Tag: Sami Zayn

Backstage News On Sami Zayn Missing WWE Greatest Royal Rumble

Image result for sami zayn raw 2018

Sami Zayn likely was not included in last Friday’s Greatest Royal Rumble main event from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia because he is of Syrian descent. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Syria cut relations in 2012. WWE filmed a segment at the GRR go-home RAW that saw Sami mention the 50-man match to Kevin Owens but another segment was later filmed that had Sami say he wasn’t feeling well, hinting that he wouldn’t be able to make the trip to Saudi Arabia for the event.

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports this week that the Sami situation was kept secret before and during the GRR event. Sami had known he wouldn’t be appearing for about a week as he was told that he would be doing an injury angle on the April 23rd RAW to explain why he would not be appearing, despite being advertised for the 50-man match. Sami was not told why he was off the show and it looks like he still has not been told, based on what he’s said to people privately since then. The Observer adds that Sami is claiming he has no explanation on why he was pulled from the show.

There was also a directive handed down, that no one could speak on the Sami issue until after the show, to avoid any potential controversy over WWE being told that one of their talents could not work a show because of his ethnicity, according to The Observer. We noted before how the whole WWE crew was given a list of cultural miscues to avoid while in the Kingdom, such as to never blow off a handshake to anyone because it would be taken as an insult and you don’t want to insult the wrong person. One of the items on this list was to never mention anything about Sami.

WWE issued this statement on Sami missing the big event in Saudi Arabia last week:

“WWE is committed to embracing individuals from all backgrounds while respecting local customs and cultural differences around the world.”

Source: WrestlingINC

Owens & Zayn Fail To Get Spot On RAW Roster

Image result for Owens & Zayn ask Kurt Angle for a Job on RAW

At WrestleMania 34, Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn lost their match against Daniel Bryan & Shane McMahon. As a result, Owens & Zayn must remain fired from the SmackDown Live brand. If Bryan and McMahon were defeated, Owens and Zayn would have been reinstated to SmackDown Live.

Looking for a job, Owens & Zayn appeared on RAW last night and asked General Manager Kurt Angle if they could work there. It did not take long for Owens and Zayn to betray each other’s friendship and individually state their case for why they should be the one Angle hires. Instead, Angle booked a match pitting Owens & Zayn against each other, with the winner earning the spot on Raw.

During the backstage discussion, Kurt Angle initially declined the duo’s offer, stating that “my tag division is full, but I hear that TNA is hiring.”

Owens & Zayn fought to a draw, ref reached a 10 count with both down on the mat. So neither one of them got the spot on the RAW roster.

Daniel Bryan & Shane McMahon vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn Announced For WrestleMania 34

Image result for Daniel Bryan & Shane McMahon vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn Announced For WrestleMania 34

Daniel Bryan & Shane McMahon vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn is now official for WrestleMania 34.

Bryan announced the match on tonight’s SmackDown. If Shane and Bryan win, Sami and Owens will remain fired from SmackDown. Sami and Owens will be reinstated to the blue brand if they can get the win.

WrestleMania 34 is on April 8th in New Orleans at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn Sent Home From UK Tour (Details)

Image result for Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn sent home from SD Live UK Tour

Pro Wrestling Sheet has learned Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn went against a creative directive given to them before SmackDown Tuesday night and was told it contributed to them being sent home.

Multiple sources tell PWS that Sami and Kevin were supposed to “feed” for New Day following Zayn vs. Kofi Kingston yesterday, but for some reason they didn’t follow directions and left the ring.

The PWTorch glossary of insider wrestling terms defines “feeding” as: “The heel’s role during a babyface comeback where he runs at the babyface only to be repeatedly fended off, with the hope that the series of bumps by the heel will generate positive fan heat for the babyface.”

Owens hit the ring as soon as the match ended and attacked Kofi as planned. However, he and Sami quickly bailed from the ring. New Day then stood waiting, same for the sound crew who didn’t play anyone’s music, and the segment ended awkwardly when the two wrestlers seemingly went off script by not taking their planned beating afterward.

Multiple sources reached out to PWS, saying the duo have been slightly difficult to work with lately and seem unhappy backstage.

