WWE: Top 10 greatest Intercontinental Champions of all-time
10. Randy Orton
Randy Orton only held the WWE Intercontinental Championship on one occasion, but it ranks amongst the greatest reigns in the title’s illustrious history. The Evolution upstart simultaneously proved that he belonged in WWE and escaped his family’s shadow by becoming a great champion—and The Legend Killer.
That rise to prominence includes what ranks amongst the greatest Intercontinental Championship matches of all-time against Mick Foley at WWE Backlash 2004.
Fair warning for those who haven’t seen it: That brutal match that is not for the faint of heart.
Orton defeated an all-time great Intercontinental Champion, Rob Van Dam, at WWE Armageddon 2003 to win the prestigious title. He proceeded to make eight successful televised title defenses against Booker T, Cactus Jack, Chris Jericho, Edge, Shelton Benjamin, Val Venis, and Van Dam.
That includes a triple threat match against Booker T and Van Dam, who are both former World Champions and Hall of Fame inductees.
In other words: Not only was Orton able to win the WWE Intercontinental Championship and hold it for 209 consecutive days, but he had a long list of title defenses to further affirm his place on this list.
Orton has gone on to become one of just two wrestlers in history to win the WWE Championship on at least 10 occasions. John Cena is the only other. It was the Intercontinental Championship that gave Orton his start, however.
Moreover, it was Orton who helped define that title for a period of seven months. Yes, others have held the title for longer than him, but it’s important to note the context of the reign that The Viper was able to carve out.
Prior to Orton’s 209-day reign that began in December of 2003, no champion had even held the belt for at least 100 consecutive days since Ken Shamrock won it in 1998.
The title changed hands more than 40 times between Shamrock and Orton’s reigns. If that doesn’t establish just how improbable The Legend Killer’s long reign was, I’m not sure what can.
Orton is known as more of a World Champion amongst the modern era of fans, but those who watched the beginning of his career will always associate him with the WWE Intercontinental Championship.