WWE: The 5 Best Intercontinental Title Matches in WrestleMania History

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1. Ricky Steamboat vs Randy Savage – WrestleMania III

A little over two years ago, I wrote an article chronicling the top 15 matches in WrestleMania history which you can read here. In that article I left out this math between Savage and Steamboat from WM III and I got absolutely torched for it. And you know what? I deserved it. Because this was truly the first all-time in-ring WrestleMania classic.

On this night at The Pontiac Silverdome in Detroit, in front of 91,000 fans, these two legends waged what could to this day be considered the best technical professional wrestling match the wrestling world has ever seen. This match is over 30 years old, yet still very easily holds up to today’s standards of what a brilliant wrestling match should be.

It really had it all. It wasn’t just that it was an amazing wrestling match, it also had a tremendous story behind it. Savage, who at that point was in the midst of one of the most dominant runs in Intercontinental title history, was getting heavy pressure from the ultra-talented Steamboat. About six months before this epic encounter, “The Macho Man” looked to try and end Steamboat’s career when drove a ring bell into “The Dragon’s” throat. This derailed the challenger for some time before this showdown and the heat between the two was palpable with the fans in Detroit.

The chemistry between Savage and Steamboat was immeasurable and the frenetic pace the two set throughout this 15 minute chess match was utterly breathtaking. There are some who argue that the ending was underwhelming but for me, it was poetic.

Savage, so intent on not just winning, but maiming his rival, attempted to use the ring bell again only to be once again outsmarted by the baby face en route to Steamboat’s only WWE title win. And although the rest of his run with company was average at best, this is a match that everyone will remember him for as far as WWE goes. And for Savage, his performance on this night propelled him into super-stardom as one year later at Wrestlemania IV, he became World Heavyweight Champion.

Next: Styles vs. Nakamura Must Go Last

This match was everything the Intercontinental title stands for and is one of the biggest reasons that this championship is still to this very day, one of the most important accomplishments in the professional wrestling industry.