WWE Intercontinental Title Vacated, Tournament to Begin This Friday on SmackDown

Sami Zayn has been stripped of the Intercontinental Championship and a new champion will be crowned via a tournament that will begin this Friday on SmackDown.

Zayn has reportedly been staying home because of the coronavirus and last appeared at WrestleMania, defending the title against Daniel Bryan. WWE said that he’s “unable to defend the Intercontinental title.”

BREAKING: With @SamiZayn unable to defend the #ICTitle, a tournament to crown a new champion will begin THIS FRIDAY on #SmackDown. https://t.co/NxwnTlndOT

— WWE (@WWE) May 13, 2020

I disagree with this decision and no matter what anyone says, I am still undefeated and therefore still the Intercontinental Champion. -SZ https://t.co/SUFsBFeRDB

— Sami Zayn (@SamiZayn) May 13, 2020

Friday night’s episode of SmackDown, where the tournament will begin, was already taped yesterday (Tuesday) at the WWE Performance Center.