Neville as Intercontinental Champion Would Give the Division an Identity

Prior to forfeiting the WWE Intercontinental Championship on Monday's Raw, Daniel Bryan listed off names of budding midcarders who are more deserving of the title.

It was the same optimistic jargon intercontinental title contenders have been reciting for months, but for the first time in years, it might actually mean something.

With the entertainment value of John Cena's United States Championship open challenge, one could argue WWE doesn't even need a second midcard championship. Cena is working very good matches against a fresh batch of opponents, and the U.S. Championship is a weekly attraction as long as it is linked to the top star.

In order for the Intercontinental Championship to gain its own following, it needs its own identity.

If the U.S. title is defined by opportunity and exhibition, the IC title should be defined like it once was during its prime—as the championship belonging to the next big thing.

Among a morass of competitors for the vacant title, Neville has emerged as a top contender. Neville was positioned to beat Cena on Monday's Raw, and according to BetWrestling.com (h/t Wrestling Inc), he is favored in his match against King Barrett at WWE Payback.

Neville is quickly catching on due to an electrifying style and is constantly being protected by WWE announcers who are committed to his act.

Unlike many of the midcard talents currently jogging in place, Neville winning the IC title wouldn't seem like a forced restart. During his first championship reign on the main roster, fans would continue to take notice.

This would be a big win early in his WWE career. It would add value to the championship while distinguishing it from being the one-off, gate-keeping free-for-all that the U.S. Championship is.

Neville as intercontinental champion would actually represent the opposite of Cena in his current role. Over the past two weeks, Cena defended his title against talents who were on the active NXT roster in 2015.

Should Neville become the next IC champion, he would be portrayed as an underdog fending off more seasoned veterans as opposed to a top guy lording over a lesser division. That juxtaposition alone would justify having an Intercontinental Championship.

Billed as the New Sensation, Neville capturing what was once WWE's heir-apparent title would feel like it did decades ago. No midcard Superstar on the roster is being pushed as a bigger deal than Neville.

Now may be the only time when winning the IC title wouldn't seem beneath him.

Alfred Konuwa is a featured columnist and on-air host for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @ThisIsNasty and subscribe to his weekly wrestling podcast.