Long Beach resident wins WWE Intercontinental Championship

Posted Friday, April 8, 2016 12:00 am

Zack Ryder, a WWE wrestler and Long Beach resident, clinched the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 32 on April 3. (Facebook)

Long Beach’s own Zack Ryder won the World Wrestling Entertainment Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 32 in Dallas, Texas on April 3.

Ryder, 30, whose real name is Matt Cardona, beat out six contenders at once, including Sami Zayn, Dolph Ziggler, Sin Cara, The Miz and Stardust, stealing the title from the reigning two-time champion Kevin Owens.

The Miz reached the top of a ladder in the ring where the belt sat for the taking, but began gloating to the crowd. Ryder raced up and knocked him off, snagging the belt and claiming the championship.

A day after winning the belt, however, Ryder lost to the Miz.

The Merrick native and Calhoun High School alum will face off against Owens at WWE Extreme Rules on April 26.

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