyway. Regarding the win, I don’t really care if he beat Kevin. It just means that if Kevin won, he may have been in this match but the result would have been the same, it doesn’t affect me at all. I know people might be sick of seeing me in the main events now, and maybe a change would be pretty cool, but they don’t understand that I earned those matches. If anything, we should be pissed at The Miz somehow finding his way into another title match, time and time again without achieving anything else other than dethroning me a year ago, since hen he’s been worse off than I have. Then I just sit back and augh at the situation, that he gets ANOTHER shot at the title, where up until now, I’ve only had the one but they dislike my chance over his multiple chances regardless of the fact that they’re sick of him repeating this boring process. But it’s okay, at the end of the day when he reads back in the record books, and he sees my name over his and PJ, he won’t be able to stomach that.
Renee Young: Something that’s brought up quite a lot with you, is many feel you’re too…simple. Meaning, playing to the fans, how can I put this…you…
Sami Zayn: Generic?
Renee Young: …Yup.
Sami Zayn: Look I hear it a lot, and it doesn’t bother me what they say, it seems to irritate them, so be it. I get it, I’m the average Joe that just loves to wrestle, whereas Miz thinks he’s some superstar and PJ think he’s the greatest champion this company has seen. But how many times do we have to listen to THEIR generic nonsense? They seem to dislike how I say I’ll give it my all every week, but one thinks we’re all entertained by somebody that has a jack-up, failed wrestler, rubbing his shoulders, pumping him up to say the same thing over and over, and the other things he’s overlooked every single week and we underestimate him time and time again? Look PJ, nobody has overlooked you because you seem to do that yourself and then try to pin it on us. And Miz. You’re not awesome anymore, you’re not amazing, and nobody but Riley gives two shits about what it is you have to say, Hey, it isn’t just me, me and PJ will be doing everyone a favour by dumping your sorry ass out of the match because as generic as I am, YOU are the most boring and least entertaining so-called star we have seen in this company in a long, long time. No amount of shouting and screaming into a camera is going to change that A, you can’t wrestle and B, nobody wants to see you as champion because it takes real talent to put the entire locker room to sleep when you come to the ring and open your mouth. Hey, I’m still talked about, believe it or not. I had Kevin Owens posting blogs about me, I have the Broken on my case and I even had The Miz’ failed pieces of crap, the Vertex, attack me from behind…yet…I don’t matter to him? That doesn’t make me a threat to him? Whatever he chooses to believe I guess, but let’s be honest, when was the last time anybody actually cared about what this fake, useless, failed reality star actually said or did?
Renee Young: Any final words on The Miz? As we really need to get through this and talk about the champion as well.
Sami Zayn: Not really, it’s just time to right the wrong that took place last year when he beat me. This time, though, I leave Destiny as the champion. I have no time for his cliché quotes where he spews that this is his Destiny; he knows he can’t beat me.
Renee Young: Actually, before we discuss the champion, a lot has been made about the threat The Broken bring. We’ve seen you get involved in both verbal and physical altercations with all of them at some point over the last few weeks, do you think, based on your record of these kinds of things happening…they could play a part in tonight’s match?
Sami took the question in, and took his time answering it. He thought about it for a brief second, but couldn’t help but let out a little smile and laugh as he could hear the ‘Ole!’ chants beginning to echo throughout the arena as more and more fans saw that he was sat there.
Sami Zayn: Y’know, for the first time in a really long time, I feel good about a title match. I don’t feel like I have a target on MY back for once, I don’t feel like I’M the one being hunted, I don’t feel the need to look over MY shoulder. I don’t have to head into this match thinking somebody or anybody from the Broken is going to cost me this golden opportunity. Anyway, they’re all busy with their own issues tonight, their own titles matches so regardless of their feelings towards me and my feelings towards them, they probably won’t be there to cost me the chance, considering they’ve yet to reach this level. I’m not worried, it’s PJ that is the target tonight, not me.
