Booker T praised Sami Zayn’s Undisputed WWE Championship win as a perfect example of wrestling done right, emphasizing that the promo Zayn delivered before the match was crucial in selling the moment. Zayn captured the title from CM Punk on the September 11 edition of SmackDown in Mexico City, and Booker shared his thoughts during his Hall of Fame podcast.
“I really enjoyed the promo Sami gave before the match—it felt so authentically wrestling. It had everything a great wrestling promo should have,” Booker remarked. “To me, it had that classic, old-school wrestling vibe.”
Booker repeatedly highlighted the significance of the obstacles Zayn had to overcome in the eyes of fans. “For Sami to win after many thought he was merely a transitional champion, and then reclaim the title, that’s what makes me love wrestling,” he said. “When it’s executed properly like this, it’s fantastic.”
He reflected on watching Zayn’s evolution over the years, from a young, high-flying babyface he initially worried would get seriously injured. “I remember when he first debuted on the main roster, he had this eagerness and did this risky move where he’d jump through the bottom turnbuckles to the floor. I thought he was going to hurt himself badly—thankfully, he stopped,” Booker recalled. “I’m sure his shins took a beating from doing that repeatedly.”
What impressed Booker most was how drastically Zayn changed his style and persona. “He showed the world he was willing to be different and evolved his character over time,” Booker said. “You’ve got to adapt to the times or get left behind, and Sami has done that amazingly.”
This adaptability even extended into his comedic work, particularly during his time with the Bloodline faction. “A lot of what he did there was funny, and when you can bring comedy into wrestling like that, you’re really understanding the craft,” Booker explained.
Calling Zayn a “Swiss Army knife,” Booker highlighted the value in being versatile. “Sami is a reliable performer who gets the job done,” he said. “He didn’t stumble into success—he earned it through hard work. When you play your part well, you get rewarded.”
Booker also distinguished the importance of holding the “title” versus just the championship belt itself. “On Sami’s office door, it says ‘Champion Sami Zayn,’ and that title means a lot—something no one can ever take away,” he noted.
When asked if Zayn’s win was part of a long-term plan, Booker admitted he wasn’t sure. “Plans change all the time,” he said.
Drawing from his own NXT announcing experience, Booker pointed to a recent unexpected tag team title change, explaining that sometimes the timing just feels right and decisions get made on the fly. “Ideas now come from many sources, not like back in the day when one person, like Vince McMahon, had to sign off and could rewrite scripts at the last minute,” he said. “It’s more collaborative today, and it’s about spotting and using good ideas.”
Booker also shared a personal story about being cast as a transitional champion himself. “Rick Martel forgot his gear once, so they put the title on me as a placeholder to drop it to him later—but I wasn’t having that,” Booker said. “I decided to take the opportunity and run with it, which put me in a great spot.”
Fan Take: Sami Zayn’s title win and the praise it’s receiving highlights a shift towards celebrating genuine storytelling and versatility in wrestling, which keeps the sport engaging for fans. This moment could inspire a new era where character evolution and authentic promos become as important as in-ring skill, potentially elevating the overall narrative quality of wrestling moving forward.
Source: wrestlingnews.co
