Big E wins Intercontinental title on WWE SmackDown

Image: WWE

A title change took place on tonight’s Christmas Day edition of SmackDown.

In the main event of the show, Big E defeated Sami Zayn in a lumberjack match to win the Intercontinental title. Big E pinned Zayn after hitting the Big Ending. The show then went off the air with Big E celebrating with some of the babyface lumberjacks.

After a brawl between the lumberjacks broke out, Zayn tried to walk out of the match. But The Street Profits, Otis, Chad Gable, and Apollo Crews stopped Zayn and threw him back into the ring. Big E then hit a belly-to-belly suplex, a splash, and the Big Ending to get the win.

The lumberjack stipulation was due to Zayn winning by countout multiple times in recent weeks, including against Big E in a non-title match on the December 11 episode of SmackDown.

Zayn and Big E’s title match was announced for tonight’s SmackDown after Big E pinned Zayn during an eight-man tag match on this past Sunday’s TLC pre-show. There was also a segment on SmackDown last week where Big E ruined Zayn’s “first annual Sami Awards.”

This is the second time Big E has held the Intercontinental title during his career. He was previously Intercontinental Champion from November 2013 to May 2014.

Due to today being Christmas, this week’s SmackDown was taped on Tuesday and then aired tonight.