Will Big E Lose the Intercontinental Championship to Apollo Crews Ahead of the Royal Rumble?

Big E is an exceptional talent, and fans have known for a long time that he is destined for main-event level success. He ended the not so great 2020 by winning the WWE Intercontinental Championship from Sami Zayn on the Christmas Day episode of SmackDown.

Big E takes on Apollo Crews for the Intercontinental Championship

Apollo Crews was quick to strike at the opportunity last week as he accepted Big E’s open challenge for the WWE Intercontinental Championship. WWE made the match official for this week’s SmackDown, and we can’t fathom what these two gifted athletes will bring to our screens.

Big E won the Intercontinental Championship just two weeks ago, and this week it’ll be his first title defense. The ‘Powerhouse’ wants to be a defending champion, but a former US Champion in Apollo Crews is not to be taken lightly.

Apollo Crews has a brilliant combination of power and agility, making him a tough contender for Big E. We must also note that this is Big E’s first singles championship in over five years. He has defended the Tag Team Championships many times in high-profile matches, but a singles title defense is an altogether different ballgame.

The ‘Powerhouse’ embarked on his solo run in July. Post that, he took a few months to capture Intercontinental gold for the second time in his career; however, now that he holds it, it’ll take a lot to get it off of him.

Talking about the tale of the tape, E is way stronger than Apollo but not as fast as him. This contest between two of WWE’s finest athletes will be great to watch.

How did Apollo Crews enter the championship picture?

Crews lost the US Championship to Bobby Lashley in October and was later drafted to SmackDown as part of the 2020 WWE Draft. He was one of the lumberjacks during the Intercontinental Championship Lumberjack match on the Christmas Day episode of SmackDown.

Last week, he saved Big E from an attack from Sami Zayn and King Corbin’s knights. This led to a tag team match between Big E and Apollo Crews and Sami Zayn and King Corbin, which the faces won after Crews pinned Zayn.

Later, Kayla Braxton caught up with Big E and Apollo as they were walking backstage. She asked Big E what his plans are, and E revealed he would be keeping an open challenge for his championship. Crews, who was standing by, quickly accepted the open challenge. That’s how the title match became official for this week.

So, will Big E have a successful first title defense, or will Apollo cause an upset? Find out Friday Night at 8/7C on FOX!