Despite not winning his match against Roman Reigns in his hometown of Montreal, Canada, Sami Zayn had a monumental night that garnered immense respect and admiration from fans. Despite interference from The Bloodline, the former WWE Intercontinental champion made a valiant effort to end Reigns’ lengthy title reign.
Zayn’s exceptional performance led to a record-breaking ovation from the crowd before the match, purportedly the largest ever received at the Bell Centre. This standing ovation is a testament to Zayn’s popularity and the deep connection with his fans.
Leading up to the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship battle at the Elimination Chamber event, Zayn had been engaged in a fierce feud with Reigns. Although he could not dethrone the Tribal Chief, Zayn’s outstanding performance solidified his position as a top contender. It reinforced his status as a force to be reckoned with in the eyes of the WWE Universe.
“I think we’ve walked away from this story, and it’s not even done, with so many memorable segments, TV segments, that people will remember 5-10 years down the road. And I think, I hope, that Montreal ovation is one of those because it’s not everyday you see a performer just stand in the ring for, I think somebody timed it, it was like five minutes and 22 seconds or something, and it was actually, there’s a Quebec historian in here somewhere called Pat Laprade, and he actually, he’s a Quebec guy. In the history of the Bell Centre, it’s the longest ovation in the history of this buildin.”
In 2015, Sami Zayn had a similar experience during his first main roster match in Montreal. He answered John Cena’s US Open challenge and received a tremendous ovation for delivering an exceptional performance.
Despite his loss against Roman Reigns, it seems Zayn’s feud with the Tribal Chief is far from settled. As the road to WrestleMania 39 continues, fans eagerly await to see what unfolds next in their ongoing rivalry.
