WWE Announces Huge Fatal 4-Way #1 Contender Match For SmackDown

WWE is on the Road to WrestleMania, and you never know what exciting matchups will be made by the creative. It’s undoubtedly an all-hand-on-deck kind of situation right now. Now, WWE has announced a blockbuster match for this week’s episode of Friday Night SmackDown.

Rey Mysterio, Karrion Kross, Santos Escobar, and Madcap Moss will be battling it out to determine the next challenger to Gunther’s WWE Intercontinental Champion this week on Friday Night SmackDown. The title match will take place at the Elimination Chamber on Saturday, February 18th.

“TONIGHT on #SmackDown A Fatal 4-Way match will determine the next challenger for @Gunther_AUT and the #ICTitle! Who will be next in line to face The Ring General?”

On Thursday, Gunther broke a significant record as WWE Intercontinental Champion, surpassing Shelton Benjamin’s 244-day reign with the title in 2004. The Ring General achieved a major milestone in his Intercontinental Championship reign, becoming the longest-reigning champion of the 21st century. Gunther is currently #6 on the list of longest WWE Intercontinental Title reigns of all time.

Gunther is expected to head into WrestleMania 39 on April 1 with 295 days as champion, which would be the fifth-longest Intercontinental Championship reign of all time. Hence, the title defense at Elimination Chamber is nothing more than a placeholder.

The winner of the Fatal 4-Way match could likely become a long-term rival of Gunther. According to rumors, the winner could either be someone who would elevate Gunther’s status as a fighting champion or a legitimate contender to potentially dethrone The Ring General in a rematch at WrestleMania 39.

You can check out the full lineup for tonight’s SmackDown below. We will have complete coverage here at Ringside News.

• WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship: The Usos (c) vs. Braun Strowman & Ricochet
• #1 Contender for WWE Intercontinental Championship: Rey Mysterio vs. Karrion Kross vs. Santos Escobar vs. Madcap Moss

What’s your take on the story? Sound off in the comments!