CEOD

[Raza]

Sorry for the crappy showing, had to type it all on my phone and start again. Good luck to everyone!

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Renee Young: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my guest at this time, Sami Zayn.

Sami sat opposite Renee, and it been quite a while since fans had seen him. He looked in great spirits as he looked excited to be there.

Renee Young: Where’ve you been Sami? Fans are beginning to miss hearing your music!

Sami Zayn: It’s been quite a strange time for me recently, I will be the first to admit that I’ve definitely fallen down the pecking order a little, but hey, I’m still living, breathing and competing on the night so I don’t think I can complain too much. I think I’m so used to competing in fast-paced matches every single week and when I’m not on Warfare or a pay-per-view, I’m out there at the live events and the house shows. So, it’s definitely been a little strange to take a step out of the limelight a little, let my body heal and probably a good reason too, considering the sort of event we’re heading into, if I was in there every single night into this event, I’d probably be out of action for longer than I would have liked. So it’s bittersweet, I’m glad that I’ve had time to recover, but not as pleased as to where I am in the card and that I’m going to be back in the locker room early in the evening to watch the rest of the match, I fought hard to get away from that, and here I am, back at the beginning.

Renee Young: Well you could say everyone else fights just as hard too, perhaps that will fire them up on Sunday?

Sami Zayn: I don’t think it’s a knock on anyone, I think our match could well and truly outshine the main event, I think our stipulation is brutal and you have four of the best guys around fighting for the prize. While I’d love to be in the main event, don’t get me wrong, I’m one lucky son of a bitch to fight for the Intercontinental Championship, the same title that really made people open their eyes and realise that I’m not here for a five month stint or that I’d leave when I lose.

Renee Young: Well you’re in an intense, dangerous match, what are your thoughts on the match and on Roman Reigns who makes a brave defence of the gold?

Sami Zayn: I got the call a few days ago, actually. I was told I’m in the match, which I said great and then I was told the stipulation and who else is involved and I was a little worried and excited and eager to get into the ring. I think probably…myself and Kevin have a bit of an advantage. That’s not gloating or anything like that, I’m telling it how it is. Look, I like Roman, I like the fact he’s not backing away from this match and this title defences and titles defences don’t come much tougher than this, so I commend him for what he’s doing, and despite being in the match, I wish him the best of luck because I know it’s not easy. People can say that the one time we’ve faced off, I beat him. Sure, in my mind that’ll give me a little more confidence, but the fact is that won’t even matter here. This isn’t a singles match, this isn’t a match where all my focus will only be on Roman, there’s two other guys there looking to do the same as me. I hope Roman fights for his life in that cage, and tries his best but I can only visualise myself leaving with that title, and should that happen, the least he’d deserve is another shot at the gold in the new year. I know he probably respects me a little more now, and that will probably make him work even harder this whole week and on the night as well. The only thing is, having Paul around will make absolutely no difference in the outcome of this match. I know Paul, I know he has the knowledge and the wisdom and he’ll guide Roman’s career to new heights, heights Roman probably didn’t know existed and phase one was the title he has over his shoulder. Paul may have guided the careers of the likes of Brock Lesnar many more, but what Paul can’t prepare you for is three guys gunning for you and your title, with weapons scattered around, a cage surrounding us and barbed wire topping it all off. No matter what Paul tells you, I swear to you, there’s absolutely nothing Paul can say, or do to make you get ready for that, nobody can get ready for that. Not me, not you, not the other two involved. The second you get a little too confident, the second you think you have it all figured out, you’re going to be coughing up blood and asking Paul what the hell just happened. While I know you’re capable of doing it, I just don’t think CEOD is the night you’ll do it. Not when I need it more.

Renee Young: Alex Riley is also in the match, what an opportunity for him having been a big part of The Miz’ success in recent times.

Sami Zayn: Alex, I’d say is at a disadvantage too. Look, I’m just as surprised as you guys to see how amazingly well he’s doing for himself since kicking The Miz’s ass, and I’m actually glad Miz isn’t in this match either but…I think it’s the same as Roman. I do have a little respect for him, especially when he and I somehow managed to work together to pick up a win and since then he’s been on a roll, so I know he’s going to be so, so confident heading into the event and that’s good, he needs to be. But I feel Alex is the Paul, and Miz is the Roman. I think Alex has been on the side for far too long to be ready for a match of this magnitude. Sure, he deserves this opportunity as much as I do, if not more. But I’ve been in some ridiculous matches before coming here, and in this company as well. I’ve not had anybody guide me or tell me to get ready, I’ve had to witness that firsthand. I think this is just too soon for Alex and I think he’ll find that out the hard way too.

Renee Young: And obviously, Kevin Owens, a big part of your life and the two of you will share this moment.

Sami Zayn: Me and Kevin, strip away all of the theatrics and the love and the hatred…we’ve seen it all. I know what he’s been through, he knows what I’ve been through. We’ve put our bodies on the line for a few bucks to spend a week in hospital to make sure the kids get a good birthday or Christmas present or because we didn’t want to send the 30 people that came in to watch us go home upset or disheartened. The Kevin I know, it’ll probably be the best, he knows what he has to do to get the title back, he knows how to do it, and I know he's going to stop at nothing. All of this acting nice shtick isn’t making me fall for anything. I know that whenever he gets the chance to grab a chair or whatever else he can get his hands on, he won’t look me in the eye to tell me he HAS to do it…he’ll make sure I know that he WANTS to do it. I know he’ll take great pleasure in making sure he got the better of me and honestly, I’ll make sure he knows I got the better of him. I think it means more to me as well, which probably isn’t true in his eyes. But I can just tell that he’s here just to be here, I’m here to get back to the top and if I have to climb his carcass to get there, so be it.