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The Intercontinental Championship is one of the most prestigious titles in sports entertainment. Dozens of Hall of Famers, including Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart and Pat Patterson, have held the prize.
Apollo Crews, who is in his first reign, is the current Intercontinental Champion. With help from Commander Azeez, Crews defeated Big E and won the championship.
Kevin Owens and Big E challenged the champion, but they were unsuccessful. The Nigerian Superstar has been on a roll lately, and it would take a minor miracle to dethrone him. With the monstrous Azeez by his side, it seems that he will hold the championship for a long time. Who can stop Apollo Crews and his sidekick?
Luckily, SmackDown boasts an incredibly talented roster that also includes former Intercontinental Champions.
Let's look at five stars who could dethrone Apollo Crews to become the next Intercontinental Champion.
#5 Kevin Owens can be the next Intercontinental Champion
This one is a no-brainer: Kevin Owens has been a thorn in Crews' side for the past month. Take Sami Zayn and Commander Azeez out of the equation and Owens would be the current Intercontinental Champion.
However, KO lost to Zayn at Hell in a Cell in a high-stakes match. Following the loss, the former Universal Champion announced he was taking a break from wrestling. Recent reports suggest that his absence is storyline-related.
When Owens returns from hiatus, WWE may extend his program with the Master Strategist, but targeting the Intercontinental Champion is the best option. After all, the Prizefighter does have a bone to pick with Crews.
There is one massive obstacle in Owens' path to the Intercontinental Championship: Commander Azeez, who pinned KO last week after hitting the Nigerian Nail. If he can neutralize the giant, then his path to the title becomes more apparent.
The Prizefighter is a two-time Intercontinental Champion. Therefore, he is well aware of the honor, prestige and responsibility the title carries. However, in recent months, KO has fallen down the pecking order, weakening his claim for the championship.
The Canadian star needs to pick up some steam and redeem himself. The Intercontinental title made stars like The Miz and Seth Rollins more relevant. It will do the same for the gifted Kevin Owens.
Defeating Crews will add another title to his resume and create fresh opportunities for KO. For example, he can re-ignite his rivalry with Zayn over the championship or start a new one with Otis or Baron Corbin.
#4 Sami Zayn can become the next Intercontinental Champion
Speaking of former Intercontinental Champions, Sami Zayn is another to join the list. The Great Liberator pulled off a major upset at Hell in a Cell to end his losing streak. Is this a sign of a brighter future for Zayn?
With KO out of the picture, the former NXT Champion can move on to bigger things. Zayn was a part of the Fatal Four-way Match for the Intercontinental title last month. Before the match, he vowed to regain the championship, but he didn't make good on his promise.
The Master Strategist is one of SmackDown's top heels, and he is on a mission to unravel the 'conspiracies' against him. He wants the Intercontinental title, but Apollo Crews is also a heel.
Given that WWE seldom does heel vs. heel programs, a full-fledged rivalry between the two stars seems unlikely. Will Zayn revert to his old roots to win the Intercontinental Championship?
While Zayn may turn face, he can win the prize either way. WWE could book a multi-man match involving someone like Big E and Shinsuke Nakamura. In this way, the Great Liberator can win the title without pinning Crews. Such contests would also limit Commander Azeez's involvement.
Many WWE fans overlook Zayn, which is an injustice to his talent. His passion, dedication, and prowess know no bounds. He brought prestige to the Intercontinental Championship by putting on excellent matches with stars like Jeff Hardy. Therefore, putting the belt on him again is an excellent idea.
#3 Cesaro can become the next Intercontinental Champion
The Swiss Superman's list of accomplishments is long, but it doesn't include the prestigious Intercontinental Championship. With the talent and skill he possesses, Cesaro deserves to hold the title.
However, he faces one major roadblock in the form of Seth Rollins. Over the last four months, the Messiah has tormented Cesaro, and they have fought tooth and nail. The Swiss Cyborg defeated his arch-nemisis at WrestleMania 37, but Rollins returned the favor at Hell in a Cell.
Many are expecting the two fierce rivals to collide in a rubber match at Extreme Rules. After the end of the rivalry, Cesaro should enter the Intercontinental Championship picture.
Given his raw strength, Cesaro is the perfect opponent for Apollo Crews. Commander Azeez will be in Crews' corner, but the Swiss Superman has overcome the odds repeatedly. Hence, if he is focused, the King of Swing can dethrone Crews.
The Intercontinental Championship has served as a launching pad for several WWE Superstars. Shawn Michaels, The Rock, Steve Austin, The Miz, and Randy Orton all held the coveted prize, and it helped take them to the next level.
If Cesaro becomes Intercontinental Champion, then his chances of becoming world champion someday will increase.
#2 Dominik Mysterio can become the next Intercontinental Champion
Dominik Mysterio has had a remarkable first year in WWE. He held his own against top-caliber stars like Seth Rollins, King Corbin, and Dolph Ziggler.
More recently, Mysterio made history with his father to become the SmackDown Tag Team Champions. The young high-flyer has a bright future ahead of him.
One of the few things that would cap off his incredible debut year is an Intercontinental Championship win. He does hold the SmackDown Tag Team Championships, but that probably will not prevent him from competing for a singles championship.
Rey Mysterio competed against Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship, and their feud may not be over. Therefore, there is no reason why Dominik cannot challenge Apollo Crews.
The Master of the 619 can also keep Commander Azeez out of the fight, giving his son a fair opportunity at the Intercontinental Championship.
If both partners are in singles feuds, it may take some attention off the Tag Team Championships. However, reports indicate that their program with the Usos will continue in the meantime.
Dominik doesn't need to win the title immediately, so he can win the championship after SummerSlam. However, the sooner he wins the prize, the earlier he solidifies himself as a future megastar.
#1 Shinsuke Nakamura can become the next Intercontinental Champion
The King of Strong Style has risen to prominence once again. He was treading water months ago, but has turned things around. Shinsuke Nakamura became the one true "King of WWE" by defeating Baron Corbin last week on SmackDown.
While it is still in its early stages, his alliance with Rick Boggs has brought out a better side of him. There is no one more dangerous than a reinvigorated Nakamura.
He holds the crown, and while that is a huge responsibility, he should shift his focus to the Intercontinental Championship. The King of Strong Style held the prestigious title for more than 200 days, from July 2019 to January 2020.
His title reign had its flaws, but it was rather enjoyable and worthwhile. Unfortunately, after dropping the gold, Nakamura lost some heat.
The two-time United States Champion has Rick Boggs by his side to even the odds. Although Commander Azeez is much stronger, Boggs could keep the giant at bay through an elaborate display of cunning antics.
Shinsuke Nakamura is a former Intercontinental Champion who deserves another run with the prestigious title.
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