WWE: Top 10 greatest Intercontinental Champions of all-time

8. Pedro Morales

It’s difficult to make this list without including, arguably, the most accomplished WWE Intercontinental Champion ever. The first-ever WWE Triple Crown Champion, Morales did it all during a career that helped open the door for generations of wrestlers to follow.

Morales was the third-ever Intercontinental Champion, and during his two reigns with the title, he set a mark that no one has been able to reach—more than 38 years later.

Morales’ first reign as Intercontinental Champion began with a win over Ken Patera and concluded 193 days later. That was just the beginning of his ascension to a level that no other wrestler has reached, however, as his second reign was earned with a win over Hall of Famer Don Muraco.

That reign would carry on for 424 consecutive days, bringing his tally to 617 overall—the most cumulative days of any Intercontinental Champion in history.

And it only took Morales two reigns to get there.

In addition to being the second-longest individual reign in history, it also established Morales as a gold standard between the ropes. He was a tenacious striker who could simultaneously flash athleticism that one could certainly argue was ahead of its time.

A beloved babyface who could hold a crowd in the palm of his hand, Morales is surprisingly one of the few individuals on this list who wasn’t booed at their peak.

Morales’ legacy is extensively layered. For one, he helped chip away at the glass ceiling for Hispanic and Latinx wrestlers in the industry’s premier company. He also broke the Triple Crown mold that is now occupied by the likes of Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Steve Austin, and The Rock.

The list of great Intercontinental Champions is extensive, but it would be irrational to create one without including the glory and influence of Pedro Morales.