We’ve heard reports that many people at WWE were thrilled that Sami Zayn was booked to win the company’s top belt last Saturday at Night of Champions. We’ve seen evidence of his colleagues’ excitement for Zayn’s unexpected victory in Saudi Arabia, and shared our own.
On ESPN New York this morning (July 2) with Don La Greca and Peter Rosenberg, the new champ spoke about how much it all means to him. He also shared that he received a text from someone who’s won a WWE World title a record-setting 17
times.
“I think one of the things that overwhelmed me the most about this is the outpouring of support and love and people saying, the words that came up the most were ‘overdue’ and ‘deserved’, like ‘well-deserved’ and ‘long overdue.’ And to get that from so many people that I respect and that I love and it’s really really been touching to no end. I guess one message that I got that I guess I didn’t expect, although I didn’t expect it and it was extremely nice was from John Cena.
“He sent me a message and he just kind of reminded me of the difficulty of attaining this, and that less than 1% of people who ever aspire to do what we do ever gets to this point. And that’s not lost on me, but to hear it coming from him, just saying ‘congratulations.’ And one of one of the things he said that also really touched me is just that this is a genuinely earned, I don’t want to throw out personal stuff that he said to me, but the thing that stuck to me is just that he said ‘you really, you did it your way.’
“And man, I just thought that was so cool coming from him. Cause he didn’t have to text me at all and he did. And it was really one of the more touching texts I got to be honest with you.
“He’s a very thoughtful person. And I think he was just trying to remind me in case I wasn’t already – to be very mindful of the unlikeliness and how difficult it is to reach the mountain top and that you did it and you should be proud of that. And that was I guess in summary. But man, it was cool. It was a really cool message to get.”
You know, that Cena cat might be alright.
Less alright are the critics of Zayn being WWE champion. Well, Sami has them covered to. He uses a lot of words to say it, but that’s my champion. I agree with him that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with not enjoying him as a performer, but if you’re already out on his reign because he doesn’t look like your ideal WWE champion? You might be missing out on a lot in life if you approach things that way.
“Look if you just don’t like me, that’s fine. You’re certainly allowed to not like me, but I think if you start getting married to an archetype of what you have been taught to like, this is what you should want, and then that’s all you buy. I mean, without insulting anybody here, I just think that’s kind of a lack of free thought. Like, a lack of intelligence? Well, I mean, what I’m saying is [those who take the attitude] ‘This isn’t the product I’ve always purchased.‘
”I mean, and that’s fair, but you’re allowed to want other products or enjoy other products. It shouldn’t be one thing has been sold to you, and you should come to accept that that is the only thing, the only way anything needs to be done.
“I equate that with almost like staying in your hometown your whole life and you know never going to New York City, and then never realizing that there’s a whole planet out there and there’s billions of people out there and there’s billions of ways to do things and there’s billions of different cuisines and cultures and dances and whatever. There’s a whole universe out there and you got to like and maybe I say this because traveling the world has been so important to me and it’s shaped my world view, but it’s like, man, open, broaden your horizons a little bit. You know what I mean? And if I’m just not your cup of tea, fair play.
“But the idea that a champion needs to be this or needs to be that, I’m like ‘Oh well, you’re an idiot.’ Nothing needs to be anything, right? If it’s good, it’s good. I’ve always kind of subscribed to that. I think the work I’ve been putting out over the last few years is good.”
I say, “word”, but then I’m Ride or Die for the Last Real Good Guy. What say you, Cagesiders?
