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MONDAY JUNE 12 2017 – EBWF MONDAY NIGHT WARFARE – BARCLAYS CENTER – NEW YORK CITY; NEW YORK
The cameras were backstage inside of the Barclays Center in New York, just behind gorilla and you could hear the sound of World’s Apart by CFO$ blasting the PA system as Sami Zayn advanced to the next round of the King of the Ring by defeating Tommaso Ciampa. Renee Young was seen standing there, waiting for Sami to get back and eventually, there was a light applause as a depleted, sweaty and tired Sami walked through the curtains and breathed a massive sigh of relief; picking up the first bottle of water he saw and drank half of it right on the spot. Eventually, he saw Renee and approached her as she had a big smile on her face, bringing him into the shot as he grabbed a towel, placed it around his neck and wiped his forehead, looking down at Renee.
Renee Young: Ladies and gentlemen, we just witnessed a fantastic match between two of the finest in the EBWF. Sami Zayn, you just defeated Tommaso Ciampa which means you are now one win away from the semi-finals, how does that sound?
Sami couldn’t help but smile.
Sami Zayn: I needed that, that reminder. I don’t need to tell everyone about the sucky year I have had, since the championship match last year, actually. But…there’s just something about this tournament that gives me an adrenaline rush, because it’s do or die, you either sink or swim and for two years straight I’ve been swimming. I’ve come this far now, I don’t plan on sinking and my fortunes WILL turn around this year.
Renee Young: Well you could be eventually facing Edge or Enzo Amore, any preference there?
Sami Zayn: That’s an easy one, Enzo. Nothing against Edge, but we’ve danced enough over these past two years and it’s time for the new guard to step up, so yeah I hope Enzo does it, he deserves to be where he is and I look forward to that match.
Renee Young: Well before we get to that, there is a match before the pay-per-view next week on Warfare where you will go up against Bobby Roode or Jimmy Havoc – who do you think you’ll be standing opposite next week? Or who would you prefer?
Sami Zayn: I don’t really have a preference on who I’d want, but I’m pretty sure it’ll be me and Jimmy next week.
Renee Young: You sound quite confident with that prediction, don’t you?
Sami Zayn: I just see something in him. Something…relatable I guess? The need to prove yourself, the need to break doors down and make an impact in a competitive company like this where guys like he and I wouldn’t get looked at twice. I see that fire in his eyes that he wants this bad...I just want it more.
Renee Young: It would be quite a story, I mean the two of you have a history.
Sami Zayn: Yeah, we do. Look I’m not going to stand here and talk down on his achievements – I don’t hate the guy. In fact, I think Jimmy Havoc is more like me than I’d like him to be, it’s just I look…well…like me and he looks like somebody went crazy when customising a character on The Sims. But, if you strip all of that way there’s no denying that the two of us work harder than anybody on this roster. Look at every Warfare card for the past year or whatever, you’d be surprised to see a show where one or the other isn’t featured. We’re on the road every day, in that ring, putting on shows and I can’t knock him for that. So yeah, we work hard for what we have and what we want, it’s just that our methods and our approach is different. I’m the guy that does everything the right, honourable way; he’s the guy that uses the cheat codes in every game he plays because he thinks it’s the best way to go about it, and he’s happy about the results. Not me.
Renee Young: Would you say it’s a shame this might not happen at a pay-per-view, I mean Bobby Roode could even defeat him and what is it do you think that makes him the way he is?
Sami Zayn: I don’t really know, maybe a lack of attention growing up? A genuine desire to stand out and be noticed by someone but hey, it worked and people are talking about him. But yeah, in all honesty without getting his head too big, this is my ideal final. If this was actually up to me, I would meet Jimmy Havoc in the final because next week one strong competitor will go through and one will get eliminated. Now, we often forget the end goal of this, it’s not to win the tournament but it’s a chance to compete for the World Championship. If PJ Black is to be dethroned, I feel we’d be the best options to go with because that ‘reign’ needs to end so we avoid another Path to freaking boredom situation. Still, I’ve come good on my chance to be world champion because I capitalised during my first tournament win. Jimmy…well…he talked a great game and he’s failed. Everybody knows that in this whole tournament, I AM the man to dethrone PJ Black because he and I have a storied past too. I’m the man to win this tournament, and I’m the man to become World Champion. If Jimmy wins then…I guess PJ Black remains World Champion and the world goes on – the tournament would be a huge waste of time to begin with. I don’t even know who needs this more, I’m in a conversation with Randy Orton, who would have ever thought that? I have a chance to make it an unprecedented three. But, these are things Jimmy overlooks, he’s done that in the past. You want to know what Jimmy has done that I haven’t? Jimmy has been a Breakout Champion. No disrespect to the gold, but I was never in that title picture and my first piece of gold saw me catapulted into the Intercontinental Championship picture. He’s jealous. He had to watch me back to back King of the Ring tournaments. He’s jealous. He had to watch me become the World Champion, and I know for a fact he’s jealous about that because that’s the one prize he believes he deserves and it’s the one prize that has and will continue to allude him while I am around. I’m not the one here delivering false promises to his fake followers. I say what I do, he makes you believe what he wants you to believe and then switches up his lies when things don’t go his way. You think losing the Gateway Championship was his plan? No, he just wasn’t good enough…just like he won’t be good enough if he can get past Bobby Roode.
Renee Young: He has been on a roll recently, as have you in this tournament. Before you leave, any final message to the potential opponent you could be facing next week?
Sami Zayn: The roles have reversed it seems, Bobby Roode needs to give me a reason to be worried – like Jimmy Havoc has. Jimmy had my attention the second he walked through those doors and even pinned me. But there’s one thing he needs to know, I’m not one of the victims that ends up leaving when he picks up the wins. Sure, he’s beaten guys and they’ve never been seen again, but who do you think started that trend? I’ve forgotten the names of half the guys I faced one week and they disappeared the next, but I think it’s important that he listens and comprehends this somehow. I’m Sami Zayn, I’ve had the world against me telling me I can’t make it, and I’m still here. I’m not going anywhere regardless of the outcome. I’m just worried about you, though, Jimmy. What do you do after this? Go on Diddy and Donkey Kong adventures with Braun Strowman? I know what I am capable of, I’ve held the World Championship, something I know you’re just dying to hold and I know that eats you up inside too, that I have one-upped you in at least one department. I know I’m better in the ring, I’m more passionate too and while I’ll never understand what it is that goes through your mind, I hope that I can knock some sense into it and when you see me sit on my throne for the third year running, maybe you’ll realise you need to switch your lifestyle and the outlook you have on life – and you could finally achieve some level of success I know you’re dying to have on the inside.
Everyone at the back was left stunned as the uber-confident and borderline smug Sami looked into the camera to goad Jimmy Havoc, and sounded as confident than ever that he was going to win King of the Ring again.