Debunking the Myth of the Intercontinental Title

I'm not sure when or how it started, but for whatever reasons it is believed that the WWE's Intercontinental Title is the spring board for the World Title.

In some degree this is true. The IC title is the WWE's second in command as far as title's are concern, but that's only because there are only two singles belts on Raw.

It would be more accurate to say the IC title is the top spot for mid-carders, not the launching pad for the next world champ.

Don't believe me? Check out the facts.

There have been 122 Intercontinental champions, and of those 122 there have been 63 different wrestlers to put the strap around their waste.

Now out of the 46 year history of the WWE championship, their have been 45 different wrestlers to win either the WWE World Championship and World Heavyweight Championship.

With more IC title winners than there are world champions, it is evident that not everyone who wins the IC title will become the next world champ.

In fact, you are more likely not to win the World Title, as only 24 former IC champs have done so.

This is nothing new. The first champ, Pat Patterson, never won the World Title, and out of the first 10 IC winners, only two won the World Title.

From it's inception, the IC title has been nothing more than a prop.

Maybe it's a great reward for the mid-card man that's busting his chops, yet Vince McMahon doesn't feel that he can carry the company (e.g. Jericho for many years (8x champ), Jeff Jarrett (6x champ) and Rob Van Dam (6x champ)).

When two-thirds of the title holders never go on to win the World Title, it is true that the IC title is not the catapult that it's claimed to be.

In fact, the man who is often proclaimed the greatest IC champ ever, the Honky Tonk Man, never held the World Title.

It's more or less a way to keep borderline superstars happy, used to push new guys and those having difficulty getting over, or to help progress a slowly building storyline.

Now there are exceptions to the rules. The Ultimate Warrior, Shawn Michaels and Kurt Angle are examples that come to mind.

So the facts are in, and the Intercontinetal title as a catapult to the world title is a myth.

Interesting fact: Only three guys have won the IC title after winning the world heavyweight champion: Rey Mysterio, CM Punk and JBL

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