Greatest intercontinental champion tournament

[Guest Northern Lights Brainbuster]

OK, Now ive seen all the tournaments for the greatest EU and US and such, but my favourite belt is the Intercontinental Championship. Not sure why, probably because of the fact that the REALLY bad champions are the bigger ones, and they are always pushed straight to World (thanks a lot Vince, jackass). But, to ensure a worthy final (DLo v Kurt wasnt really the best option for EU, D'lo v Bulldog shud have been the final), I will let YOU people select the eight quarter finalists. Thats right, a draft!

 

The following people, in chronological order, are the choices:

 

Pat Patterson

Ken Patera

Pedro Morales

Don Muraco

Tito Santana

Greg Valentine

Randy Savage

Ricky Steamboat

Honky Tonk Man

Ultimate Warrior

Rick Rude

Mr. Perfect

Texas Tornado

Bret Hart

The Mountie

Roddy Piper

The British Bulldog

Shawn Michaels

Marty Jannetty

Razor Ramon

Diesel

Jeff Jarrett

Shane Douglas

Goldust

Ahmed Johnson

Marc Mero

Triple H

The Rock

Owen Hart

Steve Austin

Ken Shamrock

Val Venis

Road Dogg

The Godfather

Edge

D'Lo Brown

Chyna

Chris Jericho

Kurt Angle

Chris Benoit

Rikishi

Eddie Guererro

Billy Gunn

Kane

Albert

Lance Storm

Christian

Test

William Regal

Rob Van Dam

 

Copy and paste that list, and put a mark by your eight, or just list your top 8. Around this time tomorrow i will count the results and start the quarters.

 

If anyone would like to know my motives for this, they are listed below:

 

I'm Bored.

 

Now, Get Voting!

[Guest]

Mr. Perfect

Honky Tonk Man

Randy Savage

Bret Hart

Shawn Michaels

Razor Ramon

Chris Benoit

Ultimate Warrior

[Guest Northern Lights Brainbuster]

Randy Savage

Honky Tonk Man

Mr. Perfect

Bret Hart

Shawn Michaels

Razor Ramon

Jeff Jarrett

Chris Jericho

 

It was really tough for me to edge people like Steamboat, Benoit and Edge out, but Steamboat had nothing but WM3, which Savage also had and hes on my list. Edge had a lot of reigns, but his only good matches came from Christian and the reigns were short. Benoit is like Steamboat. Everything he brought to the belt, so did Jericho, and Jericho didnt job it to freakin' Rikishi.

[Guest]

Pat Patterson

Ken Patera

Pedro Morales

Don Muraco

Tito Santana

Greg Valentine

Randy Savage**

Ricky Steamboat

Honky Tonk Man**

Ultimate Warrior

Rick Rude**

Mr. Perfect**

Texas Tornado

Bret Hart**

The Mountie

Roddy Piper

The British Bulldog

Shawn Michaels**

Marty Jannetty

Razor Ramon**

Diesel

Jeff Jarrett**

Shane Douglas

Goldust

Ahmed Johnson

Marc Mero

Triple H

The Rock

Owen Hart

Steve Austin

Ken Shamrock

Val Venis

Road Dogg

The Godfather

Edge

D'Lo Brown

Chyna

Chris Jericho

Kurt Angle

Chris Benoit

Rikishi

Eddie Guererro

Billy Gunn

Kane

Albert

Lance Storm

Christian

Test

William Regal

Rob Van Dam

check the stars

 

Thanks

[Guest KOR420]

Randy Savage

Ricky Steamboat

Honky Tonk Man

Rick Rude

Mr. Perfect

Bret Hart

Shawn Michaels

Chris Jericho

[Guest LooseCannon]

Pat Patterson

Rick Rude

Randy Savage

Honky Tonk Man

Mr. Perfect

Shawn Michaels

Razor Ramon

Chris Jericho

[Guest Dace59]

Ricky Steamboat

Bret Hart

Shawn Michaels

Owen Hart

Chris Jericho

Kurt Angle

Chris Benoit

Lance Storm

[Guest ShamRock]

