Sami Zayn is your new WWE Intercontinental Champion.
Tonight’s WWE Elimination Chamber go-home edition of SmackDown on FOX saw Zayn capture the title by defeating Shinsuke Nakamura. Zayn had been the #1 contender since winning the 12 Days of Christmas Gauntlet match on the December 24 SmackDown episode.
Rick Boogs was absent from ringside during tonight’s title shot because of the electric shock Sami caused in last week’s “In-Zayn” segment. The storyline behind tonight’s match had Zayn focusing on Nakamura’s knee and hurting him, then getting the pin.
This is Zayn’s third reign with the Intercontinental Title. Nakamura won the strap back on the August 13 SmackDown by defeating Apollo Crews. He held the title for 189 recognized days.
Stay tuned for more. Below are several shots from tonight’s title change at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, which was taped last Friday night:
"My plan is… kick Sami in the face."#SmackDown #ICTitle @ShinsukeN @SamiZayn pic.twitter.com/QxqCCm3xgC
— WWE (@WWE) February 19, 2022
#YeaOH!#SmackDown #ICTitle @ShinsukeN pic.twitter.com/sDgrw4cvlt
— WWE (@WWE) February 19, 2022
.@ShinsukeN isn’t going to make it easy for @SamiZayn! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/sV5BMLHg9W
— WWE (@WWE) February 19, 2022
.@SamiZayn will do whatever it takes to capture the #ICTitle! @ShinsukeN #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/RyKL4dDDNK
— WWE (@WWE) February 19, 2022
How did @ShinsukeN kick out of that?!?!#SmackDown #ICTitle @SamiZayn pic.twitter.com/v7qdyemg13
— WWE (@WWE) February 19, 2022
"My plan is to kick Sami in the face." – @ShinsukeN
Mission accomplished. #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/jrMyFFVFXb
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) February 19, 2022
CAUGHT #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/I9XnsOaMt6
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) February 19, 2022
https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1494861697588383746
😮#SmackDown #ICTitle @ShinsukeN @SamiZayn pic.twitter.com/aZugaXB5Nr
— WWE (@WWE) February 19, 2022
And NEWWW!!!#SmackDown #ICTitle @SamiZayn pic.twitter.com/LjmIOSgqk7
— WWE (@WWE) February 19, 2022
Eat your heart out, @realjknoxville! We've got a new Intercontinental Champion! #SamiZaynForever #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/hrnmIaa9Or
— WWE (@WWE) February 19, 2022
.@SamiZayn is about to become unbearable. #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/GhI313QMVb
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) February 19, 2022
He's never, EVER going to shut up about this.#ANDNEWWWWWW Intercontinental Champion: @SamiZayn! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/QSVkfmSYUj
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) February 19, 2022
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