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The WWE Intercontinental Championship feud between Big E and Apollo Crews looks set to continue into WWE WrestleMania 37.
Despite The New Day member now defeating Crews on three separate occasions to retain the Intercontinental Championship, it would appear that the feud between the two SmackDown Superstars is far from over.
Last weekend at WWE Fastlane, Big E once again defeated Apollo Crews to successfully defend the Intercontinental Championship. E reversed a pin attempt by Crews into a pinning combination of his own to win the match. However, once the match was over, Apollo once again viciously attacked the Intercontinental Champion.
While the match is yet to be confirmed, there is no doubt Big E wants revenge. Which could lead to Apollo Crews getting one more title shot, this time on the Grandest Stage Of Them All.
Let's take a closer look at the five stipulations WWE could add to the potential WrestleMania 37 Intercontinental Title match.
#5 Apollo Crews vs Big E - Ladder Match (WWE Intercontinental Championship)
Ladder matches and WrestleMania go hand in hand. The Show Of Shows has seen some of the greatest ladder matches in WWE history take place. The Hardy Boyz vs The Dudley Boyz vs Edge & Christian and the various Money in the Bank Ladder matches continue to be spoken about to this very day.
However, the WWE Intercontinental Championship has a good history with Ladder Matches at the Grandest Stage Of Them All. Arguably one of the greatest matches in WrestleMania history was a bout that had the prestigious title hanging in the balance.
At WrestleMania X, Razor Ramon defeated Shawn Michaels in the first-ever Ladder Match in WWE history to become the undisputed Intercontinental Champion.
WWE has had the title defended in multi-person ladder matches at WrestleMania 31 and 32 respectively.
The company could look to continue the tradition of having the Intercontinental Championship defended in a Ladder match at WrestleMania by adding the match stipulation to the inevitable Apollo Crews vs Big E showdown.
#4 Apollo Crews vs Big E - Stairs Match (WWE Intercontinental Championship)
Apollo Crews' first WWE heel turn was confirmed when he attacked Big E with the steel steps after beating Shinsuke Nakamura on the February 26, 2021 episode of SmackDown.
While the WWE Intercontinental Champion watched on from ringside, Apollo Crews started to violently attack Nakamura after the match. This caused Big E to make the save.
However, Crews then destroyed both the Intercontinental Champion and Shinsuke Nakamura with the steel ring steps.
Since then, Apollo Crews has seen metamorphosis on SmackDown. Embracing his Nigerian heritage, the former US Champion now has a new accent and carries himself in a much different manner, often being accompanied by personnel to the ring.
Considering that Apollo Crews initially used the steel ring steps to attack Big E, perhaps a suitable stipulation for their Intercontinental Championship bout at WrestleMania could be a Steel Stairs match.
For this one, the steel ring steps are the only legal weapon that the competitors in can use. The only previous Steel Stairs match took place at the WWE Tables, Ladders, Chairs, and Stairs pay-per-view in 2014 between The Big Show and Erick Rowan.
It would certainly be an interesting choice. However, in the context of the storyline between Apollo Crews and Big E, this match stipulation would absolutely make sense.
#3 Apollo Crews vs Big E - Steel Cage match (WWE Intercontinental Championship)
WWE has only ever seen one Steel Cage match take place at a WrestleMania event. It was at WrestleMania 2 when WWE Champion Hulk Hogan defeated King Kong Bundy in the main event to retain his title. Perhaps now is the time, 35 years later, to once again have a Steel Cage match at the PPV.
Big E and Apollo Crews' rivalry on SmackDown has been a long one. E first defeated Apollo Crews to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship on the January 8, 2021 episode of the blue brand. By the time that WrestleMania is upon us, the two rivals will have been feuding for over three months on WWE television.
Historically, when two WWE Superstars have been feuding for such a long period on television, there is a major match stipulation for the final chapter of the rivalry. In many cases, this has been a Steel Cage match.
Given the animosity between Big E and Apollo Crews that has developed in recent weeks, it makes sense for a brutal and violent match stipulation to be added to their Intercontinental Championship match at WrestleMania.
Furthermore, Crews' recent attacks on E have become increasingly vicious. Perhaps a Steel Cage match is a perfect way to settle the lengthy rivalry between the two SmackDown superstars once and for all at WWE WrestleMania 37.
#2 Apollo Crews vs Big - Street Fight (WWE Intercontinental Championship)
The brawls between Big E and Apollo Crews on WWE television in recent weeks have resembled somewhat of a street fight. After Crews' initial assault caused the WWE Intercontinental Champion to miss several weeks, the duo has been involved in several brawls.
This could be setting up a stipulation such as Street Fight for the inevitable WWE WrestleMania 37 showdown for the Intercontinental Championship.
A Street Fight would tap into the vicious animosity that has been built between the two superstars over the last few months. In such a stipulation, anything is legal.
From Crews' perspective, perhaps a Street Fight is just the stipulation that he needs to finally defeat Big E and capture the WWE Intercontinental Championship.
Every time that the former US Champion has challenged E for the title in a regular match, he has been unable to defeat The New Day member.
However, with a Street Fight stipulation, Apollo Crews would be able to utilize weapons and nefarious tactics, which may just be enough to get him over the line.
#1 Apollo Crews vs Big E - Falls Count Anywhere match (WWE Intercontinental Championship)
WWE Intercontinental Champion Big E wanted revenge in the worst way after he was taken out by Crews a few weeks ago.
During a recent sit-down interview segment on SmackDown, E decided enough was enough and vowed to find Apollo Crews inside the WWE ThunderDome at Tropicana Field and make his rival pay.
The WWE Intercontinental Champion took a golf cart and drove around the arena before finally finding his fierce rival and starting a big brawl.
Big E got the upper hand on Apollo Crews, sending his opponent to the floor before the brawl was broken up by officials and referees.
Nevertheless, it does lead one to wonder if the WWE Universe can expect to see a match between Big E and Apollo Crews at WrestleMania with a gimmick similar to this.
Perhaps we could see both these two battle it out in a Falls Count Anywhere match at WrestleMania.
This would allow the Intercontinental Champion and the challenger to brawl all over Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, Florida.
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