Sami Zayn captured the Undisputed WWE Championship at Night of Champions on June 27 by defeating Cody Rhodes and Gunther in the main event.
In an interview with ESPN New York, Zayn described the title win as something he once viewed as a fantasy rather than a realistic dream.
"There's always going to be things you strive for, but at the end of the day, I did something that I wouldn't even call it a dream," Zayn said. He added that he plans to enjoy the moment while preparing for his first title defense against Rhodes on the July 6 episode of Raw.
WWE kept details of the title change tightly restricted internally, with only those who needed to know informed ahead of time. The company's marketing department had not yet received instructions as of July 1 to update SummerSlam promotional materials to feature Zayn.
Zayn is scheduled to make his first appearance as champion during Friday's SmackDown in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He has also noted that his career highlights, including his role in The Bloodline storyline, stand out even compared to those of some multiple-time world champions.
