WWE Intercontinental Championship

Originally the second-most important title in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), the WWE Intercontinental Championship is now the secondary championship on its RAW brand. While the top superstars on RAW usually seek the WWE Championship, wrestlers who are not in the main event can vie for the Intercontinental Championship, which has been around for more than 25 years.

History

Pat Patterson has the distinction of being the first Intercontinental (IC) Champion. He received the title in a fictitious tournament in September, 1979. In the 1980s, several top superstars won the IC Title, including Pedro Morales, Don Muraco, Tito Santana, and Ricky Steamboat.

Related Topics:
Pat Patterson - 1979 - Pedro Morales - Don Muraco - Tito Santana - Ricky Steamboat

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The IC Title has traditionally been used as a stepping stone for wrestlers as they advance in their careers. Chris Jericho, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H and Randy Orton all held the IC Title before becoming World Champions.

Related Topics:
Chris Jericho - Bret Hart - Shawn Michaels - Stone Cold Steve Austin - The Rock - Triple H - Randy Orton

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For various periods of time during the reigns of The Ultimate Warrior and Shawn Michaels, different colored leather including white, blue, and yellow was used for the Intercontinental Championship. Eventually, the belt always reverted to its original black leather state.

Related Topics:
The Ultimate Warrior - Shawn Michaels

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During the WCW Invasion storyline in 2001, the United States Champion, Edge, defeated the Intercontinental Champion, Test, to merge both titles. Edge then held the Intercontinental Championship, and the United States Championship became inactive.

Related Topics:
WCW - 2001 - United States Champion - Edge - Test

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Rob Van Dam put his Intercontinental Championship on the line, along with Jeff Hardy's European Championship, in a ladder match on June 22, 2002. By winning that match, Rob Van Dam merged the two titles, and continued to hold the IC Title, while the European Championship was deactivated. The same would occur on August 26, 2002, when Van Dam defeated the Hardcore Champion, Tommy Dreamer. Dreamer's Hardcore Title was merged with the IC Championship and was then deactivated.

Related Topics:
Rob Van Dam - Jeff Hardy - European Championship - June 22 - 2002 - August 26 - Hardcore Champion - Tommy Dreamer

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The Intercontinental Championship was unified with the World Heavyweight Championship on October 20, 2002, when then-World Heavyweight Champion, Triple H, defeated the Intercontinental Champion, Kane. This time, the Intercontinental Title became inactive. This was a hugely unpopular decision and fans demanded the belt be reactivated. RAW General Manager Steve Austin reinstated the IC Title the following year, and Christian won the belt on May 18, 2003. The Intercontinental Title has remained active since.

Related Topics:
Unified - World Heavyweight Championship - October 20 - 2002 - Kane - Christian - May 18 - 2003

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The United States Championship was also restored in 2003 as the SmackDown! equivalent of the title. It was originally WCW's second-tier title as the IC title is to WWE.

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