Examining Ways WWE Can Increase Prestige of Intercontinental Championship

The WWE Intercontinental Championship is on its way to regaining its luster, becoming more esteemed once again and less like a prop.

The company could succeed in this shift should it make the champion fight to keep his title more often, up the star power involved and insert a briefcase into the IC title tradition.

Right before Big E Langston won the championship, announcers began mentioning the title's history more regularly. They threw out names like Ricky Steamboat, The Rock and Chris Jericho, reminding us of when the title meant more.

It seems WWE is focused on making fans care more about who is champion today.

The formula to accomplish that is a simple one. Langston and future champs will thrive should WWE increase its attention on the gold those men wear.

Increased Defenses

Champions can't go weeks without putting the title on the line. 

Inactivity gives the impression that too few challengers are stepping up. Superstars should be scrambling to get a title shot, not seemingly forgetting that the championship even exists.

The IC champ sat on the bench at this year's Hell in a Cell, SummerSlam and Extreme Rules. Other than to be involved in the Royal Rumble and traditional Survivor Series elimination tag matches, the champ should be put to work at every major show.

More defenses on Raw and SmackDown need to happen as well.

The result of an increased workload for the champ is that he looks more and more worthy of the title. He has to earn the crown night in and night out. Rather than saddle a champ with non-title losses on TV, WWE should be looking to make the titleholder strong.

The WWE world champs can spread out their defense to make them feel more special, but the IC champ should be the company's workhorse. 

Higher-Profile Contenders

The champion not only has to be beset with challengers, but challengers who aren't just midcard filler. The title won't feel important until Superstars above Kofi Kingston's level express desire to hold it.

While the very top wrestlers battle for a shot at the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, the company has to have its upper midcard Superstars seek the IC title. 

In 2004, Shawn Michaels challenged Jericho for that championship, for example. That kind of star power is lacking in the IC championship picture today.

Have Alberto Del Rio say he wants to add that championship to his collection, that it's something so many Hall of Famers have on their resume. Have Sheamus challenge for it on his return.

In addition to increasing the impression that the championship is sought after, it also gives the champion a prestigious challenger to overcome.

Curtis Axel received some momentum from knocking off guys like The Miz, but his successful defense against Jericho was the most boast-worthy win of his reign.

Should Langston survive a challenge from Mark Henry, it will do much more for his career than besting someone who doesn't have his World Championship pedigree.

The lack of the World Heavyweight Championship will force WWE to go this route. That title was used to crown Superstars just below the top tier. The Intercontinental Championship can fill that void, providing a testing ground for future franchise wrestlers.

Proving them with rivalries and stories rather than tossed-together matches is a must as well. An easy way to do that is to move the second Money in the Bank ladder match to the IC belt.

Money in the Bank, Intercontinental Style

With WWE's two world titles now merged, the Money in the Bank pay-per-view will now be short one ladder match.

Making a shot at the Intercontinental Championship the prize for the second one of those bouts instantly elevates the title. Should Superstars suffer the pain that comes with ladders crashing against flesh in search of the IC title, it will feel more desired and more precious.

It would also add more career highlights for the victors.

The Money in the Bank briefcase resulted in two momentous moments in 2013: Dolph Ziggler cashing in on Alberto Del Rio and Orton ending Daniel Bryan's victory parade early. Electric, memorable moments like those would be a part of the IC title tradition.

They would serve as a catalyst for rivalries the way it did for Orton and Bryan or Cody Rhodes and Damien Sandow earlier this year.

Fighting over the betrayal surrounding Money in the Bank put both Rhodes and Sandow into the spotlight, creating lasting images like Rhodes throwing the briefcase into the Gulf of Mexico.

The Intercontinental Championship needs stories like those. It needs foes to be involved in long narratives with the proverbial twists and turns, not impromptu matches like Kingston and Axel had at Night of Champions.

Better overall booking for the championship currently in Langston's possession is welcome, but the Money in the Bank match added to the mix is an easy way to start.

Contenders have to clash over getting into the ladder match. The holder of the briefcase gets added attention before cashing in. It also makes every time the IC champ is hurt or vulnerable a lot more interesting.

The next time Langston gets clocked with a chair after a match, it's suddenly an open door for a briefcase-carrying vulture.

The general theme of these proposed ideas is more—more defenses, more star power, more stories and moments via Money in the Bank. The space in WWE's programming now available thanks to the two world titles unifying is how the company provides all those additions.

Push the Intercontinental Championship into the slot the world title once sat in, and increased prestige will follow. Langston and the champions to follow him will benefit greatly from that transfer.