WWE Friday Night SmackDown #1116

WWE SmackDown Report: Big E Seizes Intercontinental Gold, Adam Pearce Earns Universal Title Shot

St. Petersburg, Florida - The WWE ThunderDome (Tropicana Field) played host to an electrifying episode of SmackDown tonight, as the superstars of the blue brand delivered a thrilling night of action.

The evening kicked off with Big E facing Apollo Crews in a highly anticipated WWE Intercontinental Title Match. In a stunning upset, Big E managed to double pin Crews, securing the victory and claiming the Intercontinental Championship in just 3:12 of match time.

In another marquee bout, The Dirty Dawgs (Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode) proved their chemistry is as potent as ever, defeating The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) to retain the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Titles. The match was a hard-fought affair that saw both teams trading near-falls before the Dirty Dawgs emerged victorious after 14:27 of action.

The main event of the evening was a true spectacle, as Adam Pearce battled Daniel Bryan, King Corbin, Rey Mysterio, Sami Zayn, and Shinsuke Nakamura in a WWE Universal Title #1 Contendership Gauntlet Match. The unpredictable nature of the match made it a thrill ride from start to finish, with each competitor taking their turn at trying to emerge victorious.

In the end, it was Adam Pearce who managed to outlast them all, pinning Shinsuke Nakamura after 25:56 of chaos to earn himself a shot at the WWE Universal Title. This monumental victory cements Pearce's status as a force to be reckoned with on the SmackDown roster.

As we look ahead to next week's episode, questions abound regarding what this means for the future of the Universal Championship and who might step up to challenge Adam Pearce. One thing is certain - SmackDown has never been more electric, and fans are eagerly anticipating what comes next.

Final Match Times:

1. Big E (w) vs. Apollo Crews - 03:12
2. The Dirty Dawgs (c) vs. The Street Profits - 14:27
3. Adam Pearce vs. Daniel Bryan/King Corbin/Rey Mysterio/Sami Zayn/Shinsuke Nakamura (Gauntlet Match) - 25:56

Zohash.com Rating: A- (4.5/5)

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Card Details

• Date: 08 Jan 2021
• Promotion: World Wrestling Entertainment
• Arena: WWE ThunderDome (Tropicana Field)
• Type: TV-Show
• Broadcast Type: Live
• Broadcast Date: 08 Jan 2021

Matches

1. Big E(C) Double Pin Apollo Crews in a WWE Intercontinental Title Match
   Match Time: 03:12

2. Big E(C) defeat Apollo Crews in a WWE Intercontinental Title Match
   Match Time: 02:59

3. The Dirty Dawgs (Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode)(C) defeat The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) in a WWE SmackDown Tag Team Title Match
   Match Time: 14:27

4. Adam Pearce defeat Daniel Bryan, King Corbin, Rey Mysterio, Sami Zayn and Shinsuke Nakamura in a WWE Universal Title #1 Contendership Gauntlet Match
   Match Time: 25:56