GREATEST INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONS OF ALL TIME
The Intercontinental Championship has been one of the grandest prizes in the WWE for 39 years and has been held by dozens and dozens of the best superstars to ever compete in the squared-circle. The belt has been central to many amazing rivalries, tournaments, and matches, and has even earned the name the 'Workhorse Title' thanks to the technical ability of the wrestlers that have held the belt, and it's ability to get wrestlers over with the crowd, hence, elevating their career. Here are the top 5 Intercontinental Champions of all time!
5) The Miz
Kicking off the list is the 'Awesome One' The Miz. Yes, many people do not class him as one of the IC Titles greatest champs of all time but I beg to differ. From 2012 until 2018 The Miz has held the belt 8 times for a combined 599 days, making him the second most successful Intercontinental Champion of all time. Only Chris Jericho have held the title more times, and Pedro Morales has held it for a longer period of time. Whilst holding the title, The Miz has had absolutely fantastic matches against the likes of Dolph Ziggler, Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns, coming out on top more often than not. Whether you love him or hate him (I personally love him) you cannot deny The Miz of any credibility he continues to place on the prestigious title.
4) Razor Ramon
In September 1993 Razor Ramon defeated Rick Martel to claim the vacant Intercontinental Championship and wouldn't ever look back. Ramon had four runs with the title throughout the mid-1990's in which he took on Diesel at Summerslam 1994, Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania X and Summerslam 1995, and Jeff Jarrett at Wrestlemania XI in classic encounters. Ramon's first and fourth reigns ran for decent lengths and allowed Razor to become a star and one of the few highlights of the period. There is no-one quite like Razor Ramon and he will always be respected for keeping the Title relevant during a time of drastic change for the WWE.
3) Randy Savage
The 'Macho Man' Randy Savage is one of the most popular wrestlers of all time, and the reason he is so popular is because of his time holding the Intercontinental Championship. Savage is the 3rd longest reigning IC Champion of all time with his one and only reign lasting for an impressive 414 days. Between winning the title in February 1986 and losing it at Wresltemania III in March 1997, Savage took on all comers including Tito Santana, George Steele, and Bruno Sammartino. Defeating those legends alone is enough to make the list but to do this whilst being the most entertaining wrestler on the roster, and keeping the belt for such an extended period of time is something else. OOOOHHHH YEEEAAAAHHHH.
2) Honky Tonk Man
Honky Tonk Man is the longest reigning Intercontinental Champion in WWE history, holding the belt and impressive for 454 days. He won the belt in June 1987 and held it until August 1988. During his spectacular reign the Elvis impersonator didn't just take the belt from Ricky Steamboat, one of the best technical athletes to ever grace a ring, but defended the gold against the likes of Randy Savage and Billy Jack Hayes in which he would often employ underhanded tactics to win. Honky Tonk was the ultimate heel, an entertaining character, and it was his time as Intercontinental that made him the superstar we have come to love and made the belt what it is today.
1) Chris Jericho
No other wrestler on the planet has held the Intercontinental Championship as many times, or faced the same caliber of competition whilst Champ, as Chris Jericho. The man is the literal definition of the title, he is a workhorse, a technical great, and one of the few wrestlers that can face anyone on the WWE roster and have a golden match. Jericho jumped ship from WCW to WWF and within four months had already captured the prestigious belt by defeating Chyna at Armageddon 1999. Winning the belt a further 8 times across the next 10 years Jericho enjoyed rivalries against Chris Benoit, Shelton Benjamin, and Rey Mysterio. You need to check out Jericho vs Benoit from the Royal Rumble 2001 and also his match against Mysterio from Extreme Rules 2009 if you want some great viewing. Jericho is the IC Title and the IC Title is Jericho.
That's my list, but what I want to know is who you believe is the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time. Please comment below and come back soon as we look back Smackdown's Greatest Matches!
5) The Miz
Kicking off the list is the 'Awesome One' The Miz. Yes, many people do not class him as one of the IC Titles greatest champs of all time but I beg to differ. From 2012 until 2018 The Miz has held the belt 8 times for a combined 599 days, making him the second most successful Intercontinental Champion of all time. Only Chris Jericho have held the title more times, and Pedro Morales has held it for a longer period of time. Whilst holding the title, The Miz has had absolutely fantastic matches against the likes of Dolph Ziggler, Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns, coming out on top more often than not. Whether you love him or hate him (I personally love him) you cannot deny The Miz of any credibility he continues to place on the prestigious title.
4) Razor Ramon
In September 1993 Razor Ramon defeated Rick Martel to claim the vacant Intercontinental Championship and wouldn't ever look back. Ramon had four runs with the title throughout the mid-1990's in which he took on Diesel at Summerslam 1994, Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania X and Summerslam 1995, and Jeff Jarrett at Wrestlemania XI in classic encounters. Ramon's first and fourth reigns ran for decent lengths and allowed Razor to become a star and one of the few highlights of the period. There is no-one quite like Razor Ramon and he will always be respected for keeping the Title relevant during a time of drastic change for the WWE.
3) Randy Savage
The 'Macho Man' Randy Savage is one of the most popular wrestlers of all time, and the reason he is so popular is because of his time holding the Intercontinental Championship. Savage is the 3rd longest reigning IC Champion of all time with his one and only reign lasting for an impressive 414 days. Between winning the title in February 1986 and losing it at Wresltemania III in March 1997, Savage took on all comers including Tito Santana, George Steele, and Bruno Sammartino. Defeating those legends alone is enough to make the list but to do this whilst being the most entertaining wrestler on the roster, and keeping the belt for such an extended period of time is something else. OOOOHHHH YEEEAAAAHHHH.
2) Honky Tonk Man
Honky Tonk Man is the longest reigning Intercontinental Champion in WWE history, holding the belt and impressive for 454 days. He won the belt in June 1987 and held it until August 1988. During his spectacular reign the Elvis impersonator didn't just take the belt from Ricky Steamboat, one of the best technical athletes to ever grace a ring, but defended the gold against the likes of Randy Savage and Billy Jack Hayes in which he would often employ underhanded tactics to win. Honky Tonk was the ultimate heel, an entertaining character, and it was his time as Intercontinental that made him the superstar we have come to love and made the belt what it is today.
1) Chris Jericho
No other wrestler on the planet has held the Intercontinental Championship as many times, or faced the same caliber of competition whilst Champ, as Chris Jericho. The man is the literal definition of the title, he is a workhorse, a technical great, and one of the few wrestlers that can face anyone on the WWE roster and have a golden match. Jericho jumped ship from WCW to WWF and within four months had already captured the prestigious belt by defeating Chyna at Armageddon 1999. Winning the belt a further 8 times across the next 10 years Jericho enjoyed rivalries against Chris Benoit, Shelton Benjamin, and Rey Mysterio. You need to check out Jericho vs Benoit from the Royal Rumble 2001 and also his match against Mysterio from Extreme Rules 2009 if you want some great viewing. Jericho is the IC Title and the IC Title is Jericho.
That's my list, but what I want to know is who you believe is the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time. Please comment below and come back soon as we look back Smackdown's Greatest Matches!
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