Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match: Handicapping Odds of Combatants

The Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match is a consolation prize to a field of WWE Superstars who, for the most part, deserve better.

Just last year, Daniel Bryan was main eventing WrestleMania. Dolph Ziggler rallied to end the biggest heel faction in the industry. Bad News Barrett had more momentum than ever before getting hurt again.

This is a midcard that, on paper, is a very talented crop of second-tier performers. Still, WWE is merging them into a faceless group of combatants in the good hand match at WrestleMania.

WWE damaged the Intercontinental Championship throughout the build to this match, but if the Raw after WrestleMania marks the start of a new WWE season, there's hope yet for whoever emerges as champion.

Each WWE Superstar has a case to win the Intercontinental Championship. Yes, even R-Truth. Odds in this match are determined based on status and how the WWE Superstar in question could potentially restore value to the title.

The winner of this match will establish just how meaningful the Intercontinental Championship will be in 2015. 

R-Truth

Why he's in this match

R-Truth pretty much appeared out of nowhere in the last few weeks, but his timing couldn't be any better. Truth is a good athlete and a consummate undercard performer who is perfect for this match. Unfortunately, he's far from a perfect choice to win.

What an R-Truth victory would mean to the Intercontinental Championship

R-Truth is one of the few WWE Superstars in this match who could further damage the value of the Intercontinental Championship. Currently at the end of his career, nobody expects Truth to win this match, let alone go on the lengthy run needed to improve this title's standing.

Truth should do very little beyond one or two dazzling spots. He remains a very charismatic comedy character, but fans will roll their eyes should he retrieve the title. Daniel Bryan and Dean Ambrose said the right things about winning the championship they grew up idolizing.

R-Truth simply stole the belt without explaining what it means to him.

Odds

5-1

Luke Harper

Why he's in this match

This time last year, Luke Harper was the Wyatt family member with the most potential. He's here to illustrate just how meaningless the word potential really is.

What a Luke Harper victory would mean to the Intercontinental Championship

Harper might be the most forgettable Intercontinental Champion of all time. Seriously. He's right up there with Drew McIntyre, Ezekiel Jackson and Ric Flair. Does anybody remember the one-month period where he draped that title around his shoulder like a hitchhiker carries his luggage? Did it even really happen? 

WWE shouldn't build anything around Harper, not even a secondary division. He's more of a monster to be featured as an insurmountable challenger before the hero conquers him and moves on. He's certainly talented, but not to the point of being a featured player. There's a utility quality to Harper that will limit his success throughout his WWE run.

He's like super villain The Shocker in the Spiderman comic books. Most fans are aware of the threat he poses to Spiderman, but he's never in any of the movies because the character just isn't deep enough.

Odds

19-4

Stardust

Why he's in this match

Stardust really has no business in this match. He seemed on his way to a WrestleMania to face Goldust. Perhaps WWE saw the abomination of a match he had against his brother at Fastlane and abruptly ended that feud.

What a Stardust victory would mean to the Intercontinental Championship

In the parallel universe otherwise known as the WWE Universe, Stardust just exists. Much like Harper, he's one of those characters who just wants to cause chaos with little rhyme or reason. It's admirable how dedicated Cody Rhodes is to this character, but at the end of the day, he speaks in hisses and gibberish. That's all anybody knows about Stardust and, honestly, that's all anybody needs to know.

Fans will have a difficult time connecting with Stardust as championship material. Weirdos like him should stay as far away from titles and accomplishments as possible. If he wins, who's to say he won't spray paint the belt red and turn it into a necklace?

Odds

9-2 

Dean Ambrose

Why he's in this match

WWE realizes Dean Ambrose's sustained popularity but has no idea what to do with him. Who can blame them? WWE has no shortage of raving lunatics. Ambrose is the fourth consecutive combatant in this slideshow who fits that mold.

What a Dean Ambrose victory would mean to the Intercontinental Championship

Ambrose means well in his quest for the Intercontinental Championship. He wants to be be immortalized in a framed portrait somewhere in a Stamford break room. At least he has goals. This is where Ambrose separates himself from the other lunatics. R-Truth, Luke Harper and Stardust just want to terrorize the WWE midcard.

