After weeks and weeks of back-and-forth battling with Chad Gable over the Intercontinental Championship and the fate of the Alpha Academy, Sami Zayn is a few short days away from his match with the “Master” in Glasgow, and needless to say, the “Underdog from the Underground” isn't taking it for granted.

Discussing his forthcoming effort with the fans in Ohio a few minutes after trying to reason with Alpha Academy one final time, Zayn told the WWE fans in attendance that he appreciated their support, as he will need every bit of it to keep his title reign alive in Scotland this weekend.

“You guys are very nice to me, thank you very much for that. I'm not going to lie, I could use that right about now. After a messed up couple of weeks, I am now five days away from defending my Intercontinental Championship at Clash at the Castle against Chad Gable,” Sami Zayn declared. “Chad, I don't even know where this rivalry is because it started off incredibly personally, and then somehow it's developed into something; I don't even know what to call it. But I don't want to run down a list of every dirty move or every sucker punch, every sneak attack, every manipulation, everything you've done with the Alpha Academy. I am going to put this very bluntly: at Clash at the Castle, I am going to defeat Chad Gable, and I am going to put an end to this once and for all. There's no more dealing with this manipulative, abusive psychopath; it's time to get back to work and work for Sami Zayn is continuing to be the Intercontinental Champion. Now, after Chad Gable…”

Before he could talk any further, the Alpha Academy emerged from the back for Otis' match against the “Underdog from the Underground,” and before Zayn could shut him down, “Master” Gable decided to cut a promo of his own, warning his rival not to mess with the faction any further ahead of Clash at the Castle.

“This is typical Sami Zayn; trying to tear down everything that I've built and trying to turn himself into the sympathetic superhero in somebody else's story. It's pathetic! The only manipulator here, Sami, is you, always trying to inject yourself into other people's business. Don't worry about the Academy, we're good, alright? They trust their master, they trust my methods. Actually, we're quite happy, come to think of it, and imagine how happy they will be when their hero takes your title on Saturday.”

“Are you out of your d**n mind?” Zayn asked. “Did you really just say that they're happy? You think they're happy? Chad, turn around and take a good look, do they look happy to you? Tozawa, are you happy? Maxxine, you're limping around in an ankle brace, are you happy? And what about you? Are you feeling happy, Otis? The trith is Chad Gable doesn't give a d**n about the three of you, he doesn't care if you are happy or not. But do you know who does? Every single one of these people. And the truth is you guys won't be happy until you leave Chad Gable's sorry a** once and for all.”

Clearly not persuaded by Zayn's words, the Alpha Academy prepared for battle, with Gable cutting one final promo for good measure ahead of their big-time battle.

“Hey, you shut the h*ll up Sami; nobody's leaving anybody,” Gable declared. “Here's what you don't understand, you don't understand that we're a family, and families stick together no matter what. And they're going to be with me on Saturday, but tonight I'm going to unleash my version of Otis on you, the version of Otis that doesn't feel bad about anything, the version of Otis that does what I say, that obeys; the most brutal and vicious version of Otis that you've ever seen and I'm unleashing him right now.”

While Zayn did technically secure the win in his match against Otis, in the end, Gable put in some serious shots on the IC Champion and the former member of Heavy Machinery followed it up with his own offense for good measure too, signifying that while Alpha Academy may be approaching a breakup, with the new “Olympic Hero” siding with the Creed Brothers over his current group, for now, Clash at the Castle will still be a four-on-one match showdown much to the chagrin of the “Underdog from the Underground.”

Chad Gable is excited to see Alpha Academy on the same page.

After RAW went off the air, Jackie Redmond attempted to get a word in with the three cadets of Alpha Academy for a special segment on RAW Talk, but alas, it wasn't meant to be, as Chad Gable cut right into the segment and let it be known that he still has an iron grasp on the group.

“There they are, my team. I am so happy we are all finally on the same page; you guys are all getting it, that's what I like to see. I like to see smiles on your faces, you know? You've all been a little moody lately, but all families go through stuff like this; we're getting through it, we're getting through it together,” Chad Gable declared.

“And you, (Otis), finally, you're delivering on the plan we've talked about all this time. Saturday in Glasgow, we are going to win my Intercontinental Championship. I got your passports – don't worry, I'll hold onto them, don't worry about it – only the best accommodations. I'll see you in Glasgow.”

Would it have been cool to hear what Maxxine Dupri, Akira Tozawa, and Otis had to say? Sure thing, but then again, that really wouldn't work for where WWE is in the storyline at the moment, would it? No, for now, Gable is the Alpha Academy, and until the rest of the faction can stand up for themselves, it looks like things will remain that way for the foreseeable future.