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The Intercontinental Championship is a professional wrestling championship promoted by the WWE on their Raw and SmackDown brand divisions. The title was introduced in 1979 and has since become one of the most prestigious championships in professional wrestling. It is currently held by Big E.

History

The Intercontinental Championship was created in 1979, after the WWE had already established the WWF World Heavyweight Championship as its primary championship. The goal of the new title was to provide a secondary championship and to give other wrestlers an opportunity to showcase their skills and become more popular.

At the time, the WWE was expanding its reach and was in the process of creating new TV programs. The Intercontinental Championship was used as a tool to help promote these new shows and to create new stars.

Championship Design

The Intercontinental Championship belt features a central plate with a raised globe and two vertical plates on either side. The globe represents the worldwide appeal of the championship, while the vertical plates symbolize the two brands that compete for the title. The strap of the belt is a simple, black leather.

Championship Rules

The Intercontinental Championship is contested under standard WWE rules, meaning that matches can be won by pinfall, submission, count-out, or disqualification. The champion must defend the title at least once every 30 days, and any wins or losses by the champion are counted as official title defenses.

Championship Reigns

Over the years, numerous WWE legends have held the Intercontinental Championship, including Randy Savage, The Ultimate Warrior, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, and The Rock. The most successful champion in Intercontinental Championship history is Chris Jericho, who has held the title nine times.

As of September 2021, the current Intercontinental Champion is Big E, who won the title from Apollo Crews on the September 10, 2021 episode of SmackDown.

Significance

The Intercontinental Championship has been described as a “stepping-stone” championship, as many wrestlers have used it as a launchpad to achieve greater success. Winning the Intercontinental Championship is often seen as a sign of a wrestler’s potential and their ability to entertain audiences.

Additionally, the Intercontinental Championship is sometimes used as a measuring stick to determine a wrestler’s in-ring ability. Champions are expected to have strong technical skills, a dynamic move set, and the ability to put on exciting matches.

Criticism

Despite its status as one of the premier championships in wrestling, the Intercontinental Championship has also been criticized for being relegated to a secondary role in comparison to the WWE and Universal Championships. While the Intercontinental Championship was once seen as a stepping-stone to the main event, it is now often seen as a consolation prize for wrestlers who are not yet ready to compete for the top titles.

Another common criticism is that the Intercontinental Championship is often mishandled by the WWE creative team. Some fans feel that the title is not given the proper level of respect and that there are too many short championship reigns that do not allow the champion to establish themselves.

Conclusion

The Intercontinental Championship has a rich history and has produced some of the biggest names in professional wrestling. While the WWE’s focus has shifted to other championships in recent years, the Intercontinental Championship remains an important part of the wrestling landscape and continues to provide opportunities for emerging stars.

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