Ambrose looks to improve it.

He follows a theme of cult heroes placed in this match because WWE isn't into them nearly as much as some fans are. He will be a popular choice to win the Intercontinental Championship. Ambrose was the original contender before the field became so crowded. He may not be a favorite just yet, but at the very least, he's a dark horse.

Odds

5-2

Dolph Ziggler

Why he's in this match

Dolph Ziggler once again found himself in no man's land come WrestleMania season. He'll continue an unenviable streak of years competing at WrestleMania without having a singles match.

What a Dolph Ziggler victory would mean to the Intercontinental Championship

Ziggler was built to be a midcard champion. Not the biggest guy or the brightest star, Ziggler's wrestling alone elevates him as a fan favorite. He should be a lock to have the best ladder spot, and he may even mess around and win.

Ziggler's window to become a main event star is likely slammed shut, but that's why he's so popular. The illusion of Ziggler potentially becoming a top star is what keeps fans rallying behind him. He was Daniel Bryan long before the Yes Movement.

Now he must fight Bryan and Ambrose to win a title that goes beyond just the Intercontinental Championship. He's fighting to become the people's champion.

Odds

9-4

Bad News Barrett

Why he's in this match

Bad News Barrett is the incumbent who can't beat anybody. With each non-title loss on television, WWE adds a new challenger to this match. There should probably be more than seven competitors, but WWE is running out of time to job Barrett out.

What a Bad News Barrett victory would mean to the Intercontinental Championship

Nothing. It would signal a disconnect in booking philosophy. If the champion simply loses all of his non-title matches only to win the ones that count, the title remains stagnant. Barrett winning this match may be more harmful to the Intercontinental Championship than an R-Truth victory.

Still, Barrett gets the benefit of the doubt based on WWE's pattern of even-Steven booking. Barrett continues to lose across all WWE programming. His losing streak was recently a point of discussion on commentary. It wouldn't be surprising if WWE repays these losses by having the champion conquer, just to keep things even.

A Barrett victory would keep the Intercontinental title exactly where it is, perhaps even making it more meaningless. Fans are already trained to see Barrett lose all of his matches to this pool of contenders. But a Barrett victory is among the most likely outcomes.

Odds

11-10

Daniel Bryan

Why he's in this match

Daniel Bryan had his chance at the Royal Rumble and he lost. He received another chance at WWE Fastlane and he lost. Daniel Bryan is here to placate the Yes Movement and possibly even earn a victory to keep them from hijacking WrestleMania.

What a Daniel Bryan victory would mean to the Intercontinental Championship

Bryan may be the last hope to salvage the Intercontinental Championship for this generation. If WWE gets behind Bryan winning and defending this title, the Yes Movement can simply pretend he's the world champion they want him to be.

If Lesnar sticks around and retains his dormant schedule as world champion, Bryan will be accepted as the world champion by default. In a match that suits the skills of high-flyers and crowd-pleasing stunts, Bryan is the only participant to hold a WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Consider him the odds-on-favorite.

Odds

10-11 

Bonus: Sheamus

Why he's in this match

He's not. Well, not yet. WWE is tirelessly airing vignettes of Sheamus' impending return, but he is nowhere to be found.

PWInsider.com (h/t WrestlingInc.com) recently reported WWE is holding off on Sheamus' return until WrestleMania. His return would be more effective in the Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match, especially if he pulls the rug from underneath Bryan.

What a Sheamus victory would mean to the Intercontinental Championship

The only thing more productive than last year's WWE World Heavyweight champion carrying the Intercontinental Championship with pride is that same man chasing it with pride. Make them wait. The title will not become meaningful overnight. A babyface chasing a heel champion is the basic formula that adds value to any championship.

If Sheamus does return in this match, surely he can't lose. In just one night, losing would relegate him to the same midcard funk he was in before he left. A Sheamus win is the unpopular choice that will make him a top heel. Sheamus and Bryan can reignite a strong wrestling rivalry that will potentially light the midcard on fire.

Odds

10-11

Alfred Konuwa is a Featured Columnist and on-air host for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @ThisIsNasty, and listen to his weekly wrestling podcast.