Answers

[Ben M]

Renee Young: Good evening and welcome to the Warfare Pre-Show, live and exclusive here on EBWF.net! I’m joined by Matt Striker, and tonight Warfare is being held at the sold out Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.

Matt Striker: We have a huge main event in store tonight as Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens team up to take on AJ Styles and the Gateway Champion, The Miz. Once bitter enemies, Owens and Zayn have now formed an alliance, and the question on everyone’s lips is… why?

Renee Young: Since he attacked The Miz at Survivor Series, helping Kevin Owens win the Elimination Tag match, Sami Zayn has kept the EBWF universe waiting for answers. But this past weekend at a house show in Vancouver, Zayn finally spoke up. Check out this footage, here’s what Zayn had to say.

As the fans settled down in the arena - for the first time in history - boos echoed throughout the Rogers Arena as Sami Zayn’s theme music hit the PA system after his shocking return at the Survivor Series pay-per-view. Following that, Sami aligned himself with Kevin Owens as the duo failed to wrangle the Intercontinental Championship from The Miz. In his usual happy-go-lucky fashion, Sami danced his way down the ramp in his usual attire, knowing that he was annoying the fans after maintaining silence on the matter since his return. As he was introduced to the ring, Sami grabbed a microphone and smiled, finding himself in unfamiliar territory.

Sami Zayn: I don’t get it, why are you booing? Isn’t this what you wanted? Me to come out here and “explain my horrific, shocking, despicable actions” from Survivor Series at long last?

Sami’s goading only resulted in more boos from the fans, but he smiled as he got the reaction he wanted.

Sami Zayn: So I thought we might as well get this over with considering that on Warfare Monday night, Kevin and I are finally going to team up to put on the performance of a lifetime when the really odd pairing of AJ Styles and The Miz. I mean, it’s only a matter of time before Kevin I become Tag Team Champions and then take over this entire company but more on that later. You know, for the first time in a long time I realised that at the end of Survivor Series, you people were FINALLY talking about me...all of a sudden. I mean, it’s a nice change but I can’t believe that’s all it took. But the main question is...why?

Sami sarcastically scratched his chin looking confused before he stopped circling the ring and let the world know.

Sami Zayn: For years, I laid my body on the line for this company. For the guys at the back standing beside me when they needed the help, for management when they needed me the most, to the bosses who saw me as nothing but an expendable superstar who they could control with their puppet strings and expect me to dance. And dance I did! I danced to their tune and did what they said and all that time...I had to watch these worthless, nobodies come through those doors and leapfrog me. Then when they’re impressing management...you’re just thrown to the side like you’ve done nothing for the company. That was the last straw.

Sami then circled the ring again, calming himself down before laughing and addressing the fans again.

Sami Zayn: Then I had two choices, do I sit at home and watch these talentless guys continue doing what they’re doing or do I come and put things right. And by putting things right I mean I took a long hard look at myself in the mirror and realised that Kevin was right, I was wrong. I was the problem and when I saw that he was in the exact same position as me, held down by the management and nowhere to go - needing help and not knowing where to go...I knew it was time for his brother to have his back again. So that’s why I ask, why are you booing?! I did what any decent human being, any good friend and any brother would do. I helped out my brother in a time of need! I had his back when nobody else did! If anything, all of you should be ashamed of yourselves for not helping me open my eyes earlier! YOU all should be ashamed for booing what is supposed to be a beautiful moment - two friends, two brothers reuniting for the first time in a while. But just like everyone else in this company...you’re all too selfish. Everybody kept saying it, hyping it up, adding fuel to the fire...Sami and Kevin...fight forever. Nobody said it couldn’t be side by side.

The crowd continued to boo, which seemed to amuse Zayn. Suddenly, “Fight” by CFO$ hit and Kevin Owens made his way to the ring. Upon entering the ring, Owens embraced Zayn. He then grabbed a microphone and began to speak.

Kevin Owens: Sami… that was beautiful. I only wish we could have done this in a real Canadian city like Montreal, rather than the hellhole that is Vancouver.

The crowd booed again and began to chant “you both suck!” Owens shook his head.

Kevin Owens: No, we don’t suck… Vancouver does though! Ain’t that right, Sami?

Sami Zayn: Yep.

Owens laughed.

Kevin Owens: The sooner we get out of here, the better. But Sami, you’ve said what you needed to say… now I have something I need to say. And since the cameras are on, this is a message not just for you, not just for Vancouver… this is a message for the world! Sami, when I was stood in the back, listening to you talk, I loved every word of it. Do you know why? Because it was real. You’re finally the real you again, and the two of us fighting together is going to be real special. 2018 is our year, and whether it’s the World Title, the Gateway Title or the Tag Titles, I see gold in our futures.

Zayn nodded.

Sami Zayn: Yep!

Kevin Owens: On Monday, we face two men that I hate, The Miz and AJ Styles. And do you know why I hate them? Because they’re fake. Everything about them, is fake. The Miz calls himself “your favourite wrestler’s favourite wrestler”, but I don’t know a single wrestler who even likes The Miz. Miz, people resent you. And it’s not because you’re successful; it’s because you cheated your way into this business. You got yourself over on The Real World, and the guys in Stamford saw someone they could add onto their sports entertainment programme. They had do the one thing you’re good at - talking - while they trained you to wrestle, and then finally they let you in the ring. Now credit where credit is due… after years of you absolutely sucking, you wrestled enough times to actually have a decent match, and now you’re a multi-time champion, competing with the best in EBWF. But you still won’t stop talking. It’s as if, if you talk yourself up enough, you might start to believe it yourself.

The crowd started chanting for Miz, but Owens shook his head.

Kevin Owens: Miz isn’t here tonight. He’s probably in Hollywood, pretending to be a star. And do you know who else isn’t here? The former World Champion, AJ Styles. Because AJ only shows up when there’s something in it for him. When he doesn’t get what he wants, he takes his ball and goes up, then comes back when enough time has passed, the powers that be in EBWF decide to take another chance on him. And notice when he came back last year, who was the first person he went after? He went after The Miz, because Miz was Gateway Champion. He stood in this ring, attacked Miz, then said “we’re cool now”. And what happened? The Miz was so desperate to have a buddy, he said “yeah, we’re cool”. There’s an inevitable end to the Miz and Styles alliance, because sooner or later, one of them will decide the other one is no longer a useful ally. They would stab each other in the back in a heartbeat if it meant they could get what they wanted. But Sami and I, we want the same thing. Why don’t you tell them what that is, Sami?

Sami nodded and smiled, agreeing with everything Kevin had just said, clearly looking a little sentimental.

Sami Zayn: Kevin and I didn’t need lengthy discussions about coming together again. He and I can read each other better than twins can. We want to work together at long last to show you all, to show everyone on the entire roster just how dangerous we can be when we’re standing side by side.

Kevin grinned.

Kevin Owens: I couldn’t have put it better myself. Miz, Styles, everyone else in the back… consider yourselves on notice!

“Worlds Apart” by CFO$ hit, and as Owens and Zayn exited the ring, the Warfare Pre-Show cut back to Renee Young and Matt Striker.

Renee Young: Well Matt, now you know why, what do you think?

Matt Striker: Well Renee, as enemies Owens and Zayn damn near destroyed each other. So it does make you wonder… just how dangerous could they be now they’re on the same page?

Renee Young: We’ll find out later on tonight as they team up for the first time in EBWF, in the main event of Warfare! You don’t want to miss it! We’ll be right back!

The scene faded as the Pre-Show went to a commercial break.