New Champion Crowned At WWE SmackDown Taping (SPOILERS)

**The following article contains spoilers for the WWE SmackDown taping held last night (February 11),  turn away if you do not wish to be spoiled**

Next Friday’s edition of SmackDown was taped following last night’s live episode, due to WWE talents needing to travel to Saudi Arabia next week for Elimination Chamber. Previously advertised for the show was an Intercontinental Championship match, with Sami Zayn challenging for Shinsuke Nakamura’s gold.

WWE has now confirmed that Zayn was victorious, sharing the following to WWE.com:

During a special SmackDown taping on Feb. 11, Sami Zayn defeated Shinsuke Nakamura to capture the Intercontinental Championship.

Tune in to SmackDown next Friday at 8/7 C on FOX to see how The Master Strategist emerged victorious in the hard-fought battle for the gold!

This title win will mark the beginning of Zayn’s third reign with the gold, previously winning the Intercontinental Championship twice in 2020. Zayn had earned the opportunity to challenge for the title during the Christmas Eve episode of SmackDown, but had to wait for Nakamura to return from injury before receiving his title shot.

This match will air on the February 18 edition of SmackDown. WWE Elimination Chamber will take place the next night, airing from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

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• Spoiler
• intercontinental championship
• title change
• wwe

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