Ken Shamrock

Lance Storm

Chris Benoit

Kurt Angle

Razor Ramon

The Rock

Bret Hart

Randy Savage

[Guest RetroRob215]

Honky Tonk Man

Bret Hart

Razor Ramon

Jeff Jarrett

Steve Austin

Chris Jericho

Kurt Angle

Chris Benoit

[Guest Northern Lights Brainbuster]

I am in complete and utter shock that Albert and the Mountie dont have a vote between them yet. :0

[Guest The Man They Call Texas Blu]

Shawn Michaels

Bret Hart

Chris Benoit

Chris Jericho

Kurt Angle

Randy Savage

Steve Austin

Mr. Perfect

[Guest JAMES900]

Honky Tonk Man

Ultimate Warrior

Rick Rude

Mr. Perfect

Texas Tornado

Bret Hart

The Mountie

Roddy Piper

[Guest alfdogg]

Tito Santana

Randy Savage

Honky Tonk Man

Ultimate Warrior

Mr. Perfect

Bret Hart

Chris Jericho

Chris Benoit

[Guest The Electrifyer]

My 8:

 

Pat Patterson

Randy Savage

Honky Tonk Man

Ultimate Warrior

Mr. Perfect

Razor Ramon

Steve Austin

Chris Jericho

 

And I'm still laughing that you put in Albert in for us to nominate.

[Guest Northern Lights Brainbuster]

Guess why i put him in?

 

Because he held the Intercontinental title.

 

Just like everyone in the list did.

[Guest]

Pat Patterson

Ken Patera

Pedro Morales

Don Muraco

Tito Santana

Greg Valentine

Randy Savage  *****

Ricky Steamboat

Honky Tonk Man *****

Ultimate Warrior

Rick Rude

Mr. Perfect *****

Texas Tornado

Bret Hart *****

The Mountie

Roddy Piper

The British Bulldog

Shawn Michaels *****

Marty Jannetty

Razor Ramon *****

Diesel

Jeff Jarrett *****

Shane Douglas

Goldust

Ahmed Johnson

Marc Mero

Triple H

The Rock

Owen Hart *****

Steve Austin

Ken Shamrock

Val Venis

Road Dogg

The Godfather

Edge

D'Lo Brown

Chyna

Chris Jericho

Kurt Angle

Chris Benoit

Rikishi

Eddie Guererro

Billy Gunn

Kane

Albert

Lance Storm

Christian

Test

William Regal

Rob Van Dam

[Guest The Electrifyer]

I know he held the title, but who the hell would advance him to the next round?

[Guest X-Factor Corperation]

Pedro Morales

 

Ricky Steamboat

 

Bret Hart

 

Jeff Jarrett

 

Owen Hart

Chris Benoit

 

Billy Gunn

Test

[Guest]

I concur with the man above who stated that the Intercontinental Championship was their favorite. As far back as I can remember in terms of the WWF, it had always been my favorite as well. Match quality tended to be better and the wrestlers involved were usually in their primes and/or just coming into them, without backstage affairs having yet to play a role.

 

As you peruse my list you'll notice the absence of Angle, Jericho, and Benoit. The reasoning for this is simple: By the point in time when the three of them held the title, its value had already been diluted by the likes of Chyna and Road Dogg. Back when Razor and Michaels held the belt, the IC champion was a legitimate contender for the WWF Championship. Though RVD may soon fit into that category, the vast majority of recent IC champs have been no more than glorified midcarders.

 

Also, whoever suggested "Lance Storm" is a crackhead.

 

 

The Eight and their Seeds:

1. Honky Tonk Man - No one has managed the heat that the Honky Tonk Man received while wearing the IC belt. Also, for sheer duration of reign he deserves this top spot.

 

2. Razor Ramon - Four time intercontinental champion, with at least two of those runs being significant. He had duration, numerous reigns, and some entertaining feuds whilst in those reigns. It was during this time that I became a Scott Hall mark for life.

 

3. Randy Savage - Long reigning champion with mondo good matches and feuds during that time period.

 

4. Bret Hart - Another example of how the intercontinental title used to just be the WWF title two or three years in the future. Once again, Angle and Jericho helped the title earn some prestige back, but all those Alberts and Jeff Hardys did a lot of damage.

