WWE: Sami Zayn on Satisfied with Career, More on NXT Injuries Outbreak, More on NXT Apr. 25, 2023 Viewership

Sami Zayn Comments on Being Satisfied with His Career

A recent episode of the Whiskey Ginger with Andrew Santino podcast featured Sami Zayn as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Zayn’s thoughts on the change in his mentality towards his career over the years.

“Yeah, I was like, ‘Oh my god, that’s right. There’s a possibility of making really good money here one day. That’s why I’m here.’ But that’s not really why I’m here. I’m just chasing the blueprint, where you start here and you get here, and you get there, and one day you get on the big stage, and that’s just the blueprint. That’s just what you do. It’s like chasing, and I don’t know what you’re chasing, to be honest.”

On the topic of what he was exactly chasing for his career, Zayn stated:

“I don’t know. I say that now because I’m at the pinnacle of it in a way, where I’m like, ‘Yeah, what are we even doing here?’ But I don’t know. You’re chasing where I’m at right now, which is to be on television every week, doing your art on the highest level for the highest emotional connection. You’re doing your best for the best, and getting the best out of it.”

Zayn also gave his thoughts on if he has been satisfied with his career and if he is still hungry to achieve more.

“Absolutely. I’m hungry for…yes. I’m hungry for more, but within reason. I try not to let it, anyway, every now and again, some shallow stuff, you contend with that a little bit. You get caught up in the BS and you’re on the hamster wheel, and you get tunnel vision sometimes. But really, I just see the whole thing as a privilege. If it ended tomorrow, I’d be like, ‘Hey, man. Good run? I got to do more than most people ever get to do.

Making it to WWE, in theory, when you’re starting, it seems like Mount Everest. It seems like an unattainable goal. I suppose you wouldn’t call it a dream, but a goal as well. So you kind of just preoccupy yourself with the immediate goals like getting booked in Montana or wherever it is. You have these immediate goals, and they’re so satisfying, and they lead to these slightly bigger goals, and it’s just this incremental growth. But if you enjoy the process along the way, and you’re not just fixated on getting to the peak, then the whole thing’s just gonna rule, and it has. That’s my thing. The whole thing has ruled.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com

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More on WWE’s Injuries Outbreak Affecting Their Developmental System

As noted before, Sol Ruca recently suffered a torn ACL injury during a recent heavy Lifting and training session. Ruca injury was the latest in a recent string of injuries mainly affecting WWE’s developmental system.

Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that his sources stated that several people within WWE have placed the blame on the current workout system for the Performance Center that was stated to be counterproductive for talent.

One person spoken to reportedly stated that WWE’s current strength and conditioning coach has prioritize doing heavy lifting and strength training all the time which has put added stress onto the knees, shoulders, and backs of talents. WWE’s former strength and conditioning coach reportedly had prioritize athletic drills and explosiveness over heavy lifting as a way to improve talents strength and cardio. Meltzer reported that WWE’s switch to a coach prioritizing heavy lifting has led to the current complaints of the focus being too much towards increasing strength by the use of heavy training.

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More on NXT Week 185 Viewership – April 25, 2023

The April 25th episode of WWE NXT saw NXT gain a large increase in overall viewership and a small increase in key demographic ratings and key demographic rankings. This week’s show was notable for being the Spring Breakin 2023 special.

NXT drew 647,000 viewers and a 0.18 key demographic rating on USA Network. NXT’s key demographic ranking for that night was 15th place.

Detailed viewership and key demographic breakdowns were not available in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Dave Meltzer reported that the main reason for NXT’s increases this week was due to the large gains from their male key demographic viewership, younger key demographic viewership, and older key demographic viewership groups, which were up 55%, 36.4%, and 23.5% respectively compared to last week’s show. Another reason reportedly was due to the gain from their Over 50 viewership group, which was up 6.7% compared to last week’s show.

In terms of head-to-head competition, the 2023 NBA Playoffs Game 5 of Atlanta Hawks vs. Boston Celtics drew 3,324,000 viewers on TNT, the 2023 NBA Playoffs Game 5 of Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets drew 589,000 viewers on NBA TV, the 2023 NHL Playoffs Game 5 of New York Islander vs. Carolina Hurricanes drew 933,000 viewers on ESPN, the 2023 NHL Playoffs Game 5 of Los Angeles Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers drew 695,000 viewers on ESPN, the 2023 NHL Playoffs Game 5 of Minnesota Wild vs. Dallas Stars drew 565,000 viewers on TNT, the MLB simulcast games of New York Yankees vs. Minnesota and San Diego vs. Chicago Cubs drew 174,000 viewers on MLB Network, Curse of Oak Island drew 2,634,000 viewers on History Channel, 7 Little Johnstons drew 692,000 viewers on TLC, and Real Housewives of New Jersey drew 969,000 viewers on Bravo.

In terms of key demographic viewership, NXT had 235,000 viewers. Meltzer reported that the male/female viewership split was 169,000 male viewers (up 55%) and 66,000 female viewers (up 16.5%) for a split of 71.9% in favor of males.

In terms of yearly comparisons, NXT was up 12.1% in overall viewership and up 32.8% in key demographic viewership. Meltzer reported that NXT’s 18-34 viewership was up 114.3% compared to the same week last year.