Sami Zayn came so close to reaching the summit of the pro wrestling industry, he could almost taste it.
Before a deafening, sold-out crowd at last year鈥檚 Elimination Chamber event in Montreal, the red-headed hometown hero hit Roman Reigns with his patented "Helluva Kick" and pinned him for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. The audience nearly blew the roof off the Bell Centre. But Reigns, the current face of the franchise, kicked out and thanks to some outside interference from his minions, eventually won the match.
Zayn finds himself in a different spot as he heads to WrestleMania 40 this weekend in Philadelphia. He鈥檚 not in the main event. But he doesn鈥檛 mind taking the scenic route to the top.
鈥淚 think I鈥檓 in a really good position, but I haven't lost sight of the fact that that world title is still the big one that I'd like to get one day before this is all said and done. It鈥檚 more satisfying when you see a guy come close several times and not quite make it (before winning),鈥 Zayn says on a phone call from New York City.
鈥淒o I think Montreal would have been the perfect moment? Yes, selfishly, of course I think that. But I do think there's somewhere to go from there.鈥
That somewhere is in the squared circle against Gunther, the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion in WWE history, holding the title for more than 660 days. Zayn is excited about the prospect of ending the Austrian wrestler鈥檚 unprecedented run this Saturday on the first night of WrestleMania. It will be his eighth appearance at wrestling鈥檚 marquee spectacle.
Zayn says it鈥檚 鈥渧ery poetic鈥 that this year鈥檚 WrestleMania is in Philadelphia, since he likens his career trajectory to Rocky Balboa鈥檚. Like the city鈥檚 fictional hero, created and portrayed by Sylvester Stallone, he鈥檚 been an underdog at different stages of his journey.
鈥淩ocky is one type of underdog in the first 鈥楻ocky,鈥 when he's an unknown and he makes a name for himself. And he's a different kind of underdog in 鈥楻ocky IV鈥 when he's already been a champion and done all these things, but he's going up against a monster. I feel these WrestleManias are my Rocky stories in a way. This one would be the closest to 鈥楻ocky IV.鈥"
The 39-year-old is one of several Canadians competing at WrestleMania 40, including his longtime friend and fellow Montrealer Kevin Owens, who faces Logan Paul and Randy Orton for the United States Championship on night two.
At last year鈥檚 WrestleMania in Los Angeles, Zayn and Owens ended another historic title reign when they dethroned twins Jimmy and Jey Uso to become the Undisputed WWE Tag Team champions.
Zayn says the rabid cheers he and Owens receive in Montreal are responsible for their success in WWE. In 2015, when he made his main roster debut facing John Cena in his hometown during an episode of Monday Night Raw, the arena rallied behind his every move.
鈥淭hat crowd just responds so well to me in the arena that it just seeps through the television and it's infectious. It just makes you seem like such a huge deal,鈥欌 he says.
鈥淚 don't know that there's another city that treats their hometown guy the way Montreal treats me and Kevin Owens. It鈥檚 just exceptional.鈥
Zayn has run with that momentum to become one of WWE鈥檚 most popular stars, captivating audiences with his mix of in-ring agility, comedic chops and compelling promos. He hit his stride in 2022 when he was involved in a storyline with Reigns, the company鈥檚 biggest star, joining his stable The Bloodline.
At that year鈥檚 Royal Rumble, as the group was ganging up on Owens, Zayn came to his friend鈥檚 defence, setting up a showdown between himself and Reigns. Many considered it to be WWE鈥檚 hottest storyline in years.
鈥淚 hope I get to be at the centre of something like that again in my lifetime,鈥 Zayn says. 鈥淓ven for Roman, for whom there's a case to be made has had a top-three career of all time 鈥 I dare say the vibe and the buzz going into our match, I don't know if any of his other matches have had that.鈥
Zayn has faith that he鈥檒l get another chance at a 鈥渟torybook ending鈥 where he wins the Universal Championship, but he admits popularity is fickle in pro wrestling.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a very, very delicate balancing act because sometimes when you don't strike right when it's a perfect time, you could miss momentum so quickly, sometimes even in a week," he says.
"It's really crazy, especially with the Internet, because it creates a large vocal community where you can discuss at length how you felt about something. It just amplifies that momentum and that goes in both directions."
Regardless, Zayn is focused on this weekend, promising to 鈥渄o something memorable that leaves its mark on WrestleMania history.鈥
Beyond his own legacy, he realizes he鈥檚 carrying the torch for Canadians in pro wrestling.
鈥淚 feel very proud to even be included on that list. Who knows what the next generation is going to look like, but when you talk about Roddy Piper and Bret Hart, and you talk about Kevin Owens and myself, there's almost a 20-year gap,鈥 he says.
鈥淗opefully it's not another 20-year gap until the next premier talent out of Canada leaves their mark on WWE.鈥
This report by 香港六合彩挂牌资料 was first published April 4, 2024.
