--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The game has changed since the '80s…" description: "\"The game has changed since the '80s, where you could punch and kick and headlock and do one suplex, and that's a 25 minute match.\" — Sami Zayn" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fba/sami-zayn-9545_could_the-game-has-changed-since-the-80s-where_2286701.jpg" --- # The game has changed since the '80s, where you could punch… ![“The game has changed since the '80s, where you could punch and kick and headlock and do one suplex, and that's a 25 minute match.” quote by Sami Zayn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fba/sami-zayn-9545_could_the-game-has-changed-since-the-80s-where_2286701.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fba/sami-zayn-9545_could_the-game-has-changed-since-the-80s-where_2286701.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fba/sami-zayn-9545_could_the-game-has-changed-since-the-80s-where_2286701.jpg) > “The game has changed since the '80s, where you could punch and kick and headlock and do one suplex, and that's a 25 minute match.” [Sami Zayn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sami-zayn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Modern wrestling emphasizes storytelling, pacing, and varied moves over pure brute strength and long matches. **In simple terms:** Wrestling now focuses on narrative and diverse techniques. Key Takeaway Embrace varied skills and concise storytelling. Themes sports entertainment evolution performance Mood energetic reflective Type motivational insightful When to use this quote - training sessions - match planning - promo development - fan interaction Key Concepts Narrative pacing technical diversity audience engagement Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance athleticism with narrative? - What elements keep modern audiences hooked? A Different Perspective Long matches can still be engaging if paced well. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/) ## Related quotes > [We couldn't pitch the show without having created one, at least one 20 to 25 minute version of 'Broad City.' We wouldn't know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbi-jacobson/we-couldn-t-pitch-the-show-without-having-created-one-at-least-one-20/) [Abbi Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbi-jacobson/) > [When you're writing a 25-minute episode that can be anything, sometimes you just start with a character, and you let them walk into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-duplass/when-you-re-writing-a-25-minute-episode-that-can-be-anything/) [Mark Duplass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-duplass/) > [I became a real Shell Motor Oil expert, and I did this 25-minute film. It turned out really well and, as a result, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renny-harlin/i-became-a-real-shell-motor-oil-expert-and-i-did-this-25-minute-film/) [Renny Harlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renny-harlin/) > [With ECW, I had a lot of time for matches. I could go out there and do a 20-25 minute match, where normally I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-cage/with-ecw-i-had-a-lot-of-time-for-matches-i-could-go-out-there-and-do/) [Christian Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-cage/) > [To be truthful, being that the game has changed so much, you come hoping for the best and expecting the worst. To my surprise,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/to-be-truthful-being-that-the-game-has-changed-so-much-you-come-2/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [Scottie's game changed with where he was at physically. He wasn't the same player at 21 as he was at 30. Both he and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-armstrong/scottie-s-game-changed-with-where-he-was-at-physically-he-wasn-t-the/) [B. J. Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-armstrong/) > [I think the biggest thing for me is being able to adjust to the way the game has changed. It's basically a 180-degree turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-hull/i-think-the-biggest-thing-for-me-is-being-able-to-adjust-to-the-way/) [Brett Hull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-hull/) > [I'm a bit surprised that the Raiders turned to Art Shell to be their new head coach, not because Shell isn't a good head…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-jaworski/i-m-a-bit-surprised-that-the-raiders-turned-to-art-shell-to-be-their/) [Ron Jaworski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-jaworski/) > [“This game has changed. The rules are no longer the same, but I don't have the manual. He does, and I need guidance on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-cates/this-game-has-changed-the-rules-are-no-longer-the-same-but-i-don-t/) [Georgia Cates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-cates/) > [Hockey has changed. The game has changed. You just have to be ready for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-ovechkin/hockey-has-changed-the-game-has-changed-you-just-have-to-be-ready-for/) [Alexander Ovechkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-ovechkin/) > [So many people say that obviously my game has changed since I arrived here and I say that it's good that it changed, otherwise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thierry-henry/so-many-people-say-that-obviously-my-game-has-changed-since-i-arrived/) [Thierry Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thierry-henry/) > [The pace of the game has changed even while I've been a player. It always seems to be getting quicker. You need