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Becoming an Intercontinental champion for a long time meant you were on the path to the WWE championship. Then, it wasn't and the value of the belt decreased with guys such as big Ezekiel Jackson and Santino Marella.
As of late wrestlers like Kevin Owens and The Miz have restored the prestige of the white strapped belt. The title has some of its luster back from the days with Bret Hart and Owen Hart and guys of that stature all the workhorses fighting over it.
At WrestleMania 34 we will see a triple threat match between three of the most talented Superstars Raw has to offer. Finn Balor, Seth Rollins, and The Miz will have a match for the prestigious championship at The Grandest Stage Of Them All. There are many men on the roster who are yet to hold the championship including the two challengers in the Mania triple threat.
#5 Finn Balor
Let's get Balor off the list quickly as we know his title shot is coming up in a month. Finn is a guy who is stuck at the moment. He could easily be fighting for world championships, but Vince McMahon won't allow it.
The fans know just how good Balor is and members of the Balor Club are all eagerly waiting for him to reclaim his spot at the top of the mountain. Until that day comes Balor should capture the Intercontinental title just to add it to his resume.
He and the Balor Club should all hold gold at some point this year. The Demon could be IC champion and Gallows & Anderson the tag team champions. Balor could be a great champion and have some truly great matches with the title. He is a future IC champion whether it is at Mania or some point after.
#4 Seth Rollins
Once, Rollins captures the Intercontinental title he can join his shield brothers as a grand slam champion. Rollins is another guy who just feels right with that championship. His mic skills aren't top tier, but not many men in the world can wrestle like the man does. He displays this every single Monday night.
The prestige 'The Architect' carries with all the accolades he has accumulated over the past number of years helps the championship to feel more important to the fans as well.
The championship could still use some assistance in it being reestablished as not every champion over the past couple of years has done a great job of making the title feel big. Rollins defending the championship with high-quality matches will raise the status of the championship.
He could also be on his way back to a world title soon. Holding this championship first could give a rebirth to the notion that this belt is a sign of things to come. That this championship is the gateway to the top of the mountain.
#3 Samoa Joe
Joe has been sidelined with an injury in 2018, but he won't be forgotten on the list. He was chasing after the championship prior to his injury. He could return after Mania and set his sights back on the title. It will be on a different person now that Roman Reigns has dropped the belt and The Miz may not even hold onto it.
Joe keeping his focus on the title makes it feel more important to the fans. Having the upper tier talent obsess over this championship can't hurt. It can only help the title's growth.
Joe can have a run reminiscent of his run with the NXT championship. He was a monster, an unstoppable force who put down anyone who got in his way. Running through the mid-card of Raw is something fans would love to see him do.
It is just befitting of his character, as the fans will remind all of his foes. "Joe is going to kill you!" they will scream at any and all comers.
#2 Braun Strowman
In wrestling today there are almost no stars as over as Strowman. Even after saying that he has yet to hold gold in the land of the giants. That may change soon enough when he gets a shot at the Raw Tag Team Championships at Mania.
Originally 'The Monster Among Men' seemed on the path to challenge for the IC title at the grandest stage. And as we all know, the chances of Strowman losing to The Miz at WrestleMania would have been very, very unlikely. Plans have changed, however as they always do in wrestling.
Strowman should eventually circle back to the championship, though. He could take the championship to all new heights and not just literally, but in stature as well. He could make the championship feel just as big as the Universal Championship given his popularity with the WWE Universe. Strowman could make any title feel larger than life because he is so over that fans will buy into anything he does.
#1 John Cena
There had to be a number one and his name is John Cena. In his decorated career he has conquered nearly every task he has been faced with. The list of gold he has held does not include the Intercontinental Championship though.
He is not a grand slam champion because the IC title eludes him. A belt that is so prestigious and one of WWE's best has never touched it, that doesn't feel right.
Big match John raises the stakes for any match he is involved in. Becoming the champion shouldn't just be to knock it off the checklist for him. He could make the championship fully restored back to it's very best days.
Cena did it with the United States Championship so bringing that same energy to the championship that has escaped him for over a decade makes sense. He can't possibly allow this title to get away from him for his entire career.
