The WWE Intercontinental Title will be defended in a Triple Threat at WrestleMania 39.
This has been rumored for several weeks, but Adam Pearce officially announced on tonight’s WWE SmackDown that WrestleMania 39 will see WWE Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER defend against Sheamus and Drew McIntyre in a Triple Threat.
Sheamus and McIntyre wrestled each other to determine the #1 contender for WrestleMania, but they both went down after colliding with a Brogue and a Claymore. Imperium had been watching from the ring, but at that point a frustrated GUNTHER entered the ring and had words with the referee, saying the match could not end like this. GUNTHER yelled at both competitors until they got up and cornered him. Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci then attacked from behind. While GUNTHER hit the running corner dropkick to McIntyre, Sheamus sent Vinci and Kaiser to the floor, but then turned around to a lariat from GUNTHER. GUNTHER ended the assault by powerbombing Sheamus onto McIntyre’s back. Imperium went to leave but Adam Pearce interrupted from the big screen. Pearce said GUNTHER was clear last week about wanting one challenger but tonight’s actions said otherwise. Pearce then declared that GUNTHER left him no choice, so it will be a Triple Threat at WrestleMania with GUNTHER, McIntyre and Sheamus. GUNTHER was not happy as Sheamus and McIntyre recovered in the ring.
WWE WrestleMania 39 is scheduled for Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Below is the current card, along with some of the rumored matches, along with related clips from SmackDown:
Host: The Miz
America The Beautiful singer for Night 1: Becky G
America The Beautiful singer for Night 2: Jimmie Allen
CONFIRMED MATCHES:
Undisputed WWE Universal Title Match
Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns (c)
WWE United States Title Match
John Cena vs. Austin Theory (c)
SmackDown Women’s Title Match
Rhea Ripley vs. Charlotte Flair (c)
RAW Women’s Title Match
Asuka vs. Bianca Belair (c)
Triple Threat for the WWE Intercontinental Title
Sheamus vs. Drew McIntyre vs. GUNTHER (c)
Hell In a Cell
Finn Balor vs. WWE Hall of Famer Edge
Rumored to be The Demon vs. Brood Edge.
Brock Lesnar vs. Omos
Damage CTRL (Bayley, Dakota Kai, IYO SKY) vs. WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus and WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Becky Lynch & WWE Hall of Famer Lita
Rey Mysterio vs. Dominik Mysterio
Unconfirmed as of this writing.
Logan Paul vs. Seth Rollins (Night 1)
What are you doing @Gunther_AUT!?!?#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/mAF34mwrPW
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) March 18, 2023
We have a triple threat match at WrestleMania for the Intercontinental Championship! 😤@Gunther_AUT @DMcIntyreWWE @WWESheamus #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/dZ8ZeX5oyF
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) March 18, 2023
.@ScrapDaddyAP makes it official! 👏👏👏
It's going to be a Triple Threat Match for the #ICTitle at #WrestleMania! @WWESheamus vs. @DMcIntyreWWE vs. @Gunther_AUT!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/Yg73ic2ak2
— WWE (@WWE) March 18, 2023
RUMORED MATCHES:
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles Match
Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens vs. The Usos (c)
Bobby Lashley vs. Bray Wyatt
Men’s Tag Team Fatal 4 Way
The Viking Raiders vs. Braun Strowman and Ricochet vs. Alpha Academy vs. The Street Profits
Women’s Tag Team Fatal 4 Way
Teams to be announced
Stay tuned to WrestlingHeadlines.com for more.
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