Sami Zayn Defends Controversial WWE Storyline That Was Heavily Criticized

Sami Zayn has shared his feelings about a recent WWE storyline he was part of.

The United States Championship changed hands at WrestleMania 42 when Trick Williams beat Sami Zayn to win the gold. It was Trick’s first singles title on the main roster.

It was an interesting feud in the sense that, as it was built up over the month prior to WrestleMania, Williams was the heel and Zayn was the face, but by the end of it, they had reversed roles.

Part of the reason for the change is that Trick often used comedy to make fun of Zayn. Trick and his buddy Lil Yachty referred to Zayn as the Gingerbread Man because he has “ginger” (orange) hair, which even led to a Gingerbread Man being used in the story.

In the weeks since the Gingerbread Man mention, Zayn hid in the costume at one point, then he “killed” Gingerbread Man and Lil Yacthy was dressed up in the costume.

The Gingerbread Man story has been a bit of a mixed bag with WWE fans, who think it’s been silly comedy, and not the kind of wrestling that some fans want to see. Others appreciate the comedy and the performances more.

During a recent appearance on the Huge POP! podcast, Sami Zayn gave his thoughts on the reactions to the Gingerbread Man story.

“I don’t know. I think context is kind of key for all of these things, right? A couple of weeks ago — I think these were maybe back-to-back weeks. I get the timeline messed up sometimes in my head, but the one week when Trick (Williams) and Lil Yachty had came out with the Gingerbread Man, and then I ended up being under the outfit and attacked them with the cane and all that.

I thought that was great, and then the following week, I just had the Gingerbread Man mannequin in the ring… and beat up the Gingerbread mannequin. So, in both cases, a Gingerbread Man is kind of — I don’t wanna say the focal part of it but, kind of, right?”

“There’s this serious WrestleMania program for the United States Championship that involves a Gingerbread Man. On paper, sounds kind of silly. But the week we did it, where it was me under the suit, and I’m dancing, and then I clock those guys, I thought that was great.”

The Gingerbread Man Story Fit In WWE’s World, According To Sami Zayn

Sami Zayn would go on to admit that there was silliness, but it also worked in the world of wrestling.

“Then the following week, with the mannequin, it felt a little bit more lifeless to me. Not as great, maybe a little silly. I don’t know.

It’s kind of week-to-week and it’s all in execution so I don’t think the concept of involving a Gingerbread Man on its own is ridiculous because this is pro wrestling and we do all kinds of fun things that maybe, you know, if you were on the internet and you were scrolling Twitter or whatever, and you saw a clip of guys in a ring with a Gingerbread Man, you’d be like what?

But, in the world of wrestling, there’s context, and it kind of makes sense, and sometimes, these things get really over, actually.”

Sami Zayn would go on to defend the Gingerbread man by saying it wasn’t necessarily silly.

“So, I don’t think the concept of the Gingerbread Man by itself is ridiculous or silly. It’s all in execution and on a week-to-week basis.

But I thought that week where the Gingerbread Man showed up with the bus and he was dapping up Trick, and then he had his own locker room, and then I’m dancing and having all this fun, then I’m just part of the celebration because the Gingerbread Man is there to troll me essentially and make fun of me, and I whack them with a cane and I break the cane on Yachty’s back, and that cane was legitimately made of I don’t know what — oak or something.

It was so hard. I don’t know how it broke. I felt that was all a good piece of business, and it was all fun so I don’t take a look at things like a Gingerbread Man, and dismiss them.“

Since Sami Zayn lost the US Title rematch to Trick Williams at Backlash, the feud is likely over for now, and it’s probably the end of the Gingerbread Man story as well.

Also Read: Sami Zayn Reportedly Refused Major WWE Creative Plans