Jeff Hardy Issues Open Challenge, Retains IC Title Against Shinsuke Nakamura

Kicking off tonight’s episode of Friday Night SmackDown, Jeff Hardy issued an open challenge to his newly acquired WWE Intercontinental Championship, and managed to retain the title in a surprisingly close match against Shinsuke Nakamura.

After coming down to the ring to celebrate his title, Hardy was initially interrupted by AJ Styles, who said that he wasn’t medically cleared to take on Hardy despite wanting to. However, that didn’t stop Nakamura from accepting the challenge, and in their match, he nearly took down the champion. Unfortunately for him, though, Hardy was able to come away with the win, retaining his title. After the match, Sami Zayn made a surprise return to SmackDown, where he delivered a swift kick to Hardy and said that he was still the real Intercontinental Champion.

For more on how the match ended, check out below:

Hardy launches Nakamura at the announce desk, wiping out Styles in the process. After the break, Hardy lands the whisper in the wind on Nakamura. Nakamura responds with a sliding German suplex. Nakamura blasts Hardy with a flying knee off the second rope. Hardy kicks out. Nakamura calls for the Kinshasa. Hardy avoids it. Hardy knees Nakamura in the gut using the knee that has the knee brace on it. Hardy hits the Twist of Fate followed by the Swanton for the win.

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