Renee Young: Okay, let’s move on now to the man that matters in this match the most. PJ Black, reigning, defending Path to Glory Champion, somebody that beat you not too long ago to retain the title, what’s changed that tells these fans you stand a better chance than he, or The Miz does.
Sami Zayn: Honestly, I don’t think a lot has changed from then. I think if you go back and watch the match, you’ll realise that 99% of that match was on a level playing field. I wasn’t dominated, I wasn’t outclassed, I wasn’t out of my depth either. It’s clear I gave PJ a run for his money and at the final hurdle, he leaped further than I did and crossed the line. I don’t think I need to change anything, I feel good, I feel healthy and if everything goes according to the game plan, I should be standing over them both with the championship title.
Renee Young: I’m sure you watched the brilliant match between PJ and Randy Orton, PJ retained yet again, what are your thoughts on PJ now after most of the locker room had been so critical of him since his reign as champion started?
Sami Zayn: Actually, I don’t think his critics will ever end until he does do what we want him to do and try his luck at cashing in for the World Title. I know, it’s difficult, it’s a risk, but that’s what these people wanted and it’s unfortunate for him that he won’t get that opportunity, because I’m taking it from him. I’ll admit, I’ve been super critical of PJ for a while now, not cashing in, not being around like a full-time performer lie the rest of us it seems, not being the champion these fans deserve. But at the end of the day, he’s the champion whether we like it or not, and he’s done what he had to do to stay there. And yeah, I get it, I’m probably not in the best position to be talking considering the last time we shared a ring, he beat me. I’m not stupid, I won’t be making the mistake of overlooking him, or The Miz for that matter either, because I feel that’s when PJ is at his best. When you overlook him, when his back is against the wall, when everybody continues to tell him that he’s worthless and he doesn’t belong here. Haven’t you noticed it? Do you want to know I noticed it? Because I’ve been through the exact same situation myself. Whenever I’ve been told I can’t do it, or I’m not good enough, or I don’t belong here…I win. The same applies to PJ, look at Randy and what he said and then what happened? PJ beat him. But, I guess now is the time for PJ to really prove it though, I mean it’s going good for him right now. He’s beaten me, I’ve beaten him, he’s beaten Randy, I’ve beaten Randy. So we’ve traded wins and losses over the last few years and the matches have been a lot of fun to be involved in.
Renee was about to speak, but Sami stopped her by sitting up in his seat and smiling.
Sami Zayn: But there is one thing I can remember. PJ beats me, I beat him, then PJ beats me, and I beat him, last time out, PJ beat me…so if we’re following that trend, looking at how it’s been going…maybe it’s my night and maybe PJ drops that title to me.
Renee Young: Maybe, we’ll have to wait and see. One thing I did want to pick up on, why do you think PJ Black isn’t cashing in his championship? What’s stopping him? Is it about giving guys like yourself opportunities?
Sami Zayn: Ha ha, no that’s definitely not it. These opportunities will come by with hard work, with or without PJ Black in the picture, so that’s way off the mark. I think PJ Black is stopping PJ Black, I think fear is stopping him, a lot really. The way I see it is that 99% of the spotlight in this company falls on the EBWF World Champion. That means most of the pressure falls on his shoulders, because fans want to see the World Champion defending his title in the best matches, week in, week out. I mean, you can say the same about the Intercontinental Championship as well, but the Path to Glory isn’t in that same bracket now and that’s all down to PJ. I believe that PJ wants to keep hold of this title for as long as possible, so the limelight doesn’t land on him, so questions aren’t asked about his fear of cashing in his golden opportunity. He knows that he can’t do it, put him in the ring with Chris Jericho or AJ Styles on Warfare and find out what happens, because PJ is content with being the mediocre champion he is in his mediocre reign and no reality check can make him snap out of it. So yeah, PJ is afraid that if he cashes in and loses, nobody will ever care about him anymore, and then he has to appear on Warfare every single week and compete against the best to reach that stage. Right now, he doesn’t do that and he’s loving this little gig he’s in as the champion, but I look forward to seeing him claw his way to the top again, if he has the desire to do it for more than one night a month.
