Sami Zayn Addresses Fans Backlash to His WWE Title Win and Reveals John Cena's Message

Sami Zayn discussed his WWE Championship win and a message he subsequently received from John Cena during an appearance this week on ESPN New York.

In an interview on Don, Hahn & Rosenberg (h/t WrestlePurists), Zayn addressed some of his detractors who have criticized WWE's decision to have him win the WWE title at Night of Champions last weekend.

"If you just don't like me, that's fine," Zayn said. "You're certainly allowed to not like me. But I think if you start getting married to an archetype of what you've been taught, this is what you should want, and then that's all you buy. Without insulting anybody here, I just think that's kind of a lack of free thought, a lack of intelligence.

"There's a whole universe out there and maybe I say this because traveling the world has been so important to me and it's shaped my world view, but man, broaden your horizons a little bit. If I'm just not your cup of tea, fair play. But the idea that a champion needs to be this or needs to be that, I'm like, 'Oh well, you're an idiot.' Nothing needs to be anything. If it's good, it's good. I've always kind of subscribed to that, and I think the work I've been putting out over the last few years is good."

In terms of his look and character, Zayn may not be the prototypical WWE Superstar or pro wrestler, but his connection with the viewing audience is undeniable.

It was apparent during his run on the independent scene as El Generico, during his time in NXT and over the past decade-plus on WWE's main roster.

He has shown an ability to effectively play a babyface, heel and everything in between, and he was finally rewarded for that at Night of Champions when he beat Cody Rhodes and Gunther in a Triple Threat for the WWE Championship.

One person who is in full support of Zayn's triumph is Cena, who holds the all-time record with 17 world title wins.

Zayn told ESPN New York (h/t WrestlePurists) that Cena sent him a congratulatory message after Night of Champions, and he provided some insight into what the retired WWE legend told him.

"He just kind of reminded me of the difficulty of attaining this and that less than 1 percent of the people that aspire to do what we do ever gets to this point," Zayn said. "And that's not lost on me, but to hear it coming from him, just saying congratulations. I don't want to throw out personal stuff that he said to me, but the thing that stuck to me is that he said, 'You really did it your way.' I just thought that was so cool coming from him.

"He's the man because he didn't have to text me at all, and he did. It was really one of the more touching texts that I got, to be honest with you. You know how he is. He's a very thoughtful person and I think he was trying to remind me, in case I wasn't already, to be very mindful of the unlikeliness and how difficult it is to reach the mountaintop, and that you did it and you should be proud of that. It was a really cool message to get."

Zayn came close to winning world titles on many previous occasions, and arguments can be made that there were times when a Zayn title win would have made for an even better story, such as when he broke away from The Bloodline in 2023.

However, there is little doubt that Zayn earned the opportunity he was given at Night of Champions, regardless of how long it ultimately lasts.

There is plenty of speculation that Zayn may not even be the champion any longer entering SummerSlam on Aug. 1 and 2, but even if that proves to be true, he is part of a short and exclusive list of WWE champions regardless.