On the first episode of SmackDown from The Thunderdome, located in the Amway Center in Orlando Florida, Jeff Hardy defeated AJ Styles for the WWE Intercontinental Championship. Earlier in the night, Retribution stormed the ring during a segment involving “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt and Universal Champion Braun Strowman. This resulted in the WWE locker room filing out to confront the anarchist group. During this melee, Styles attacked Hardy from behind, kicking him in the back of the knee.
Later in the show, Jeff Hardy had his knee examined by a medical professional backstage. Despite the damage done to his knee, Hardy was given clearance to perform later in the show. Throughout the match, Styles targeted the injured knee, weakening “The Charismatic Enigma” in the process. Through sheer will and cunning, Hardy was able to fight back against the “Phenomenal” titleholder. During the match, Hardy struck Styles with brace-covered knee. One Swanton Bomb later and Hardy picked up the win and, in the process, the Intercontinental Championship.
.@JEFFHARDYBRAND and @AJStylesOrg refuse to leave the #WWEThunderDome without the #ICTitle. #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/hYXPa3ECmm
— WWE (@WWE) August 22, 2020
With this victory, Jeff Hardy is a five-time Intercontinental Champion. Though often regarded as a tag team specialist, Hardy was able to achieve success on his own. The aforementioned victory is just one of the many he has enjoyed as a singles competitor. In addition to his various reigns with the title in question, Hardy is a three-time World Champion in WWE. He has also held the European, Hardcore, and Light Heavyweight Championships, just to name a few, during his earlier years in the company.
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