5 matches that made the Intercontinental Championship glorious

During the 90's the Intercontinental championship was one of the most prestigious titles in pro wrestling. Some of the greatest feuds and rivalries in WWE history were for the Intercontinental title. It was once a title that the WWF would put on a superstar that it wanted to push to the main event scene. It was used as a stepping stone to the Heavyweight Championship. Now it has lost a lot of it’s sheen.In this article, I will look back at five legendary matches that made it Prestigious, equivalent to the WWF Title.

#6 Honorable Mention: Randy Savage vs Ricky Steamboat, Wrestlemania III

The main attraction being billed was Hulk Hogan taking on the legendary Andre the Giant, but it would be Randy Savage and Ricky Steamboat for the Intercontinental Championship stealing the show and culminating the end of their memorable feud.

Both Savage and Steamboat were not the typical giants fans had grown accustomed to, so both competitors used their speed, agility and high-flying ability to get over with the crowd.

The pace was non-stop and with over countless false finishes, the fans were sucked into the drama being created in the ring. The in-ring masterpiece concluded with Steamboat rolling up Savage for the win, ending Macho’s 414-day reign as Intercontinental Champion.

#5 Chris Jericho vs Chris Benoit, Royal Rumble 2001

This is one of the greatest matches of the 21st Century and certainly one of the greatest ladder matches of all time, Chris Jericho ended up winning the Intercontinental title for the 4th time. These two really stepped it up and came up with some innovative new spots with sheer brutality that helped making it an instant classic .

#4 The Rock vs Triple H, Summerslam 1998

Embroiled in a feud for much of the summer, D-Generation X leader, Triple H challenged the leader of the Nation of Domination, The Rock to a Ladder match for the Intercontinental Championship. They made this match work without having too many crazy spots which a match like this is famous for. By the end of the match, two main eventers were born. The finish came when Chyna, who was with Triple H, gave Rocky a low blow, causing him to fall off the ladder and allowing Hunter to win the title.

#3 Bret Hart vs Mr Perfect, Summerslam 1991

Mr Perfect was the cocky Intercontinental Champion while Bret Hart was in the early stage of his singles run after the Hart Foundation split.This match was beyond phenomenal as you got the two best up-and-comers at the time. Both would go on to have much success in the WWE and WCW. The match had a lot of great counters and was an entertaining fast-paced match. Bret won the title with the Sharpshooter and that was just the start of the illustrious career of Bret Hart. The Hitman was a made man. Perfect was on his way out with back injuries, and in defeat, he made his real life friend look like the world-beater Vince McMahon needed.

#2 Shawn Michaels vs Razor Ramon, Wrestlemania X

Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon changed the course of wrestling with the match they put on in Madison Square Garden. It's one of the most talked wrestling matches of all time. The reigning champion Razor Ramon was defending the belt against the challenger and former Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels. Although it was not the first ladder match, it was considered the most exciting ladder match until that point. It was the first time the ladder match was featured on a WWF pay per view. Through their hard work and insane bumps,they catapulted the ladder and made it a star.

#1 Bret Hart vs The British Bulldog, Summerslam 1992

The setting for this Intercontinental Championship could not have been hotter or more electrifying. Over 80,000 strong filled the outdoor Wembley Stadium in London, England to see SummerSlam 1992 where the Intercontinental Championship would be the evening’s main event. That was unheard of for WWE, especially when the card featured stars “Macho Man” Randy Savage facing off against The Ultimate Warrior for the WWE championship.

Bret Hart and Davey Boy were both fan favorites, and not only that, but brother in-laws as well. To add to the family feud, Hart’s sister and Davey Boy’s wife, Diana Hart, was ringside adding even more drama to the title bout.

Hart, the current champion at the time, would later reveal in his autobiography that the Bulldog forgot the entire match every spot and every single thing he was supposed to do. Hart had to carry him throughout the match. Despite that screw up, a masterpiece was unfolding in front of the raucous crowd.

The roars of fans echoing and horns blasting resembled the sounds of an intense soccer match with hooligans. Hart and Bulldog showcased their technical wrestling abilities. The match was back and forth until Hart attempted a sunset flip only for Bulldog to counter it and pin Hart for the Intercontinental Championship.