During the broadcasts of Friday Night SmackDown through the USA Network, superstar Big E managed to retain the Universal Championship after defeating Apollo Crews in combat.
The confrontation was in charge of opening the most recent day of the blue show. The two men competed until they became entangled in a Small Package. The referee completed the count of three with the shoulders of both fighters on the canvas for which he decided to declare a tie. Big E and Crews agreed to restart the fight which proceeded normally until the Big Ending that brought The New Day victory.
Thus Big E retains the WWE Intercontinental Championship
for the first time in his reign. Recall that The Powerhouse of Positivity won the title 14 days ago on the Friday Night SmackDown Christmas special. Big E defeated Sami Zayn in a show-closing gauntlet match on December 25, 2020, lifting this Championship for the second time in his career.
Apollo asked Big E for a title match on SmackDown
After coming out with victory alongside Big E in a tag team match against King Corbin and Sami Zayn Apollo Crews asked the Intercontinental champion for a starting heads-up for the following week. The one from The New Day gladly accepted, warning that his friendship with Crews would not be an obstacle to their rivalry for gold. It should be noted that Apollo and Big E have shared the screen in recent weeks to the point that the former was a great help in the gauntlet match for the latter to become champion.
