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Intercontinental Championship is second most prestigious championship in WWE currently. It has a good amount of history attached. Famous names like Chris Jericho, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H and Rob Van Dam have held the championship.
Off late, the championship has been generally used to develop the undercard and promote upcoming talent. The championship was defended on the preshow in the last WrestleMania. A well built feud can however add more relevancy to the title and can thus help both the champion and the challenger in establishing themselves.
Currently, Big E holds the Intercontinental Championship. Big E is a former national powerlifting champion, former NXT champion and debuted on the main roster as a bodyguard to Dolph Ziggler and subsequently AJ Lee. He was even a part of the WrestleMania 29 card, featuring as a tag team partner of Ziggler. He has both the build and the mic skills, something which is very rare.
Big E was well pushed to take the title from Curtis Axel on Monday Night Raw back in November last year. Since then he has not had any rivalry of note. He has defended his title only against three wrestlers- Curtis Axel, Damien Sandow and Jack Swagger. Only the match against Swagger was of certain relevance and had some build up through Zeb Colter.
Given the potential that Big E has and the talent that the roster currently has, the WWE creative team can book a good feud for Big E for this WrestleMania. Here I would present 5 wrestlers who may well challenge Big E for the title.
5. Rob Van Dam
Rob Van Dam
Rob Van Dam is an exciting prospect whom everyone looks up to in the card. Although he has slowed down in the ring, he still has all his skill sets. RVD is scheduled to return sometime before WrestleMania. In the earlier stint, RVD had some above average matches with Alberto Del Rio for the world heavyweight championship. He did well to make Del Rio look ruthless, though Del Rio still finds it hard to get over with the crowd.
RVD could actually put up even better performances with Big E. With Big E needing a potent rival, RVD can easily step up and perform the role efficiently. It would also make the title look a lot more respectable.
4. Wade Barrett
Bad News Barrett
Bad news Barrett heavily featured in the Elimination Chamber. Wade Barrett does the role of heel rather efficiently and is entertaining as well in his new role. With Big E as a baby face, the former Intercontinental Champion and leader of the Nexus can provide some opposition as a heel. The Barrett Barrage is good in the ring and given some build up, this match can actually look very good on the grandest stage.
3. Chris Jericho
Jericho
Chris Jericho is a legend. Period. He is a nine time Intercontinental Champion, he has won it more than anyone else in the Industry. With WWE going all out to bring in superstars, he may probably also return before WrestleMania. Is he does, he would definitely need a feud for Mania. Booking Jericho for the Intercontinental title would be easier as well.
Last year at WrestleMania, Jericho put over Fandango who was on debut. He did well to make Fandango look strong and that even started the Fandangoing thing. This year, he may well do the same and put over Big E or win the title the record 10th time. Either ways, it would be a must see match.
2. Jack Swagger
Swagger
Jack Swagger competed with Big E in the Elimination Chamber. Though the build up was of only one week, the two wrestlers put up a good show to start the PPV. Swagger, the former World Heavyweight Champion, may well be given another opportunity as a rematch. With Zeb Colter by his side to do the talking, Swagger would definitely not have problems in putting up a good build up for the feud.
1. Antonio Cesaro
Cesaro
Cesaro has been pushed mightily, more than anyone else not named Reigns. The former United States Champion, has the goods and is set to deliver. It is only a matter of time before he breaks up from Real Americans and launches into something bigger and better. A feud with Big E may well be on the lines. It would certainly be interesting to see two top talents collide. With his tag partner landing short, Zeb may have a good reason to project Cesaro as the next opponent for the title.
Cesaro has been over with the crowd and has a great set of skills. He recently had Big E on the ropes with his Cesaro swing before he got disqualified because of Jack Swagger.
Whom would you like to see as the next opponent of Big E? Do you think it would be Cesaro? Or would it be Jericho? Or someone else? Please do add your comments!
