Sami Zayn discusses the physicality of wrestling ahead of his match with GUNTHER.
This Saturday’s opening night of WrestleMania 40 is packed full of high-quality in-ring action, and one of the most anticipated matches of the weekend is Sami Zayn challenging GUNTHER for the Intercontinental Championship. The Austrian poses a physically tough challenge for Zayn in Philadelphia, but this appears to be something the Canadian underdog is looking forward to.
Speaking with The Ringer, Zayn discussed the switch in mentality that wrestlers have when out in the ring and how they may look past any prior injuries to physically give their all in matches. He mentions how GUNTHER is the perfect opponent to illustrate this, as the pair will want to obliterate each other once they step into the ring this Saturday. Interestingly, he notes that he’s had an issue with his sternum for multiple years as a result of active competition.
“You go to a different place out there (in the ring). It’s weird. So all this say, now, when I’m like, ‘Ugh, my back’s kind of hurting. Oh God, these chops.’ I’ve got this sternum thing that I’ve had for a few years, but when I’m out there, I might be like, ‘Come on! That’s it! Harder! What the — bring it!’ You know what I mean? I’ve had guys slapping me in the face and I’m going, ‘C’mon! C’mon! C’mon!’ And nobody wants to get slapped in the face, but when you’re out there… and if the story’s right and if the feeling’s right, I want him to kick my head in. Because I’m gonna kick his head in, you know what I’m saying? And that’s actually the magic, especially I think that’s part of why GUNTHER’s such a great opponent, because he (will) obliterate you. But when it’s time, you can kind of obliterate (him) back. Those are the best.”
-Sami Zayn
This weekend’s spectacle event is centred around The Bloodline, with Roman Reigns wrestling twice over the course of Saturday and Sunday. Touching on his own time with the group, Sami called his turn on Roman Reigns one of the biggest angles in wrestling history.
“And I think the biggest and probably best thing we did — I mean there was a lot to choose from with that Bloodline story but, the night at the Royal Rumble, I think that was one of the biggest angles maybe ever shot in all honesty and that was the most — I’m getting goosebumps just talking about it — but that was the… that was actually of all The Bloodline stuff we did, I’m talking beginning to end, that was the single most collaborative effort where everybody threw something in that ended up coming out in the final product and every piece was like somebody else’s idea and it was magic.”
-Sami Zayn
Whether Sami Zayn can overcome the odds and be the one to dethrone GUNTHER for the WWE Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 40 remains to be seen, but there’s no doubting his importance to the company over the last couple of years. Last April, he memorably won the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships alongside Kevin Owens, and some fans will be hoping for a similarly historic victory this weekend.
As always, we’ll aim to provide any further updates on Sami Zayn ahead of WrestleMania 40 as soon as we hear more.
H/T to POST Wrestling for the transcription.
