TAMPA, Fla. (WWSB) – It’s an exciting week for fans of professional wrestling here on the Suncoast, and in the greater Tampa area, as WWE brings it’s premium live event Backlash to Benchmark International Arena on Saturday.
It’s WWE’s first premium live event since WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. One of the marquee matchups on the card is a WrestleMania rematch between current United States Champion Trick Williams, and the man he beat for the title in Las Vegas last month, Sami Zayn.
Trick Williams is relatively new to the main roster in WWE, debuting in January of this year on SmackDown. The U.S. champ isn’t afraid to mix it up with opponents on the main event level, including veterans like Sami Zayn.
Some, like Zayn himself, may call the current champ brash – but Trick Williams would just label it as confidence.
“Ain’t nobody like Trick Williams,” The United States Champion said in an interview with ABC7 this week.
“I’m 6′5,” 250 pounds, eight abs and three chains. Sami Zayn is the gingerbread man,” he added with a smile.
Known by a variety of nicknames, including “Tricky Two Times” and ”Mr. Whoop That,” Williams is heading to Tampa for his first title defense since capturing the gold last month, against the man he took it from.
“I’m not fighting up to prove that I can be champion,” Williams said.
“Trick Williams is the champion. Sami Zayn is challenging me. He wants what I have. I don’t want what he has,” he added.
Ever since debuting on the main roster back in January, the two have seemingly been at odds. The veteran Zayn feels the relative newcomer owes him respect.
“I think there’s a misunderstanding of respect,” Williams said.
“He feels like I disrespected him by calling him the gingerbread man. But that’s part of the game man. You know, we competing for that number one spot.”
The moniker of “Gingerbread Man” makes reference to the challenger’s red hair, and is a potential knock at Zayn’s physique in comparison to Williams.
“And I feel like he’s disrespected me because since day one he slept on Trick Williams,” the champion added.
Now it’s personal, and Tampa’s Benchmark International Arena will be the backdrop for a match that has the ability to steal the show.
“He can miss me with all the disrespect, because he never respected Trick Williams,” Williams said.
“Which is why he’s having a hard time with how everything is going down right now,” he added.
Williams referenced the longstanding tradition within professional wrestling of respecting the veterans that paved the way for the younger talent.
“He feels like I should respect him because he’s been here, or because he’s been in that spot for awhile,” Williams said.
“But like I said, in football, there’s no respect to a veteran just because you’re there. It’s not about what you did five years ago. It’s not about what you did ten years ago. It’s about what you can do today,” he added.
And it’s about what they can do on Saturday when Trick Williams defends his United States Championship against the challenger, Sami Zayn.
“I’m excited man,” Williams said.
“The house is almost full. Make sure you get your tickets at Ticketmaster. You give us your dollars, we make you hollar. We’re going to turn Tampa all the way up baby, let’s talk about it!” he added with a smile.
It’s a contrast of styles and a contrast of journeys. On Saturday, we’ll see who emerges victorious with the title on the line.
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