to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-milner/the-pace-of-the-game-has-changed-even-while-i-ve-been-a-player-it/) [James Milner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-milner/) > [To be truthful, being that the game has changed so much, you come hoping for the best and expecting the worst. To my surprise,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/to-be-truthful-being-that-the-game-has-changed-so-much-you-come/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [The game has changed. What's going on now is nonsense. You have guys complaining about not being paid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wells/the-game-has-changed-what-s-going-on-now-is-nonsense-you-have-guys/) [David Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wells/) > [The international game has changed for bidding cities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ueberroth/the-international-game-has-changed-for-bidding-cities/) [Peter Ueberroth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ueberroth/) ## More by Sami Zayn > [I think you've still got to try to be good, day-to-day. You see a granny, you hold the door open for her. You just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sami-zayn/i-think-you-ve-still-got-to-try-to-be-good-day-to-day-you-see-a/) [Sami Zayn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sami-zayn/) > [I'm an idealist. You do things your way well enough, for long enough, you'll get rewarded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sami-zayn/i-m-an-idealist-you-do-things-your-way-well-enough-for-long-enough/) [Sami Zayn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sami-zayn/) > [It's got to be repetition of me over and over again, constantly delivering the goods every time I'm out there. And that's how I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sami-zayn/it-s-got-to-be-repetition-of-me-over-and-over-again-constantly/) [Sami Zayn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sami-zayn/) > [It's a slow process, getting hired by WWE. First, you get noticed; you're on their radar. Then you come for a tryout. Then you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sami-zayn/it-s-a-slow-process-getting-hired-by-wwe-first-you-get-noticed-you-re/) [Sami Zayn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sami-zayn/) > [When I signed with WWE, a lot of people, even close friends, told me that this place was going to chew me up and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sami-zayn/when-i-signed-with-wwe-a-lot-of-people-even-close-friends-told-me/) [Sami Zayn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sami-zayn/) > [I don't know if it's a male thing, but a lot of our emotions end up manifesting themselves in the form of anger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sami-zayn/i-don-t-know-if-it-s-a-male-thing-but-a-lot-of-our-emotions-end-up/) [Sami Zayn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sami-zayn/) > [I've worked in front of crowds of two hundred that sounded like a thousand, and I've worked in front of crowds of five thousand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sami-zayn/i-ve-worked-in-front-of-crowds-of-two-hundred-that-sounded-like-a/) [Sami Zayn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sami-zayn/) > [The Hardys were a huge influence on me becoming a wrestler. Not so much the moves themselves, but the concepts behind the moves: trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sami-zayn/the-hardys-were-a-huge-influence-on-me-becoming-a-wrestler-not-so/) [Sami Zayn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sami-zayn/) > [I don't think there's anything that defines WrestleMania more than Hulk Hogan and The Rock standing across from each other and the crowd going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sami-zayn/i-don-t-think-there-s-anything-that-defines-wrestlemania-more-than/) [Sami Zayn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sami-zayn/) > [If I had to explain what WrestleMania was to someone who's never seen wrestling, never seen WWE, never heard of the concept of WrestleMania,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sami-zayn/if-i-had-to-explain-what-wrestlemania-was-to-someone-who-s-never-seen/) [Sami Zayn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sami-zayn/) > [The Full Sail crowd, it's a pretty unique and a pretty distinct environment. It's very close quarters and a bit more of what I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sami-zayn/the-full-sail-crowd-it-s-a-pretty-unique-and-a-pretty-distinct/) [Sami Zayn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sami-zayn/) > [If you work really hard at something for a really, really long time, you do it well. Eventually, somebody will notice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sami-zayn/if-you-work-really-hard-at-something-for-a-really-really-long-time/) [Sami Zayn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sami-zayn/) > [I was born in Canada, but both my parents are Syrian - they moved to Canada in the '70s, and I was born in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sami-zayn/i-was-born-in-canada-but-both-my-parents-are-syrian-they-moved-to/) [Sami Zayn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sami-zayn/) > [If my parents didn't come to Canada in the '70s, I probably wouldn't be living my dream to be a WWE superstar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sami-zayn/if-my-parents-didn-t-come-to-canada-in-the-70s-i-probably-wouldn-t-be/) [Sami Zayn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sami-zayn/) > [Even when you just hear the word 'Syria,' it packs a lot of political connotations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sami-zayn/even-when-you-just-hear-the-word-syria-it-packs-a-lot-of-political/) [Sami Zayn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sami-zayn/) [Explore all 72 Sami Zayn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sami-zayn/) ## More Could quotes > [By eating many fruits and vegetables in place of fast food and junk food, people could avoid obesity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-murdock/by-eating-many-fruits-and-vegetables-in-place-of-fast-food-and-junk/) [David H. Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-murdock/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [I never want to look back on any moment and say I could have done more. So I go all in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-haze/i-never-want-to-look-back-on-any-moment-and-say-i-could-have-done/) [Scott Haze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-haze/) > [Some would call me an environmentalist. I don't know why. I reuse the water that falls in my backyard in the winter. I reuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-begley-jr/some-would-call-me-an-environmentalist-i-don-t-know-why-i-reuse-the/) [Ed Begley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-begley-jr/) > [It's what the people wanted at the time, but the country could not be half-segregated and half-integrated, just as it could not be half-slave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wallace/it-s-what-the-people-wanted-at-the-time-but-the-country-could-not-be/) [George Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wallace/) > [It's something he used to say when he was happy. It could be a very, very simple day. We might be sitting out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-grant/it-s-something-he-used-to-say-when-he-was-happy-it-could-be-a-very/) [Jennifer Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-grant/) > [I don't think Joe Louis could take the punches today fighting in this era.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-holmes/i-don-t-think-joe-louis-could-take-the-punches-today-fighting-in-this/) [Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/) > [What a gift it would be if every child in the country could hear a professional orchestra at least once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-henry/what-a-gift-it-would-be-if-every-child-in-the-country-could-hear-a/) [Lenny Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-henry/) > [If my wisdom could get support from officials, I think society would move forward 20 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chen-guangbiao/if-my-wisdom-could-get-support-from-officials-i-think-society-would/) [Chen Guangbiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chen-guangbiao/) > [How could you justify giving Holland twice the amount of money that you gave Belgium? Well, finally, I put it up to them. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-averell-harriman/how-could-you-justify-giving-holland-twice-the-amount-of-money-that/) [W. Averell Harriman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-averell-harriman/) > [One of the mistakes I made was thinking chickens and penguins could sing, just like all the other animals in the 'Muppets.' But it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-mckenzie/one-of-the-mistakes-i-made-was-thinking-chickens-and-penguins-could/) [Bret McKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-mckenzie/) > [I liked climbing trees and could often be found up one reading a book. I played games with Dad and drew maps for him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhianna-pratchett/i-liked-climbing-trees-and-could-often-be-found-up-one-reading-a-book/) [Rhianna Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhianna-pratchett/) > [I studied philosophy and ended on sociology. For some reason, all the advanced courses in philosophy were offered 4:30 to 6:30, so I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-jackson/i-studied-philosophy-and-ended-on-sociology-for-some-reason-all-the/) [Lawrence Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-jackson/) Browse all 8,032 Could quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The game has changed since the '80s, where you could punch and kick and headlock and do one suplex, and that's a 25 minute match.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sami Zayn" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sami-zayn/the-game-has-changed-since-the-80s-where-you-could-punch-and-kick-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Could" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sami-zayn/the-game-has-changed-since-the-80s-where-you-could-punch-and-kick-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fba/sami-zayn-9545_could_the-game-has-changed-since-the-80s-where_2286701.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fba/sami-zayn-9545_could_the-game-has-changed-since-the-80s-where_2286701.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fba/sami-zayn-9545_could_the-game-has-changed-since-the-80s-where_2286701.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The game has changed since the '80s, where you could punch and kick and headlock and do one suplex, and…” — Sami Zayn", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Sami Zayn", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sami-zayn/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The game has changed since the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sami-zayn/the-game-has-changed-since-the-80s-where-you-could-punch-and-kick-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sami-zayn/the-game-has-changed-since-the-80s-where-you-could-punch-and-kick-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```