GUNTHER wanted a “singular contender”, as he phrased it to Adam Pearce on SmackDown last week, for his Intercontinental Championship at the upcoming WrestleMania 39 premium live event. Tonight, the Ring General found that the odds will be stacked against him at the biggest show of the year.
Click here for our full coverage of WWE SmackDown.
Tonight’s edition of SmackDown featured a number one contender’s match for the intercontinental title between Sheamus and Drew McIntyre. The two men knocked out other out with their finishers during the closing moments of the match. GUNTHER entered the ring and signaled the rest of the Imperium to attack Sheamus and Drew McIntyre, forcing the referee to end the match in a disqualification.
The Ring General powerbombed Sheamus on top of McIntyre. Adam Pearce told GUNTHER he will defend his Intercontinental Championship against both Sheamus and McIntyre in a triple threat match at WrestleMania 39. The announcement, of course, didn’t sit well with Imperium.
WWE also confirmed WrestleMania showcase matches during the latest edition of the blue brand. The upcoming Mania will now feature men and women’s fatal four-way tag team matches. We previously reported on the now-official tag team contests before SmackDown this week.
The first round of qualifying matches to determine the teams in the women’s tag team bouts took place during WWE SmackDown this week. Raquel Rodriquez and Liv Morgan punched their ticket to WrestleMania after they defeated Emma and Tegan Nox in a tag team match on the blue brand.
Check out the updated card here:
UNDISPUTED WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes
RAW WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Bianca Belair (c) vs. Asuka
SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Rhea Ripley
UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Austin Theory (c) vs. John Cena
Triple Threat Match for the Intercontinental Championship
GUNTHER (c) vs. Sheamus vs. Drew McIntyre
SINGLES MATCH
Brock Lesnar vs. Omos (w/ MVP)
SINGLES MATCH
Seth Rollins vs. Logan Paul
SIX-WOMAN TAG TEAM MATCH
Trish Stratus, Becky Lynch & Lita vs. Damage CTRL
Men’s Fatal 4-Way Tag Team Match
TBD vs. TBD vs. TBD vs. TBD
Women’s Fatal 4-Way Tag Team Match
Raquel Rodriguez & Liv Morgan vs. TBD vs. TBD vs. TBD
HELL IN A CELL
Edge vs. Finn Balor
What’s your take on this story? Sound off in the comments!
