WWE SmackDown: Is the Intercontinental Title Losing Its Prestige Again?

The WWE Intercontinental title was on a hot streak following the brand split. However, is it losing major momentum as WrestleMania approaches us?

For many years in the WWE, the Intercontinental title has been regarded as a title held by future world champions. However recently, the title has been regarded as something to be held by the workhorses within the WWE. The title began to lose its popularity and would become notoriously famous for being featured in meaningless ladder matches throughout WrestleManias. The IC titles most prestigious moment in recent times came when Daniel Bryan won it at WrestleMania 31 before relinquishing the same.

However, the months following this would set a new spark to the IC title. Everyone from Kevin Owens to Cesaro would feud over the title. The Intercontinental title would also give Zack Ryder the biggest moment of his career. He would go on to win the title in the ladder match during WrestleMania 32. However, he would also lose to the Miz the following night. Be that as it may, the title’s prestige tore through all glass ceilings following this.

The Miz would hold on to the title as if it meant the whole world to him. Suddenly, his antics would add a sense of purpose to the IC title. Fan favorites like Sami Zayn and Cesaro would feud with the Miz on multiple occasions to grab hold of the prestigious title. However, the hated heel would always find a way to come on top.

Following the brand extension, Miz and the IC title would get drafted to SmackDown. It was then that the title reached the peak of its popularity. The IC title’s road to redemption was a slow one but one that was totally worth it. Miz and Dolph Ziggler would begin a feud over the title which went back and forth for a while. At the peak of their feud, Ziggler would decide to put his entire career on the line for one last shot at the title. The two would go on to create one hell of a match filled with drama and near falls that further elevated the title’s value.

After winning the title, Ziggler would place and open challenge for any superstar from Raw to face him for the title at Survivor Series. However, as creative would have it, Miz would win the title back from Ziggler prior to the PPV. As hot as their extended feud was, it was Miz’s determination and under-hand tactics to win the title that proved to the WWE universe how much of a big deal this title was.

Despite being treated as a mid-card title, the IC title would often be featured in the main event of SmackDown Live. Miz’s last days as the IC champion saw him go up against Dean Ambrose in a losing attempt. However, Ambrose was still hot as fire after coming off a reign as the WWE champion and a great feud with AJ Styles over the said title. Someone like him going after the Intercontinental title would act as another way to hold up the value of the title.

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Or so we thought. There is something off-putting about Dean Ambrose that makes him rather stale as a champion. This had happened to him during his WWE title run as well. He would often go into a relaxed mode after winning a title. The present portrayal of Ambrose is nothing but a caricature of what he could really be. Dean Ambrose is supposed to be a maniacal presence with his unpredictable nature and aura. However, all that takes over him only when he is in chase mode. As such, the IC title should go to Baron Corbin come WrestleMania. This would further give Ambrose another chance to recapture the title. Perhaps that would add some much-needed fire to his character.

Moreover, someone like Corbin who is an up and coming main eventer on SmackDown could really benefit here. The title could actually lead him to a future world title run at this rate. However, the fact that the IC title was not featured on the go-home edition of the blue brand still remains. The final episode before WrestleMania had zero build-up towards the Intercontinental title. That is a problem right there. Moreover, that is a dent in the canvas that would need some solid effort from the two men to fix.

Creative would be wise to place them in a brutal no-disqualification false count anywhere match. Some sort of savagery during their WrestleMania match could be what is needed at this time. Perhaps this could be the match Dean Ambrose thrives best in. A match of such nature would have been presented to us last year if it wasn’t for a certain someone’s lack of interest.

Next: Pros and Cons of Dean Ambrose vs. Baron Corbin

Unless something brutal and savage comes out of WrestleMania, the IC title could be in trouble once again. The fact that these two superstars are willing to go to the extreme ends of pain and suffering should be the story of the match. Such brutality and animosity would show the world what the Intercontinental title means to a wrestler. What are your thoughts on this match? Who do you think would go over?