WWE: Sami Zayn Returns, Goldberg on Vince McMahon False Promise of Retirement Match, Best of Show for Friday’s SmackDown

Sami Zayn Returning from Rest Break for This Week’s WWE Shows

As noted before, Sami Zayn was granted time off by WWE for a rest break earlier this month and was the reason for his storyline knee injury at the hands of Drew McIntyre.

Zayn recently announced on Twitter that he would be returning to WWE this week starting with Tuesday’s house show event at Madison Square Garden. Zayn also released his full schedule of appearances for this week’s WWE Holiday Tour house show events.

I WILL be performing on WWE’s Holiday Tour. 5 great cities in 5 nights to end 2023, the wildest year of my career.

Tonight – MSG. New York City
Tomorrow – Boston
Dec 28 – Montreal
Dec 29 – Toronto
Dec 30 – Los Angeles

Crazy times. Lots of love.
Thanks for letting me play x

— Sami Zayn (@SamiZayn) December 26, 2023

Zayn also reflected on Twitter about his return from his rest break ahead of his official return at last night’s WWE house show event at Madison Square Garden.

Haven’t been very active on here lately. It’s been a crazy and in some ways difficult time for me, but I’m so grateful to be in such great cities, with such great fans, to end such a remarkable year. This life has been too good to me. Just know I’m very happy to be here with you. https://t.co/jqf8OrXPcz

— Sami Zayn (@SamiZayn) December 26, 2023

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Goldberg Comments on Vince McMahon Being a “Piece of Shit” Over False Promise of Retirement Match in WWE

A recent episode of the Steve & Captain Evil podcast featured WWE Hall of Famer Bill Goldberg as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Goldberg’s thoughts about TKO Executive Chairman Vince McMahon being a “piece of shit” over McMahon’s broken deal and false promise to give him a retirement match in WWE.

“Vince is like Dana White. He’s the big boss and he makes everything happen, and in all honesty, he gave me the opportunity to put my wife and son on the front row and gave me the ability to perform again in front of them. So, I owe him everything, until we went to Saudi Arabia and he asked me to put Roman Reigns over, and I had COVID. I remember calling him from my house and said, ‘Listen, here is the deal. I’ll do it if you give me a retirement match.’ I did what he asked. As a performer, I was 56 years old. As a human being, you’re conscientious about how you look in a bathing suit, especially two months prior to being in that bathing suit, you couldn’t work out because you had COVID. I put myself in a horribly shitty situation to get what I wanted to, but to satiate him and give him what he wanted. Problem is, he never held up his bargain. Vince is a piece of shit as far as I’m concerned.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com

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The Absolute Best of 2023 Show Scheduled for This Friday’s SmackDown Show

Similar to this past Monday’s WWE RAW show, this week’s SmackDown show on FOX is currently scheduled to not be a regular episode and instead will be a “Best of” show.

In a recent programming schedule update, TV Guide is currently listing a “The Absolute Best of 2023” themed SmackDown show to air on FOX that night.

It was also stated that Jackie Redmond and Corey Graves will be the hosts for this upcoming special.