What Has Happened To the WWE Intercontinental Title?

The WWE Intercontinental title has been the focal point of some of the best matches in WWE history, but over the past few years the title has been taken from the second best title in the company to being the fourth or fifth banana.

I remember growing up seeing guys like Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Mr. Perfect, and Owen Hart hold the title with great pride.  They had matches that at often times overshadowed the world title matches.

Everyone remembers when the British Bulldog beat his brother in law, Bret Hart, to win the IC title, does anyone remember the World title match from that night?  No.  Because the only match worth remembering from that show was the IC title match.

The Intercontinental title used to be the stepping stone to the world title and the matches were usually as good or better than the world title matches.

HBK brought the ladder match to WWE television with an IC title bout, RVD combines it with the Hardcore title, and Honky Tonk Man held it for what seemed like forever at the time.

Now the title is being used to push new guys like Drew and Morrison.  I thought they were doing well when Jericho, Punk, and Mysterio were going after the belt, but other than that the title has become stale at best.

When Santino is a two time IC champion you know something is wrong, not that he can't wrestle, but that his character can't.

My wish is for WWE to merge the two world titles and merge the two mid-card titles and go back to the way it was in the 90s.  Maybe bring back the TV title from WCW to push the young guys and then let guys deserving of the spotlight hold the IC belt.

This is more of a rant than an article so I apologize to anyone who read this expecting news or anything like that.