Sami Zayn talks MITB, Kevin Owens and WWE brand spilt
They say America is the land of opportunity, well in the six months that Sami Zayn has been on the main roster the Canadian has certainly grabbed his opportunity with both hands. Since returning from injury as a surprise entrant in January’s Royal Rumble, Zayn has been the centre of some of WWE’s most enjoyable and creative angles. From his storied and continuous rivalry with Kevin Owens to being part of the thrilling Intercontinental title scrap last month, Zayn has painted himself as the wily underdog that fans just love to route for.
This Sunday he makes his next step on his WWE path by competing in his first-ever Money In The Bank ladder match, against five other Superstars, with a shot at the WWE title on the line. Ahead of one of WWE’s most anticipated shows of the year, Gorilla Position jumped on a call to speak to the 31 year-old about the Money In The Bank match and what he thinks his chances are of getting his hands on that golden briefcase.
“I’ve thought about getting my hands on that briefcase because more than anything it’s the opportunity it presents - as it’s almost a lock that the winner of the briefcase goes on to win the WWE World Heavyweight championship. Just thinking that if I can win this match, then I could win the WWE title, that’s the full circle for me and that’s so symbolic. My chances are as good as anyone else’s but you look at Alberto Del Rio who’s already won it, Chris Jericho has done so much already in his career, Kevin Owens has tons of momentum, Ambrose has been one of our top guys for years, and Cesaro is as hungry as me to brake out. I think on any given night any one of them could beat me, but I believe I can beat them, all of them and hopefully Sunday is the night.”
Sunday could well be the night for Sami, but standing in his way once again could be long-standing rival Kevin Owens. The pair have been back and fourth with each other on the main roster since the start of the year, echoing a rivalry that goes back to NXT and even further beyond. It’s a feud that’s been compared to the greats of Bret Hart/Shawn Michaels and Rock/’Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, so how pleased is Zayn that people are still so invested in their story? “ It’s not about being pleased, it’s about being astonished that folks are still interested in seeing it after all these years. I know it’s kind of reaching a new audience now with the WWE fanbase, but we have this rivalry going back to 2003 when we started, and we’ve taken it all over Quebec, then taken it all over the States and the all over the world. There’s something very strange with me and Kevin that it doesn’t matter how many times people have see it, it always gets fans attentions. There’s something there and you can’t explain it and it’s great that all the fans enjoy it.
One of the main advantages our rivalry has over the other rivalries in the WWE is the history, because a lot of the roster is so new as part of this new era and there’s been such a turnover, there’s not a lot a genuine history with these people. I mean I’ve known a lot of the guys for many years, like Cesaro, Seth Rollins, Luke Harper like ten years and there’s a built in history there that you can go back to. But especially with Kevin more than anyone, I don’t want to call it a twisted relationship, but if you’re in any relationship for this long there’s going to be some ups and downs and it’s great to keep going back to it.”
That rivalry could set be for a new chapter next month, when both Superstars are part of a WWE brand spilt that could see Zayn and Owens on separate shows. So the question is would Sami prefer for his long-term adversary to be on the same brand as himself, or would a spilt further the tension in their on-going history? “I feel like either way is good, I’m open to whatever happens. If we were spilt up on separate brands, that feud would always be there, that rivalry would always be there and the tension really never goes away. I plan on being with WWE for many years to come and I’m sure Kevin feels the same way, so I feel eventually it will all come out but we’re not in any rush. It’s funny, even though we’ve been in a rivalry in WWE since the start of 2016, we really haven’t scratched the surface on our history that goes well, well beneath what has happened the last six, seven months, there’s a whole ball of wax there that we haven’t touched yet. I think if we were separated hopefully all that will come out and still feel fresh to fans again, but if we were kept on the same brand whether it be Raw or SmackDown, then once that stuff comes out then it will take the rivalry to the next level.”
Away from Owens, another one of Zayn’s opponents this Sunday is fellow Canadian Chris Jericho, who seems to be enjoying another extended stint in WWE and carving yet a new character for himself - something of which Zayn himself is in awe of. “Jericho inspired me a lot when I was growing up, he was one of the guys I’ve modeled my career after just because of the journey he took to get to WWE. You know he started in Canada, then worked some of the territories, before going to Mexico and Japan, and then ECW, WCW and finally WWE. It’s such an attractive career path and one I always wanted to do. To see him now all these years later, as active and adaptable as he is, and for him to just to walk into the main event scene and for it not to be awkward is amazing. Some of these guys come back and they don’t fit in anymore, not through any fault of their own, it’s just times changed and something’s don’t fit and feel right. And you see that with some of the guys from the ‘attitude era’ it’s still the same act and it feels off a little bit because things around them have changed. Jericho is so adaptable, he’s been able to change with the times and the character he’s currently doing is like a hybrid of many many characters we’ve seen over the years - what’s old is new again for him. From a physical stand point, the fact that he can still put on these main event matches at 45 is completely inspirational and a little unbelievable to me - I’d like to be in that shape at that age and still go like he can.”
The MITB match has provided fans with some memorable moments over the years, and has now become almost the new addition to WWE’s traditional big four pay-per-views (Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Survivor Series). From CM Punk’s epic battle with John Cena in 2011 to the plethora of briefcase winners who’s cash-ins have become ones of WWE folklore - and it’s those moments Zayn thinks of when discussing previous Money In The Bank shows. “You know, to me MITB match itself is always exciting as you have all these top players going for the championship, but for me it’s really the impact of that contract, and that ability to cash in the briefcase at anytime. Those moments are very historic, like Daniel Bryan winning it at MITB was a big moment for me just because I’d been a fan and peer of his for so long and you knew what it meant - cash it in and become champion which he did. Watching Seth Rollins cash in, and others at the right time and become champion are really the moments I remember most. Although the match is always fun getting to that point, and seeing the guys put it on the line for that shot.”
We can’t let the mention of Daniel Bryan pass, without asking Zayn about the constant comparison he has to the former WWE champion. Both came from similar wrestling backgrounds and both have captured fans hearts as the everyman and underdog that no fan can fail to cheer for. “I’ve been compared to Daniel Bryan a lot and I can see the similarities, especially the way we came through the industry in certain ways. But honestly as much as I like and respect Daniel I don’t want to be regarded as the ‘next’ anything, I want to create my own legacy instead of being recognized a successor or have my name attached to anyone. However if I get to the level of success of Daniel has had or perform to the level he has on the main roster then I’d be very honored.”
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