In 2018, Sami Zayn was excluded from the Greatest Royal Rumble due to his Syrian heritage, as there were tense relations between Saudi Arabia and Syria at that time.
Sami Zayn was born on July 12, 1984, in Laval, Quebec, to Syrian refugee parents who had moved to Canada before his birth.
Highlights
- A photo of Sami Zayn was photoshopped to make it look like he was part of a group of Samoan and Italian sportsmen.
- Sami Zayn, a Canadian Muslim of Syrian descent, was unable to participate in WWE events in Saudi Arabia due to the country’s involvement in the Syrian Civil War.
- Now, he can proudly speak Arabic in front of Saudi Arabian crowds, and fans express how much it means to them.
He holds Syrian and Canadian citizenship, and thanks to his background, he is fluent in multiple languages, including Arabic and French.
Recently, Sami Zayn spoke in Arabic and wore keffiyeh, which made some people wonder if he was from Saudi Arabia.
Although he’s not from Saudi Arabia, Sami Zayn has built an incredible connection with the Saudi Arabian crowd.
Sami Zayn Photoshopped Into Samoan Descent, Which Stirred Confusion In His Ethnicity
Similarly, a photo of Sami Zayn was photoshopped to make it look like he was part of a group of Samoan and Italian sportsmen and it led to some confusion about his ethnicity.
“sami’s not family” ok then explain this??? pic.twitter.com/BahkxbjPck
— tay🧃🍉🏳️🌈 (@uceytay) November 5, 2024
Even though fans knew he was of Syrian descent, the image caused people to question his background.
Someone photoshopped Sami,Into that photo,Sami is not Samoan or Italian,Sami Zayn is Canadian Arabic
Twitter User
In another instance, a Twitter user shared a screenshot showing that when they searched for Sami Zayn, the search results referred to him as “American Samoan.”
Now, Sami Zayn Can Finally Wrestle In Saudi Arabia, Though He Is Of Syrian Heritage
Good news! Saudi Arabia and Syria have restored diplomatic ties, which means Syrians and those of Syrian descent are no longer prohibited from entering Saudi Arabia.
In 2023, the foreign ministers of Arab League member countries decided to restore Syria’s membership, ending its suspension over a decade.
LETS GO, Saudi Arabia!!
— Giovanna Morales ♐ (@GigiMorale92) November 5, 2024
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome…Sami Zayn!! pic.twitter.com/t2HINJRNhv
For several years, Sami Zayn, a Canadian Muslim of Syrian descent, was unable to participate in WWE events in Saudi Arabia due to the country’s involvement in the Syrian Civil War.
However, after WWE’s 10-year partnership with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Sports, Zayn finally had the opportunity to compete there.
Following his victory in front of a packed Muslim crowd in May, Zayn explained that, although he doesn’t always highlight his Arab and Muslim identity, it is a central part of who he is.
He shared that coming to the Middle East felt like a missing piece of himself had been found.
As the Intercontinental Champion, he felt incredibly proud to represent his heritage and the entire Middle East.
Similarly, Sami Zayn has never outright said he wouldn’t wrestle in Saudi Arabia; fans drew that conclusion.
Zayn said he wasn’t invited to participate in the events and didn’t press for an explanation.
He explained that WWE signed a long-term deal to host shows in Saudi Arabia, but he wasn’t part of those shows.
… 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. 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,
Sami Zayn
Now, the situation has changed in Sami Zayn’s favor. He can speak Arabic proudly in front of crowds, and fans express how much it means to them.
i smile every time sami speaks arabic. i think that it is so beautiful that he’s allowed to do that now. he’s become a face and an icon for his people. he deserves that.
Twitter User
Sami Zayn speaking Arabic to the Saudi ppl is amazing man… truly a 🐐
Twitter User
Additional Information
- Rami Sebei has been with WWE since January 2013, performing on the Raw brand under the ring name Sami Zayn.
- Sebei’s wrestling journey began in 2002 when he debuted as Stevie McFly. Before making it to WWE, he built a name in the Montreal-based International Wrestling Syndicate (IWS) promotion.
- He married his wife Khadijah Sebei in 2018, and they are blessed with one child.
