Sami Zayn addressed the crowd after winning the Undisputed WWE Championship at WWE Night of Champions, saying the moment ended a decade-long chase for recognition.
Byron Saxton spoke with Zayn on the entrance ramp at the start of WWE’s post-show after Zayn defeated Cody Rhodes and Gunther in the main event.
“A lot of folks said I would never win the WWE Championship. But I stand here tonight in front of my people, the WWE Champion.”
Zayn then spoke to the crowd in Arabic, describing the fans in Riyadh as “my people.” The audience responded by chanting, “You deserve it.”
Zayn answered the chant by pointing to the length of his career and his pursuit of WWE’s top prize.
You know what? You’re damn right I deserve it! Twenty-plus years in the game at the highest level, never got the recognition. Ten-plus years chasing this championship, never got the recognition. I don’t care what happens to me tomorrow, next week, next month, next year. Forever, I will be Sami Zayn, WWE Champion.
"A lot of folks said I would NEVER win the WWE Championship"
You proved them ALL wrong, @samizayn! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/ETklED1oCh
— WWE (@WWE) June 27, 2026
The win marked Zayn’s first world-level championship in WWE. Before joining the company, Zayn wrestled for years on the independent circuit as El Generico, a masked character who becamoe closely associated with Ring of Honor and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla.
Zayn signed with WWE in 2013 and became one of the defining names of the “black and gold” NXT era, winning the NXT Championship in December 2014.
On the main roster, he went on to win the Intercontinental Championship, United States Championship, and the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship with Kevin Owens.
