Kevin Owens Wins Intercontinental Championship After Fatal 5-Way Win on Raw

Kevin Owens is the intercontinental champion again.

Owens won his second WWE Intercontinental Championship on Monday Night Raw in a Fatal 5-Way match to start the show, winning the title over former champion Dean Ambrose, Dolph Ziggler, Stardust and Tyler Breeze.

WWE tweeted a photo of Owens' celebration after he reclaimed the belt:

Owens did not pin Ambrose or force him to submit, and the new champion hit a Pop-Up Powerbomb on Breeze for the three-count.

Ziggler interrupted Owens' post-match interview with Renee Young, and the former champion challenged the current champion to a match at Fastlane for the title. WWE made it official later in the night.

Bleacher Report's Donald Wood thought WWE made the right decision:

NXT star Carmella congratulated Owens on becoming a two-time champion:

Owens won his first Intercontinental Championship against Ryback on Sept. 20 at Night of Champions. It was a good time to give him the belt, as he was an up-and-coming star who was in need of a push.

Giving the belt to Owens a second time is not a bad idea heading into Fastlane, but it raises confusion as to what will happen heading into WrestleMania. No longer holding the title, Ambrose becomes an unexpected favorite heading into the Triple Threat No. 1 contender's match between him, Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns.

It seemed inevitable that Reigns would be on the fast track to facing Triple H for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, but this turn of events could mean Ambrose will get another shot at Triple H. They were the final two in the Royal Rumble match for the championship in January.

As for Owens, a match against Ziggler at Fastlane could start a feud that lasts until WrestleMania. Those two are capable of putting on five-star matches on any given night, so a short buildup would be a wise booking decision by WWE.