Renee Young: It sounds like his reign is really irritating you, it irritated The Miz too.
Sami Zayn: I think it irritates everybody, including you. I know PJ is great in the ring, I know it’s difficult to win championships because I’m trying to do it right now. PJ captured that title, what, 200 or say days ago? But we’ve been more entertained by that freak Jimmy Havoc and his Breakout Championship reign in a shorter space of time than we’ve been entertained by PJ. That puts him, his title reign and his chances of ever becoming THE number one guy in this company to shame, and it genuinely does piss me off than when people click on our website or ask fans who the champions of our company are, one of those names we have to mention is PJ freaking Black. Hell, give me a month off and when I come back I guarantee you three five star matches with AJ Styles, Chris Jericho and Seth Rollins in the same damn night, because that’s what these people want. I guess it’s useless even bringing it up, or complaining about it, in his head he knows he’s not the deserving champion he thinks he is. He’s just a glorified stuntman who can only get it done one night a month, and because of guys like him taking the easy way out, I’m the one that gets called a choke, and I’m tired of carrying that label around.
Renee Young: Something a lot of people do say about you guys is that you’re the future of this company, the new era and your styles complement that, is that something you agree with?
Sami Zayn: The future…
Sami thought about it, looking a little indecisive before giving his answer.
Sami Zayn: I’m not sure. I know that on paper I’m part of this new era of stars and I hope I’m here for a long time so yeah, I’d like to think I’m included in that bracket. The Miz…well he and Alex Riley will tell you he was the reason wrestling was booming in the 80’s and 90’s, that he carried it through the Attitude Era too, so maybe he’ll tell you he’s the future of this business, even when he’s in his grave. But now, The Miz isn’t, he was never the present, he was average and caught a lucky break and he’s making the most of whatever little he has left in that non-existent talented tank of his. I think I’ve proven it constantly and consistently, that not only am I capable of being the future of this company, but I can do my part in helping carry it. I’ve proven my ambitions are higher than theirs, and that I want it more than ever, and more than them.
Sami hesitated for a second, before leaning forward to explain it to Renee.
Sami Zayn: Line the three of us up in front of these fans, or in the boardroom at the EBWF Headquarters in front of the guys in charge and ask them who they want as their future, as their Pat to Glory Champion They’ll point out their choice, and I think we both know who they won’t pick. Do they want a loud-mouthed scumbag who is the reason people change their channel and isn’t as good as he thinks he is as their man? Do they want a one night a month champion carrying their company when people even forget he works for the organisation? Or do they want someone here every single week laying it all on the line who shows the ambition to be the best. I know who ‘d pick, option C sounds like a pretty good option. I can tell you right now, when I take that title I’m not going to take the safer bet by competing once a month and stay refreshed to retain my title whenever I get the call and keep it by the skin of my teeth time after time. No, when I get that title, I’m still going to be on Warfare and the live evets every single week and as soon as the Royal Rumble comes around, I’m cashing in that opportunity in for the title because I know that’s where I belong, PJ doesn’t belong there and The Miz certainly doesn’t deserve it or deserves to put through us a year of boredom. He could’ve cashed it in tonight, at Sacrifice too, whenever, so to me it’s blatantly obvious that PJ Black is stopping himself from being the World Championship. At the end of the day, the nicest and simplest way of putting it is that The Miz is a loud-mouthed bitch, and PJ Black is a pussy. Simple.
Sami sat in his seat, confidently after calling out both of his opponents as he took Renee by surprise with his comments.
Renee Young: And with that, I thank you Sami for joining me on the pre-show tonight. Good luck in your title match tonight, and we’ll be back shortly with the tag team match!
Sami nodded into the camera with a little smirk on his face as the cameras ended the segment with Sami confidently looking on ahead of his title match.