Cian Noonan Reflects On Working With Sammy D, Calls Him A “Diamond In The Rough”

Cian Noonan reflects on working with Sammy D while he was OTT World Champion.

Cian Noonan reflects on working with Sammy D.

Last month at OTT Showdown In Sheriff Street, up and coming Irish prospect Cian Noonan wrestled then OTT World Champion Sammy D in singles competition. The Draw member would work over the young star, defeating him in the end after targeting Noonan’s knee.

While speaking to Fightful’s Corey Brennan in a recent interview, Noonan reflected on his bout with Sammy D, expressing his happiness with the bout and the former champion showing him respect after the contest.

“Great opportunity. Like, really great opportunity. I was very thankful for having it. I think in every sense of the word, Sam was a snake in the ring. Like, he’s seen an opportunity and he immediately jumped on it. I banged my knee a bit in the match about, I’d say, three or four minutes in. Sam saw the opportunity and dived on it. But, in fairness, I do understand he’s the world champion. He can’t have a young up and comer beat him. But after the match as well, he did make it known that I am a prospect and he was very proud of me. So I’m happy. He said that in the ring in front of the fans. It wasn’t one of these things where no one gets to see it. So I’m really happy he kind of took the time to tell me that he was proud of me and that I was there to keep up. Sam’s definitely one of the most underrated in Europe, I think. I think for Irish talent, like he’s phenomenal. Like he’s really the top dog in Ireland right now. The fact that he’s not out everywhere at the moment is still kind of shocking to me. I think he’s just kind of this untapped, I don’t know what you call it, maybe a diamond in the rough. But I think his time will eventually come. I know he’s had, obviously, a long run as of now. I think he’s wrestling 8 years, but he’s still so young as well. I think he’s only 27. He’s still really, really young for such a long period of time being in wrestling. So I’m hoping he gets that opportunity fairly soon.”

Sammy would go on to lose the OTT World Championship at OTT Gaff Party Dublin on March 2nd to Trent Seven. You can read more about that here.

Elsewhere in Noonan’s interview with Fightful, he discussed how Will Ospreay inspired him to take on wrestling full time. You can read more about that here.