Intercontinental title match set for February 18 WWE SmackDown
Shinsuke Nakamura is set for his first televised defense of the WWE Intercontinental Championship since September.
Nakamura will defend the Intercontinental title against Sami Zayn on SmackDown on Friday, February 18.
In addition to the match being Nakamura’s first televised defense since September, it will be his first title defense of any kind since November. His last IC title bout came on a WWE UK tour in Manchester on November 10. Nakamura defeated Jinder Mahal in that match.
Nakamura also defeated Mahal in a championship contender’s match on tonight’s episode of SmackDown, a match that also featured Zayn on commentary.
Zayn has been feuding with Jackass Forever star Johnny Knoxville since the beginning of 2022. Their interaction was a highlighted spot in the Royal Rumble match last weekend, and Zayn appeared earlier this week at the Jackass Forever premiere. At the premiere, an angle was shot where Zayn was “ejected” from the event.
An F4WOnline Editor since 2019, Ethan has been covering wrestling and MMA since 2011. He has hosted The Wrestling Life Podcast since 2014, and is a former Baltimore Sun TV/Tribune Media contributor. He is also a Baltimore Ravens and Baltimore Orioles fan.