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Monday 24 October 2016 – EBWF Monday Night Warfare – Chesapeake Energy Arena – Oklahoma City; Oklahoma
The cameras were backstage inside of the Chesapeake Arena in Oklahoma City. The Warfare show was already in full swing and we were only a few moments away from the main event featuring Sami Zayn as he took on Roman Reigns in an exciting match-up. Renee Young slowly approached Sami backstage who was in his ring gear, stretching against the wall and doing some breathing exercises while listening to music, knowing it was going to be a tough test.
Renee Young: Sami…can we catch a quick word before you head out there for your match against Roman Reigns?
Sami nodded, unzipping his jacket a little and exhaling, looking extremely focused on the task at hand.
Renee Young: The last time you were competing, you were unable to complete the clean sweep of The Broken, as Jimmy Havoc managed to hit the Acid Rainmaker on you for the win, what are your thoughts on that and how do you plan on bouncing back?
Sami Zayn: Yeah…I was surprised to be honest. I thought having taken down the other two, I could take down their leader and we could all go back to some normality around here, but I guess it’s going to take more than one guy to take them down. That’s not a plea for help, that’s for those that understand to step up. But at the same time, it’s completely pointless focusing on that because what’s done is done and as much as I’d like to, I can’t change that. Instead, I have to focus on a completely different threat in Roman Reigns and he’s my only focus right now. As for bouncing back, I’ll have to bounce back how I always have, fight and fight and keep fighting until I pick up the win I need, tonight may be that night, maybe it won’t. Let’s see which Roman turns up.
Renee Young: So…any thoughts on what happened with Jimmy and The Broken last week…
Sami Zayn: I really, really couldn’t give a damn whatever nonsense they’re up to now. We’ll meet again.
Renee Young: Okay…um…Roman Reigns. How important is Paul Heyman to his success do you think?
Sami Zayn: I guess inside of the ring it doesn’t matter, right? Roman is destructive, but has weaknesses. I’m not going to go full-blown Sydal and list you his weaknesses and tell you which manoeuvres I can do to capitalise on those weaknesses and every country I’ve travelled to and how long I’ve done this. The fact is, I’ve already beaten one of Paul’s clients in Brock Lesnar. In my eyes, he’s been Paul’s greatest, most successful and most destructive client, so that gives me more confidence heading into this match. Paul didn’t expect it, Brock probably didn’t expect it, hell, I didn’t expect it either. I just hope for Roman’s sake, Paul tells him that tonight isn’t an easy task because if Roman overlooks me, Paul won’t be a happy man and perhaps an unemployed man if he can’t bring his client success.
Renee Young: How difficult is it for you then? Especially after a big loss the last time you competed.
Sami Zayn: I think any time you’re up against Roman, it’s a difficult task. It doesn’t matter if you’re coming in with a 20 match losing streak or if you’re unbeaten for an entire year. He’s a different breed and I thrive off that, it’s a challenge and a chance for me to prove to myself that this notion of super athletes being at the top and being the most deserving to championship doesn’t exist. In m mind, I’m better than Roman every day of the week. In my head I know he can’t live with me in that ring and there’s nothing he can bring that I’ve not seen before. But in his head, I’m just another fly for him to swat before he moves on to the next one, I don’t exist in his world and he’d hope that’s the case tonight if he can get past me easily. But just like a fly, I can be pretty annoying and he’ll see that when I’m breaking him down from every angle. It’s tough, but it’s doable and I’m the guy to do it.
Renee Young: So what’s your key to beating him?
Sami Zayn: I think it’s more going with the flow. You can’t predict what will happen live, so we’ll see. I mean with Paul Heyman, you’re battling two opponents anyway so already you’re under so much pressure. There’s the physical battle, the important one against Roman in front of a live audience when it’s unpredictable and anything can happen. But before that, you have a battle that makes or breaks your chances against Roman. If you can mentally prove that you’re still in the game with Paul, you can get into the match with Roman with a great chance at winning. But if Paul gets in your head and makes you doubt yourself, then the chances of me or anyone else winning against Roman are slim to none. So I’m ready for anything, I’ve heard everything the both of them have had to say. I’ve taken it on the chin and I know they can’t make me doubt myself more than people already do. I think right now in this moment; I’ve won one battle. There’s just one left, so let’s make it a good one.
Renee Young: You’ve spoke a lot about Paul Heyman and his influence on this match. But what about Roman himself? What are your genuine thoughts on him?
Sami Zayn: Ah Roman…Roman is a confusing one. I mean he should be in the main event picture, he should. I can’t deny that. He should be the one that brings down Chris Jericho and keeps AJ Styles away from the World Championship, but he hasn’t, and I don’t think he can. The way he talks and acts, he acts like he’s at that level, but the harsh reality is that he isn’t. I mean if I had what Roman had, I’d be a World Champion here for a record-breaking time. I don’t know what it is, but he’s just not…convincing enough to make everyone here either afraid of him or look at him as somebody who could steamroll through everyone to reach the top. I don’t understand what’s stopping him, it’s either Paul…or Roman himself. Maybe he’s just not as good as he thinks he is.
Renee Young: Is there any tension or level of disrespect between you both?
Sami Zayn: I don’t think so. This is the first time we’ve faced off, we haven’t interacted much but I don’t have a genuine problem with him, not at all. Look, my feelings on him on a personal level are totally different than a professional level. I don’t think he has what it takes to beat me and I don’t think he has what it takes to be the guy here, but all jibes aside, I can’t say I don’t respect him. I know it’s probably just as difficult for him to be taken seriously as it was for guys like me. Yeah, we have the wrestling background and then you have jackasses like Vince Russo claim that wrestling is dead when guys like me reach the top. If I looked like Roman then maybe it’s a different story. But then on the flip side you have a juggernaut in Roman who decides to follow this difficult path, you have that pressure of family and then you have thousands of people in the arena and online telling you that you can’t wrestler and I know it affects you. I don’t see that fire in Roman, I hope I can light it inside of him tonight. I know it probably irritates him deep down that we have scumbags like Havoc and Rollins running things here, I hope that win or lose, he can step up tonight and show me that it’s not something I’m fighting on my own. But, from what I see, and with Paul by his side, I just know he isn’t in this for anybody but himself, so I won’t get my hopes up. I’ll just have to remind him that his path to the top is going to hit inevitable hurdles, and they don’t come bigger than me right now. Perhaps after tonight, he’ll look at me differently, and take me a little more serious. Roman is good, but he’s not great. He’s not better than me, and he can’t beat me and he and Paul, well…they probably do believe that, Renee.
Sami’s theme music hit the PA system which signalled that it was time for the main event to begin.