3 Ups & 7 Downs From WWE SmackDown (Dec 20)

2. The IC Title Finally Has A Feud

Braun Strowman Cesaro Shinsuke Nakamura
WWE.com

Shinsuke Nakamura's Intercontinental Title reign started in July when he beat Finn Bálor on the Extreme Rules Kickoff show. Since then, Naka has aligned with mouthpiece Sami Zayn, formed yet another union with Cesaro and done precisely bugger all as IC Champ. That looks set to change.

No prizes for guessing where this one is going.

On the plus side, Shinsuke finally has a feud he can sink his teeth into now he's warring with Braun Strowman over the belt. Whenever Braun is 100% healthy and ready to go, the smart money will be on a title change in the new year. Becoming the new Intercontinental Champ could be Strowman's ticket onto the WrestleMania card next spring.

The feud isn't perfect (Nakamura will be sacrificed after a lacklustre reign), but it's better than nothing. That belt, shiny new aesthetic and all, has become a prop again after guys like The Miz, Seth Rollins, Dolph Ziggler and more worked hard to raise it up last year.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.