Being a role model for a new generation

Watching professional wrestling growing up, Sami Zayn didn’t have any role models in the sport he could relate to as an Arab.

“I know there was the Iron Shaikh, but that was the ‘80s and it was a very sort of cartoony depiction of Arabs and foreigners. That was just the way of the world in the ‘80s,” Zayn said.

But things have changed, not least thanks to Zayn himself, who is a hero to many young fans in the region.

“If I can be a role model that’s cool. It’s a lot of pressure to put on yourself to try to be perfect, and I’m far from perfect, so I don’t want to go out of my way to call myself a role model,” Zayn said.

Following a dream

Zayn had some advice for those who want to follow in his footsteps to success and fame in the squared circle.

“You know, anything is possible. I did it, which means you can obviously do it,” he said.

“You just need to apply yourself and really, really dedicate yourself to it. But if you’re in the Middle East, the first thing I’m going to tell you is you’re probably going to have to move. You have to move to England to get trained and to cut your teeth, or go to Canada or the US, because that’s really where most of the wrestling is.

“But again, things aren’t the way they were 15 years ago when I started wrestling. Now, I came with WWE to Dubai to do tryouts.”