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Chad Gable cleared another major hurdle in his Intercontinental Championship reign by defeating WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio on the Aug. 17 episode of WWE RAW in Buffalo, New York. While the title remained around Gable’s waist, the journey to get there proved anything but straightforward, as Mysterio pushed the champion to his absolute limit. The contest marked Gable’s first major televised title defense since dethroning Penta at SummerSlam on Aug. 2. With Gable continuing his redemption tour after leaving behind his El Grande Americano persona, the match carried as much emotional weight as championship stakes. Chad Gable survives Rey Mysterio in instant-classic Intercontinental title match The opening moments showcased a technical chess match, with both wrestlers trading counters, pin attempts and escapes before Gable gained control with his amateur wrestling background. Mysterio answered with his trademark speed, including a Frankensteiner and an impressive Asai moonsault that shifted momentum back in his favor. As the bout progressed, both men emptied their arsenals. Mysterio connected with a tornado DDT and repeatedly escaped Gable’s powerful offense, while the champion fired back with an Olympic Slam, an avalanche Olympic Slam and a diving headbutt. Still, the Hall of Famer refused to stay down, proving once again that the “Ultimate Underdog” still has plenty left in the tank. The closing sequence had fans on the edge of their seats. Gable trapped Mysterio in the ankle lock, only for Rey to fight free and connect with consecutive 619s before crashing down with a splash. Gable got his knees up, immediately reapplied the ankle lock and, after another frantic exchange, reversed a pinning predicament into a victory roll to retain the Intercontinental Championship. The post-match moment may have been just as memorable as the match itself. Rather than showing frustration, Mysterio embraced Gable and asked for the championship belt so he could personally place it around the champion’s waist. The two then shook hands and shared a hug before Gable returned the respect by raising Mysterio’s hand. With another successful defense now in the books, Gable’s redemption story continues to gain momentum. He may have escaped by the skin of his teeth this time, but holding off a legend like Mysterio is no small feat — and the Intercontinental title picture just became even more compelling. Read More: Oba Femi vs. Bron Breakker to Define WWE’s Future at Sunday Night’s Main Event