WWE announces two matches, contract signing for SmackDown

Two matches involving champions have been announced for this week’s episode of SmackDown.

Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn will face Big E in a non-title match on SmackDown this Friday night. Montez Ford, who is one half of the SmackDown Tag Team Champions, will also face Dolph Ziggler in singles action on the show.

Big E, Zayn, and Ziggler all took part in a Pat Patterson tribute match on SmackDown last week. Daniel Bryan, Big E & Rey Mysterio defeated Zayn, Ziggler & Shinsuke Nakamura when Bryan pinned Zayn with an inside cradle.

On SmackDown two weeks ago, Big E and Zayn had a tense interaction backstage after Zayn defeated Bryan by countout in a non-title match. Big E spoke about the way Zayn has been winning matches and said Zayn has no margin for error. Big E gave Zayn an intense handshake where he wouldn’t let his hand go for 10 seconds.

Ziggler & Robert Roode defeated The Street Profits in a non-title match on SmackDown two weeks ago. Roode and Cesaro then both interrupted The Street Profits in a backstage segment last week. Roode wanted him and Ziggler to get the next SmackDown Tag Team title shot and Cesaro wanted him and Nakamura to get the next shot.

WWE has also announced that there will be a contract signing on this Friday’s SmackDown. SmackDown Women’s Champion Sasha Banks and Carmella will take part in the contract signing ahead of Banks defending her title against Carmella at TLC. That pay-per-view is taking place on Sunday, December 20.