When news broke that Chad Gable‘s contract with WWE was set to expire on Friday, it got fans around the professional wrestling world asking the very same question: what does this mean for the Alpha Academy's feud with Sami Zayn?

On paper, the story practically tells itself. Zayn and Gable will fight once more, likely with the Intercontinental Championship on the line, and just when the “Master” thinks he's on top, prepared to secure the win via Underhanded tactics, the rest of the faction will finally turn on their leader and stand up for themselves, giving the “Underdog from the Underground” a successful title defense while simultaneously starting a new feud with Otis that can get the former member of Heavy Machinery over to an incredible degree as he transitions into singles stardom once more.

Could WWE still throw that all together before Saturday morning? Sure, but based on Sami's promo, it sure sounds like that isn't the plan, as WWE has instead decided to book the show as if it's business as usual.

“Welcome to Pennsylvania, huh? Pretty good to be back. The last time I was here, it was for WrestleMania and I think we all know how that went. The truth is tough: I haven't really had a lot of time to enjoy the Intercontinental Championship because this entire time, there's been one thorne on my side, and it's Chad Gable! Chad you tried to make this about everyone and everything else, you said this was about Gunther, it was about family, it was about the Alpha Academy; the truth is, this is about you and me. And after these past few weeks, I have decided that it has gone on for long enough, so here is what I'm proposing: I am proposing for Chad Gable to come out here right now, leave the Alpha Academy behind, you come and face me man to man, and we put an end to all of this right here and right now!”

Unfortunately for Zayn, it wasn't meant to be, with Gable instead sending Alpha Academy down to the ring, and Maxxine Dupri delivering a pre-written statement to the IC Champion.

“I'm sorry, Sami; Chad told us you don't deserve his time or respect tonight. He also said that we need to redeem ourselves, and that starts with delivering this message from Chad Gable himself,” Maxxine Dupri explained before pulling out a statement from Gable.

“From Master Gable: Sami, you really think you can turn my students against me? Ha ha. Sami, you are living proof that my teachings can take a pathetic excuse for a human being and make them into a champion. Without my help, this ring would be filled with a failure hanging around backstage pretending to be a ninja, a child who couldn't even hold onto his own Money in the Bank briefcase, a knock-off Barbie no one wanted, and a grumpy, disheveled loser who would have been squashed by Gunther at WrestleMania. I already wiped the matt with you the last time we met one-on-one, Sami, so the only way this ends is with you giving me my Intercontinental Championship match.”

Welp, unless Paul “Triple H” Levesque planned to run that particular match as the main event of RAW, or kick it over to SmackDown for a rare cross-brand main event, it sure sounds like the promotion was going to push the storyline forward regardless of where Gable will be wrestling in a few weeks time, as, for at least another week, it's clear Zayn and Gable have more to say and do within the WWE Universe.

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Sami Zayn wants to Clash with Chad Gable at the Castle.

More annoyed than entertained by Chad Gable's pre-written statement, Sami Zayn fired back at his unseen foe, asking the rest of Alpha Academy to really consider if he's the correct man to lead them into the future.

“Maxxine, you tell Chad Gable if that's what it's going to take to put an end to this, tell him he's got it; I will defend the Intercontinental Championship against Chad Gable at Clash at the Castle,” Sami Zayn boldly declared. “But do you know what? It's not about this right now, and I don't want to talk to Chad Gable; I wanna talk about the three of you. Haven't you had enough? Haven't you had enough of this? Being paraded every single week out here, being humiliated by Chad Gable week in and week out? You're better than that, you're better than that, you're better than that, you're all better than that, I know you're better than that, these people know you're better than that! Chad Gable doesn't get to decide what you people are worth! Now listen, I understand, I've been in your shoes before, take it from me; you need to set yourselves free from Chad Gable once and for all.”

Before anyone could respond, Gable emerged out of nowhere to attack Zayn, and in the scuffling, the “Underdog from the Underground” knocked Akira Tozawa and Maxxine Dupri off the side of the ring just as Otis appeared to be ready to stand up to the “Master.” With the rest of his faction out of action and Zayn laid out, Gable held the IC Title up high, noting to fans that for at least the next two weeks, he's still gunning for the golden title that has illuded him thus far in his career.