As the newest member of the WWE roster, not to mention a candidate to challenge Intercontinental Champion Kevin Owens at WrestleMania, Sami Zayn looked to make a strong statement in his home country against Stardust.
The two warriors swapped wristlocks and armbars at the start, with Zayn gaining the advantage after several lightning-fast armdrags. Stardust soon bounced back and chose to slow down the action, focusing his attack on Zayn’s kidney and mid-section. The Superstar from The Fifth Dimension then ratcheted up the physicality when he dropped Zayn with a towering superplex that brought the WWE Universe to its feet.
Never one to be counted out, the ever-resilient Zayn fought on, knocking down Stardust with clotheslines and even flying through the air with a tope con hilo to the floor. Stardust regained the momentum back inside the ring, connecting with a Disaster Kick for a count of two-and-a-half. Yet, Zayn still had his wherewithal and soon captured Stardust, launching him into the turnbuckles with a suplex. The former NXT Champion then fired Stardust into the opposite corner and nearly took off his head with the Helluva Kick for the victory.