Following the disappointing main event at Elimination Chamber 2023, Triple H has offered some kind words to the loser of the match Sami Zayn. The Canadian had the crowd on their feet in his hometown of Montreal but could not use the support of the fans to help him defeat the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, Roman Reigns.
In an emotional encounter, Sami Zayn evoked the spirit of Mick Foley when he tried to beat all the odds and achieve his dream of becoming WWE Champion. He entered the arena in Montreal to a heroes welcome, with the Canadian fans desperate to see their hometown hero conquer the unstoppable Tribal Chief once and for all.
Sadly, it was not meant to be. Sami Zayn vs Roman Reigns was a great main event match, filled with emotion and great storytelling to try and convince the fans Zayn had a chance to beat Reigns. Sadly, interference from Jey Uso helped Roman Reigns beat Sami Zayn. His dreams of becoming the next Canadian WWE Champion was over and he looks likely to move on to Wrestlemania 39 for a tag team match with Kevin Owens vs The Usos.
Despite his loss, Triple H was full of praise for Sami Zayn. In the post show press conference, Triple H complimented the stars performance at the PLE, comparing Sami Zayn to Mick Foley. Foley is a long-time friend and rival to Triple H, with Foley helping to make The Game into a top heel with a series of matches during the height of the Attitude Era.
Speaking at the Elimination Chamber 2023 post-show press conference, Triple H claimed that Sami Zayn “reminds me so much of Mick Foley”, referencing his versatility as a babyface and his immense connection to the crowd as the things that drew comparison.
“Sami Zayn is just a really special performer that in some ways, not in all ways, but in some ways reminds me so much of a Mick Foley in that his connection to a crowd.
One minute can make you laugh, the next minute you can have so much sympathy for him. He’s just, he connects on such an emotional level that I think it’s hard to put it in words and that makes it something really special.”
Zayn unintentionally speared Jey Uso during the Elimination Chamber match. He was then saved from a post-match beatdown by Kevin Owens. This looks to set up a match at Wrestlemania 39 for the WWE Tag Team Championships – Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens vs The Usos. Meanwhile, Roman Reigns will go on to Wrestlemania 39 to face off with Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes in the long-awaited main event of Wrestlemania.
Mick Foley Used To Be Sami Zayn
During Sami Zayn’s long-time feud with Braun Strowman in 2016, he butted heads with Mick Foley multiple times on Monday Night Raw. Foley was the general manager of Raw at that time and was tasked with booking matches on the show.
During this time, he refused to give Zayn the match he wanted against Strowman. Citing his concern for the Canadian’s safety, the WWE Hall of Famer plotted to trade Zayn to Smackdown for Eva Marie – something which was never actually decided and was a ploy to get a fire burning inside Zayn.
This lead to one of the best promos of Zayn’s career, he he directly compared Sami Zayn and Mick Foley. He referenced the similarities in their characters and the fight they have inside, telling the former WWE Champion “You used to be me!”
Guess what Mick? I’m worth 100 Eva Marie’s! I’m worth a 1000 Eva Marie’s! And what blows my mind Mick, because of all people you don’t get me. That blows my mind Mick because you used to be me!
Sami Zayn directly comparing himself to Mick Foley