At WrestleMania 33, Dean Ambrose defended the Intercontinental Championship against Baron Corbin? Did The Lunatic Fringe retain the gold?
In what was shaped to be the one of the most physical matches of the night at WrestleMania 33, Dean Ambrose defended the Intercontinental Championship on the Kickoff Show against Baron Corbin.
The feud between the two had been building for weeks with Ambrose eliminating Corbin in the Elimination Chamber match for the WWE Championship (which was won by Bray Wyatt) and it came to a head at WrestleMania.
Corbin hit the ring first and strolled down the 80-yard-long ramp on Sunday night (which doesn’t even seem something that should be done, but it’s WrestleMania), followed by the champion.
The #LoneWolf @BaronCorbinWWE is on a MISSION to take the #ICTitle from @TheDeanAmbrose! #WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/DEoSgPD985
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 2, 2017
#LunaticFringe @TheDeanAmbrose is set to defend the #ICTitle vs. @BaronCorbinWWE on #WrestleMania Kickoff, streaming LIVE on @WWENetwork! pic.twitter.com/imhrx25E2L
— WWE (@WWE) April 2, 2017
It didn’t take these two long to get the action going, with Corbin getting the upper hand on the champion in the early going by sending Ambrose into one of the ring posts.
CRASH LANDING as @TheDeanAmbrose lands spine-first into the ring post, and @BaronCorbinWWE looks to take advantage! #WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/7XkZ8nBCVP
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 2, 2017
Ambrose was able to bounce back later on the match by avoiding a big shot from Corbin attempting to attacks his previously-injured ribs, which sent The Lone Wolf into the ring post himself.
This is what you call getting caught in MID-AIR as @BaronCorbinWWE looks to take the offensive! #WrestleMania #ICTitle @TheDeanAmbrose pic.twitter.com/pN4nMHPJ0e
— WWE WrestleMania (@WrestleMania) April 2, 2017
The two continued to beat the mess out of each other, including Corbin eventually taking another risk and crashing into the steel steps on the outside.
#ICChamp @TheDeanAmbrose defends his title against a determined @BaronCorbinWWE on the #WrestleMania #Kickoff streaming LIVE on @WWENetwork! pic.twitter.com/dkItJacmfo
— WWE (@WWE) April 2, 2017
The brawl looked like naptime because neither man could move for a bit.
BOTH men are down as this BATTLE for the #ICTitle continues on #WrestleMania Kickoff, streaming LIVE on @WWENetwork! pic.twitter.com/d7ZTZzI49k
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 2, 2017
As the action spilled back into the ring, Corbin had Ambrose scouted the vintage (that’s for you, Michael Cole) Ambrose bounce off the ropes and drill a big clothesline.
No, @TheDeanAmbrose is not doing a @ShinsukeN impression...
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 2, 2017
He just got a face full of BOOT from @BaronCorbinWWE! #WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/zTnGttlFML
Corbin continued to control the action, but he wasn’t in control when it mattered most. As The Lone Wolf looked to drill the End of Days on the champion and walk out with the title, Ambrose counted Corbin’s attempt at a finish with a finish of his own: Dirty Deeds.
It was enough and Ambrose left Camping World Stadium still Intercontinental Champion.
ONE-TWO-THREEEEEEEE! @TheDeanAmbrose plants @BaronCorbinWWE with some #DirtyDeeds to RETAIN the #ICTitle LIVE on #WrestleMania Kickoff! pic.twitter.com/IufqoSMFj4
— WWE (@WWE) April 2, 2017
Yep, still a lunatic.
You'd HATE to be @TheDeanAmbrose's opponent when he gets THIS look in his eyes! #WrestleMania #ICTitle @BaronCorbinWWE pic.twitter.com/IKF2F9IP5N
— WWE WrestleMania (@WrestleMania) April 2, 2017
With Ambrose retaining the gold, what’s next for The Lunatic Fringe?