WWE Hell in a Cell 2011 Results: Cody Rhodes Earns Mass Respect with Old IC Belt

The WWE Intercontinental Title is one of the most important in the wrestling business, and the fact that Cody Rhodes brought back the original belt is a great sign for the WWE.

While many believe that WWE owner and chairman Vince McMahon wants to change the way things are done in the wrestling world, the permission he gave Rhodes to use the original belt shows that he is not completely disconnected from the history of the business.

After showing the crowd the new IC title, Rhodes had an impromptu match for the belt and defeated John Morrison in a great match that had the fans going crazy. That’s how you usher in a new era of a title.

Rhodes is the son of wrestling legend Dusty Rhodes, and there is no better person to carry the torch of the new IC title than the next “American Dream.”

For the IWC, this is the kind of move that gets big brownie puts in the nostalgia category, and the new belt has many longtime WWE fans that were on the fence of enjoying the product back in a big way.

I know what you’re thinking; it’s just a belt, why is everyone getting worked up?

That’s the point, it’s not just a belt to the die-hard fans of the WWE that saw that belt used to turn regular wrestlers into legends before our very eyes, and that’s exactly what it will do for Rhodes.

Just look at the men who held the title Rhodes has right now; Shawn Michaels, The Rock, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Randy Savage, Ricky Steamboat, The Ultimate Warrior, Rick Rude, Mr. Perfect, Bret Hart, Roddy Piper and so many more of the sport’s greatest stars.

Now that the history of the belt has been restored, it’s time for the WWE to continue pushing Rhodes hard until they can eventually move him on to feud with Randy Orton for the World Title in a few months when Mark Henry is out of the title picture again.

Orton and Rhodes have proved they can put on five-star matches that get the crowd worked up, and a feud between the two would be a solid direction for the company.

As for the time being, Rhodes should just enjoy wearing the same strap that the best in the business were lucky enough to wear.

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