Braun Strowman vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Friday Night Smackdown January 31: Intercontinental Championship Match

Nakamura hit a number of strikes, but Strowman hit him with a shoulder tackle. With Shinsuke in the corner, Strowman hit a splash but missed a second attempt. Strowman would hit two more shoulder tackles, toss Nakamura, and hit his shoulder tackle on the outside. Nakamura evaded the powerslam and hit a knee to the back of the head. Zayn exposed the top turnbuckle, but Strowman took advantage of the situation and sent Nakamura into the turnbuckle. After a powerslam, Braun is the new Intercontinental Champion.

Match Ratings

Six dimensions combine to make up the overall rating. Matches score ratings of 1-10 only if the match lasts for a minimum of 5 minutes.

1. Match Quality– Was the match well wrestled or sloppy?
2. Audience Engagement– Did the live audience care about the match?
3. Competitiveness– Was the match competitive or one-sided?
4. Stakes – Did the match matter?
5. Finish– Did the match end in a satisfying manner?
6. Performance: (1) Poor (2) Below Average (3) Average (4) Above Average (5) Excellent