Former WWE Intercontinental Champion announces return after 6 months; looks unrecognizable

WWE Intercontinental Championship (Image Credits: WWE.com)
WWE Intercontinental Championship (Image Credits: WWE.com)

Former WWE Superstar and Intercontinental Champion, Ezekiel Jackson, has announced his return. This superstar departed the Stamford-based company in 2014, but was briefly active on the independent circuit in 2025.

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Jackson signed a developmental contract with the WWE in March 2007 and debuted in FCW. In 2008, he wrestled in his final match for FCW before being called up to the main roster.

On X, Jackson, who has been competing under his new name Big Ryck, announced that he is once again open to taking bookings. His last match was back in May at an event called SOW Clash In Alameda. In 2025, the former Intercontinental Champion returned to in-ring action for the first time in a decade.

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"Preparing for 2026!!! #bigryck #ezekieljackson #prowrestling," wrote Ryck.

Is Triple H mad at John Cena? Check in details!

Check out Ryck's post on X:

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Former WWE Superstar Ezekiel Jackson opened up about being the final ECW Champion

Ezekiel Jackson was the final ECW Champion in history. He admitted that he would've loved to defend the championship at least once, but WWE had other ideas with the brand.

Speaking to MuscleMan Malcolm, Jackson said:

"I would have loved to defend the title to be recognized as, but after that, I came through the curtain and the next week, I was on SmackDown and they announced on the titantron, Ezekiel Jackson is coming to SmackDown. Sadly, my dad died within the next couple weeks of that. I buried my dad on April 3, on April 10, I would’ve been celebrating my sister’s 40th birthday, who had died 5 years earlier, but then I blew my right quad out that same day,"
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In 2010, Jackson entered the ECW Championship picture by winning an ECW Homecoming Battle Royal to earn a title shot. He faced Christian for the ECW Championship at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view.

On the final episode of ECW on February 16, Jackson defeated Christian to win the ECW Championship in an Extreme Rules Match.

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Edited by Soumik Datta
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