Sami Zayn is a champion once again, as he defeated Shinsuke Nakamura during the February 18 episode of WWE SmackDown to win the WWE Intercontinental Champion.
Zayn was able to come away with the victory after a hard-fought bout. Late in the match, Zayn was able to continuously attack and assault Nakamura’s leg, causing enough injury to drop him and roll him up for the win. With the win, Zayn is now a three-time Intercontinental Champion.
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For a recap of how the match ended, check out below courtesy of our play-by-play coverage:
Zayn begs off. Zayn whips Nakamura into the corner. Nakamura explodes out of the corner with a flying kick. Nakamura sends Zayn out to the apron and lands a knee lift. Zayn avoids Nakamura’s knee drop. Nakamura hits the floor hard and is clutching at his knee. After the break, Zayn is working over Nakamura. Nakamura traps Zayn in a flying armbar. Zayn reverses it into a pin. Nakamura kicks out. Nakamura lands a flurry of strikes.
Sliding German suplex by Nakamura. Zayn kicks out. Zayn elbows his way out of an exploder. Nakamura elbows his way out of a blue thunder bomb attempt. Nakamura runs right into a Michinoku Driver for a near fall. Zayn tries his rope dive DDT but Nakamura meets Zayn in midair with a head kick. Nakamura tries the Kinshasa but Zayn moves, causing Nakamura to slam his previously injured knee into the ring steps.
After the break, Zayn is working over Nakamura’s knee. Nakamura lands a flying shin strike. Nakamura calls for the Kinshasa. Zayn counters with a dropkick to Nakamura’s knee. Blue thunder bomb by Zayn. Nakamura kicks out. Zayn mocks Nakamura’s “come on taunt” Zayn stomps on Nakamura’s face. Nakamura fires up and stomps Zayn’s face into the bottom rope. Nakamura tells Zayn to come on before leveling Zayn with a head kick. Zayn is staggering. Nakamura tries another kick but Zayn catches Nakamura’s foot. Zayn kicks Nakamura in his injured leg. Zayn pins Nakamura.
Winner and NEW Intercontinental Champion, Sami Zayn!
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