Why WWE's IC Championship Picture Is Hottest Feud Ahead of Extreme Rules 2016

WWE Extreme Rules 2016's most thrilling element is not savagery or a Street Fight. Instead, it's a chase for The Miz's Intercontinental Championship. The build for a pay-per-view built around weapons, added danger and debris in and out of the ring has allowed the intercontinental title to steal the show.

The Miz is thriving as the hunted heel. Sami Zayn, Cesaro and Kevin Owens are all clawing their way to get a chance at his gold, allowing WWE to showcase some of its best talents in a single feud.

That formula has made the IC title picture red hot.

Much of the credit has to go to The Miz. In theory, it was hard to be excited about the self-proclaimed A-lister winning the title the day after WrestleMania. After all, this was his fifth reign, and so many of the previous ones had been forgettable. It felt like WWE was simply making the IC title a midcard throwaway trophy again.

But this was an invigorated version of The Miz.

His delusions of being among Hollywood's elite have been fun to watch. And bringing Maryse aboard has amplified his character, making him even more pretentious and even more worthy of a good slap to the face.

The Miz as champion feels much like The Honky Tonk Man, a slimy braggart who always managed to escape comeuppance, escaping with the title in hand each time. One couldn't help but root for someone to dethrone him.

As Miami Herald columnist Scott Fishman pointed out, The Miz has flourished between the ropes as well:

His level of competition has brought out the best in him. Having Zayn, Cesaro and Owens all striving to become IC champ has infused the title picture with fresh faces, exciting stars and some of the best in-ring performers on the roster.

Owens is a stellar trash-talker and compelling predator. His recent bouts with Cesaro for the right to challenge The Miz have been outstanding.

These are two men who many believe are worthy of a spot in the main event. Their in-ring excellence and surging energy have made these midcard contests feel more significant.

Zayn has been productive once the bell rings, too. He and Owens put on a tremendous showing at Payback, and The Underdog From The Underground has since excited in TV bouts against The Miz.

More than just good wrestling, this four-way feud has plenty of layers to savor. A merging of two separate rivalries has created something electric.

Aubrey Sitterson, host of the Straight Shoot podcast, is among those psyched about what's happening on the IC title scene:

Zayn and Owens' animosity has spilled over into Cesaro and The Miz's feud. Cesaro feels cheated out of becoming champion. At Payback, Zayn and Owens' brawling distracted the referee, as he seemed to have The Miz beat. The Miz doesn't believe any of these men are worthy of being champ.

WWE gets the benefit of the familiarity of an old rivalry with the freshness of a new combination of rivalries.

It has a quartet of warriors to utilize in a story that could go in any number of directions. Will Zayn and Owens' issues keep them from focusing on the title chase? Will The Miz and Zayn develop so much bad blood that they'll keep fighting even after someone else becomes champ?

WWE even wisely has Zack Ryder hanging around the fringe of contention.

After losing the IC title to The Miz just a day after his victory, it makes sense he would be so desperate to get the strap back. On Monday's Raw, he battled to be on the Extreme Rules card, clashing with Owens for the right to be a part of the upcoming Fatal 4-Way match.

Monday's Raw offered two matches like this, powered by high stakes, making Owens and Zayn both earn their way into the title match.

That's a small part of the biggest reason this four-way feud has worked so well. There is a clear desire in all these men to become champion. They continually demand to get a crack at the title. It's what they are chasing above all things.

After Monday's Raw, Zayn said in a backstage interview, "At Extreme Rules, I get a chance to do something I've literally been dreaming about since I was 10 years old, and that's win the Intercontinental Championship."

That kind of rhetoric has upped the value of the IC title. Superstars are pining for it. They are treating it as a prestigious prize, so the audience can't help but pick up on that.

There is a collective hunger for the title The Miz holds dear. As a result, anticipation is growing for the Fatal 4-Way at Extreme Rules. One just has to see how all this chaos ends.

Fusing these four men into the same narrative has been one of WWE's smartest moves in 2016.