SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA // The WWE superstar will compete for the Intercontinental title at WrestleMania 31 on Sunday at the Levi’s Stadium in California in the United States. The 28 year old discusses his feelings on the event and also on touring Abu Dhabi last month.
On his first WrestleMania as a singles star
Ambrose has appeared at the previous two WrestleManias as part of the three-man team The Shield, but following their split this is first as a singles star. “I am looking forward to walking out by myself and not having to worry about anyone else and not being part of a team,” he said. “This is the first time that the kid who started this and wanted to be a wrestler will be out there by himself at WrestleMania so it is a good feeling.”
On hopes of becoming Intercontinental champion
A seven-man ladder match involving Intercontinental champion Bad News Barrett, Dolph Ziggler, Daniel Bryan, R-Truth, Stardust and Luke Harper is what Ambrose is competing in, and he said: “To be in an Intercontinental title match at WrestleMania that is the stuff dreams are made of. And for it to be a ladder match, on this big a stage, with so much adrenaline going on, for me it could not be a better situation.”
On touring Abu Dhabi
Ambrose headlined one of the three nights of the WWE’s tour of Abu Dhabi last month and Zayed Sports City. It was Ambrose’s second time in the UAE and he said: “Those are some of my favourite tours, the ones in Abu Dhabi. It is a beautiful country and being able to stay in the same building three nights in a row was pretty nice for us, usually are our events are 300 miles apart.”
On the Abu Dhabi crowds
“It was fantastic to perform in front of a country with such a different culture and whole different fanbase and different part of the world, to see them embrace us so fully and to be so positive and welcoming and have such a good time was great. Those fans bring us energy and we give the energy back to the fans and it makes for a real fun experience.”
On his surprise at being a popular act overseas
“You get a big reaction from a crowd like that in Abu Dhabi and I wonder how do these people in Abu Dhabi know who I am? It is hard for me to understand I am on television and people around the world watch me every week in a country I have never even been too. I assume when I go to a new country no-one will know who I am because I have never been to that country before so it is cool, like a surreal experience and it is very rewarded and appreciated.”
WrestleMania 31 takes place on Sunday and is on the WWE Network, which is available on OSN Sports.
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