Quotes from Sami Zayn

Russ Courtnall was my absolute favorite player. Patrick Roy was there, too, of course.

I've been beat up pretty badly back in my day.

You have to stand by your beliefs.

I belong in the ring.

I have that inherent performer personality.

I don't think it really serves to make the world a better place, when you're only concerned about yourself.

I don't ever want to be boring.

Man, it feels great to do anything that might brighten someone else's day.

If there's a cause you believe in, go out there, get active, and do it.

Even when you just hear the word 'Syria,' it packs a lot of political connotations.

I was born in Canada, but both my parents are Syrian - they moved to Canada in the '70s, and I was born in a 100-percent-Arab house.

I always consider myself Syrian. I just happen to be born in Canada.

I love hearing positive things; somewhere, way deep down, I'm sure I'm an egomaniac. I guess all performers are, in a way.

A crowd's a crowd, and to me, it's not so much about the size as much it is the energy we're getting.

I'm an idealist. You do things your way well enough, for long enough, you'll get rewarded.

I'm very much an Arab, although I need to practise my Arabic more.

Any time I'm donating to charity, I feel it's very daunting.

I feel like you almost have to have this mentality: wherever you are is the place to be, and any show you're on is better because you are there.

Your priorities change when you get older.

I am very privileged. I have everything I want and more.

I want to do something that has never been done, and that's become the first two-time NXT Champion. In a sense, that's a strange distinction to want, but that has to be my goal while I'm in NXT.

I'm bad at fishing for information.

The game has changed since the '80s, where you could punch and kick and headlock and do one suplex, and that's a 25 minute match.

Neville and I are big fans of ska. He's actually more into original, Jamaican, skinhead, two-tone ska from England, but I'm more into punk ska - Operation Ivy and stuff Rancid would do.