Sami Zayn has reflected on WrestleMania 42 with a candor that goes beyond the usual promotional talking points, describing an event that felt different in ways.
Speaking with Witty Whittier, Zayn addressed both the broader atmosphere surrounding the event and his personal standing as a character heading into it.
“The vibe was just different this year for so many different reasons. Sometimes it comes down to just the hotel you stay in or the match you have — everything shifts your mood slightly. This year, my character at the time of WrestleMania is a bit more undefined than it’s been in many many years. Usually, I walk into Mania and I know exactly where I’m at and what I’m doing. This year, this character shift and this sea change has been going on at the same time with Trick rising and me getting these — I would say polarizing reactions but it’s kind of started to swing all the way in the other direction now to where I’m unliked and I’m kind of, as a character, saying like, ‘What did I even do here?’ It’s still in this week-to-week thing, audience to audience is all different so it felt a little less like surefooted, you know what I mean?”
He also pointed to the last-minute addition of Pat McAfee as one of several elements that contributed to the unsettled energy of the weekend.
“The vibe around WrestleMania was a little strange this year with the Pat McAfee thing being added at the last minute. I don’t know, there was just so many things that felt a little strange about this year’s WrestleMania.”
Despite the unusual atmosphere, Zayn was careful to frame the experience in context, noting that missing WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas last year made the opportunity to return feel meaningful regardless of the surrounding circumstances.
“Ultimately, I didn’t get to do Mania last year in Vegas. I missed out on it so I kind of felt like, ‘Oh, alright, here we go.’ When you’re actually in the ring and you’re actually in the city doing meet and greets and stuff like that, I really like it. It can be a tad overwhelming sometimes but again, what a privilege to have. If I go to WrestleMania 15 to 20 years from now and I’m not at the center of it, then you’re not overwhelmed by it. So, it’s actually kind of a gift in the midst of that madness.”
Zayn faced Trick Williams on Night Two of WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. He now prepares to challenge Williams for the United States Championship at Backlash on Saturday, in Tampa, Florida.