WWE: Top 10 greatest Intercontinental Champions of all-time

2. Bret Hart

When your nickname is The Excellence of Execution, there’s a good chance that you’ve set a new standard in the squared circle. Anyone who watched Bret Hart wrestle knows that’s exactly why he was given that nickname, as he combined technical prowess with ring psychology in a legendary way.

Hart would go on to become a five-time WWE Champion and two-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, but only after his iconic reigns with the Intercontinental Title.

Hart held the title on just two occasions, but he managed to reach 290 cumulative days as champion during that time. During that time, he raised the bar for what a title-holder must be capable of between the ropes.

Hart also put forth one of the greatest Intercontinental Championship matches in history against British Bulldog at SummerSlam 1992—in the main event at Wembley Stadium.

With WWE.com reporting more than 80,000 people in attendance.

Hart also had another legendary SummerSlam bout against Mr. Perfect over the Intercontinental Championship just one year prior. It was yet another example of what separated Hart from the pack and made him must-see wrestling for fans of that era.

Beyond the days as champion and the matches he had, Hart made the title feel more important with the virtual promise that the match would deliver. The belt has since gone on to pace both Raw and SmackDown, as well as set the in-ring standard at countless Pay-Per-Views.

Others set the standard before Hart, of course, but the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be lived up to his moniker.

The title has been associated with the workhorses of WWE ever since.