It’s worth noting that they were both close with recently fired writer Jimmy Jacobs and Neville (who hasn’t been heard from since walking out).

Stay tuned for more updates.

Source: WrestlingINC

 

Update:

Sami and Owens were told to leave the arena, go back to the hotel and fly home. They are off the current tour but everything else is up in the air. They could be back for Tuesday’s SmackDown but nothing is official other than their status for the current tour.

There’s no word yet on what was planned for Sami and Owens at the November 19th Survivor Series pay-per-view but it’s believed that The New Day will be facing The Shield’s Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins. Stay tuned for updates on their status.

Source: WrestlingINC

Sami Zayn Launches Fundraiser To Aid Victims Of The War In Syria (Video)

sami zayn syria fundraiser war victims

WWE star Sami Zayn announced on Wednesday that he’s teaming up with the Syrian American Medical Society Foundation to help victims of the war in Syria.

Zayn, a child of Syrian immigrants, says he’s launching a new fundraising campaign called #SamiForSyria with the goal of raising money for a mobile medical unit to help those who are injured.

Sami explained, “Unfortunately, with the devastation of the war in Syria, not only have people’s homes been destroyed, but hospitals have been destroyed. Children’s hospitals have been destroyed, making health care access not only limited but also dangerous. Therefore, a mobile clinic will be able to provide, safely, primary healthcare to those that are in need.”

He continued, “And who are these people in need? We’re talking about the disabled, we’re talking about the elderly, we’re talking about women and children. People living in rural areas that have no access to fuel or transportation. People whose homes have been destroyed and are now living in camps and in tents. These are the people that we will directly be able to help.”

In order to get the medical unit created and operational for six months, the fundraiser will need to generate at least $48,000. To donate, visit this link or text “SamiForSyria” to 71-777.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Samoa Joe Headed To WWE Main Roster, Plans For Sami Zayn & Finn Balor

Source: Wrestlezone.com

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, plans are currently in place to bring Samoa Joe to the WWE main roster following WrestleMania, maybe even as early as the post-Mania episode of Raw. There has also been talk in WWE of having Samoa Joe defeat Finn Balor for the NXT Title, and if that takes place then it’s likely Joe’s main roster debut will be delayed.

In addition to Joe, there has been a lot of consideration lately being given to the idea of bringing Sami Zayn up to the main roster to feud with Kevin Owens.

 Regarding Finn Balor’s main roster status, it appears unlikely he will be called up after WrestleMania, as officials are still looking at him to be the face of the NXT brand past March.

Sami Zayn’s In-Ring Return To WWE NXT Confirmed

It has been confirmed that Sami Zayn will return to in-ring action on the WWE NXT UK tour that begins this week.

Zayn is scheduled to compete in a Triple Threat match against Finn Balor and Baron Corbin on Saturday in Sheffield, England. Zayn will most likely be wrestling at next Wednesday’s NXT TakeOver: London.

Is Sami Zayn Ready To Return To Action In NXT

Former NXT Champion Sami Zayn is currently advertised on WWE.com for all of NXT’s UK Tour dates in December including NXT TakeOver: London. This seems to indicate that Zayn may be ready to return to in-ring action but we will have to wait and seen to be certain.

Zayn has been out of action with a shoulder injury since May. His last match was at NXT TakeOver: Unstoppable against Kevin Owens.

Sami Zayn Injured In His RAW Debut

It appeared that Sami Zayn injured his shoulder during his RAW debut last night in Montreal in a match against US Champion John Cena. The injury apparently occurred during his entrance before the match with Cena even began. As Zayn was heading to the ring, he was raising his arms to hype the crowd and it looked like something happened to his shoulder then.

Zayn worked the match anyway. During the match, the referee threw up the X symbol and a WWE trainer checked on Zayn before he was allowed to finish the match. Zayn did appear on the stage for the post-RAW Pat Patterson Appreciation Night segment but his shoulder was banged up.

Zayn will be having a MRI today on his injured shoulder to determine the stint of the injury.

Even though last night was Zayn’s official RAW debut, we don’t yet know if this means that he’s on the main roster for good. Zayn is scheduled for more upcoming WWE TV tapings but that could change depending the MRI results.