Sami Zayn‘s complicated journey to wrestling in Saudi Arabia is a story of personal struggle, changing politics, and public redemption that reached a powerful climax at WWE events in Riyadh. As Zayn prepares for the 2025 King and Queen of the Ring with finals in Saudi Arabia, his transformation from a banned wrestler to a celebrated champion shows how global and deeply personal the world of professional wrestling can be.
A Heritage That Shaped Sami Zayn’s Career
Born in Quebec, Canada to parents who emigrated from Syria, Sami Zayn (real name Rami Sebei) has always maintained pride in his roots. Fans in his Canadian home country have consistently given him passionate support, but his identity created complications on the global WWE stage. As a devout Muslim and son of Syrian immigrants, Zayn faced unexpected political barriers that would define much of his career trajectory.
The controversy began in 2018, when WWE entered a major partnership with Saudi Arabia, a move heavily criticized for human rights concerns and gender restrictions on attendance. Major stars including John Cena, Roman Reigns, and Daniel Bryan made headlines by refusing to participate in events held in the Kingdom. Zayn was also missing from these cards, but according to reporting at the time, this was beyond his control. Dave Meltzer detailed the situation:
“The Saudi Arabian government told WWE they didn’t want him on the show due to his ethnicity.” (h/t Cultaholic)
For years, Zayn’s absence was a stark reminder of the intersection between geopolitics and entertainment. WWE continued to hold shows in Saudi Arabia, but the complex conflict between Syria and Saudi Arabia, including tensions during the Syrian civil war, left Zayn sidelined on the grounds of ancestry, not choice.
Personal Conflict and Solidarity During Years of Exclusion
During this period, Zayn was not alone in his complicated feelings about performing in Saudi Arabia. His real-life friend and frequent rival in the ring, Kevin Owens, took his own stand. In an act of solidarity, Owens refused to compete in the Kingdom, showing his support not only for Zayn but for the principle at stake. The partnership between Zayn and Owens—both as on-screen adversaries and off-screen companions—emerged as a symbol of loyalty amid institutional controversy. Owens’s decision to skip events highlighted the emotional cost behind these international WWE spectacles.
Reports, including one from Ryan Satin, clarified that Zayn never requested exemption from the Saudi shows. At the height of the Syrian civil war, the Saudi government actively supported opposition fighters in Syria, further straining any chance for Zayn to appear under their flag. The emotional complexity that came with this ban became evident in a 2020 interview, during which Zayn addressed his evolving views on performing abroad:
“You know, it became very popular, very easy to say, ‘Well you shouldn’t go to this country because they do these awful things’ and I understand it and I agree and if I was asked to perform in Israel, I wouldn’t, right? But at the same time, I perform in the United States, you know what I mean? And I live in the United States. So there’s that sort of dissonance to get your head around a little bit. So I don’t know, I don’t know. I don’t know how I feel about all of that.”
This admission highlighted the internal conflict Zayn grappled with. Despite his own reservations, he faced the inconsistencies and ethical challenges all too familiar to performers in global sports entertainment, wrestling with the moral weight of which countries to perform in and what each choice represented to fans and to himself.
An Emotional Debut: Sami Zayn Returns to Saudi Arabia
In 2023, a significant shift occurred: the strained relations between Syria and Saudi Arabia began to relax as diplomatic conversations restarted and tensions gradually eased. This change had profound consequences for Sami Zayn, who was now allowed to participate at WWE events in Saudi Arabia. He both wanted and was able to compete, making his return at Night of Champions in Jeddah a landmark moment for the wrestler and his supporters.
The event saw Zayn and Kevin Owens enter the ring together to defend their Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships in front of a crowd that greeted Zayn with enthusiasm and excitement. Dressed in a Muslim thobe and speaking Arabic to the audience, Zayn’s presence took on immediate symbolic importance, moving far beyond any prior storyline. The connection to the crowd was intimate and emotional, heightened by the knowledge of how long he had waited for that moment.
The following year, Zayn made another appearance in Jeddah as a singles competitor at the King and Queen of the Ring tournament. He defended his Intercontinental Championship in a bout against Chad Gable and Bronson Reed, securing another victory on Saudi soil. After this latest triumph, Zayn reflected openly about his experience and what representing Arab culture meant to him:
“I don’t necessarily present myself as Mr. Arab Man every day. And I think a lot of people probably don’t even know that I’m Arab or that I’m Muslim. I realize that. Because… it doesn’t seem like a central part of my character. But the truth is, it’s a central part of who I am. When you come to this part of the world, there’s just a piece of me that feels whole in a way that I don’t even know is missing until I get here. And to come here as Intercontinental Champion and represent my people, represent all the people of Middle East as champion, I can’t tell you how proud that makes me.”
The Lasting Impact of Zayn’s Journey
Sami Zayn’s complicated journey to wrestling in Saudi Arabia is a testament not only to the challenges of navigating global sports entertainment, but also to the deeply human elements that define the spectacle of WWE. His transformation from being excluded due to political conflict, to becoming a celebrated champion representing an entire region on the global stage, resonates with audiences who see more than just athletics in the ring.
Now, as the 2025 King and Queen of the Ring tournament approaches and WWE continues its partnership with Saudi Arabia, Zayn embodies both the contradictions and the possibilities that arise when cultural identity, international relations, and popular sport collide. Regardless of whether he claims the ultimate prize at Night of Champions, his presence at these events stands as a signal of changing times and a powerful reminder of how personal history shapes iconic moments in wrestling history.
The crowd reaction to his entrances in Riyadh signals something larger than a scripted match outcome: it is the release of years of emotion, tension, and hope, as Sami Zayn, once an outsider, is finally recognized as not only a competitor, but also a representative of millions.