 

5. Shawn Michaels - Same reasoning as Bret. Great matches, great reigns.

 

6. Mr. Perfect - He's gotta have some reason for calling himself the "Greatest Intercontinental Champion" of all time, right?

 

7. Owen Hart - Owen gets my vote for being the consistently best undercard champion. Whether it be the European title, IC belt, or tag titles, when Owen held it it meant something. It'll be a permanent nagging question in wrestling history if he could have become a strong, consistent main event performer.

 

8. Jeff Jarrett - Barely edges out Benoit. Jarrett was the last of a dying breed of IC champions in his time. Poor Jeff always gave off the aura of "Big fish in a small pond, small fish in a big pond" when it came to his position on the card.

 

Honorable Mentions:

Greg Valentine

Rick Rude

Roddy Piper

Chris Jericho

Kurt Angle

Chris Benoit

 

And, in another thread someone was challenging the legitimacy of calling the IC title the "Intercontinental Title" since it would suggest the same thing as the world title, that is, representing every continent. Untrue.

 

The Intercontinental Title was supposedly won in Argentina. Now, we all know thats not true, but it still belies a storyline behind the belt. It's the combined continental belt of North America and South America. In other words, it's the American Championship. Two continents = intercontinental.

 

Really, the names of belts and an interesting subject when thought of. It I were to, say, rank the formerly big three title belts in terms of pure naming power, it would be as follows:

 

WCW World Heavyweight Championship - a title which supposedly represents the entire world. The lineage does have legitimacy to this, given its an offshoot of the NWA World Title.

 

WWF Championship - Never said to be the "World Title." Just represents the best of the World Wrestling Federation. Thus, it would have to be given the number two spot under WCW's presumptous title belt. Offshoot of the NWA title as well.

 

ECW World Heavyweight Championship - stole its legitimacy at a time when the NWA belt barely had any, and therefore gets the lowest ranking.

 

WWF Intercontinental Championship - Represents North & South America.

 

Defunct WWF North American Championship - Represented all of North America.

 

Defunct WWF International Championship - "International" in a North America - Japanese sense. Belt was defended in both locales.

 

WCW United States Heavyweight Championship - The supposed prize of the States.

 

WWF European Championship - WWF's top prize in Europe. Theoretically.

 

WCW World TV Championship - Best on-television wrestler, I guess?

 

ECW World TV Championship - ECW barely had any television coverage during most of its existence, so, for obvious reasons, its ranked below the WCW belt.

 

The hardcore titles and cruiserweight belts would fall under entirely different categories.

 

Anyhow, this post has gone off on a cosine, and I now end it.

 

---> Jeff

[Guest]

I just noticed that I put down the same exact picks as FearHavoc.

 

High five.

 

---> Jeff

[Guest ArkhamGlobe]

Randy Savage

Honky Tonk Man

Mr. Perfect

Bret Hart

Shawn Michaels

Owen Hart

Steve Austin

Chris Benoit

[Guest Sykotic2002]

Mr. Perfect

Honkytonk Man

Bret Hart

Shawn Michaels

Razor Ramon

The Rock

Owen Hart

Jeff Jarrett

[Guest Andy]

Here's my 8...

 

Randy Savage

Ricky Steamboat

Rick Rude

Mr. Perfect

Owen Hart

Chris Benoit

Eddie Guererro

Lance Storm

 

Andy

[Guest]

Randy Savage

Mr. Perfect

Bret Hart

Shawn Michaels

Razor Ramon

The Rock

Owen Hart

Chris Jericho

[Guest JaKyL25]

Honky Tonk Man

The Longest reigning champ ever has to be in.

 

Jeff Jarrett

Likewise, the person with the most title reigns (6) has to be in.  It'd be like having a HC Title tourny w/o Crash.

 

Mr. Perfect

Bret Hart

Shawn Michaels

Razor Ramon

Chris Jericho

Owen Hart

 

When I thought of "Intercontinental Champion", those were the first names that sprung to mind.

 

Triple H does deserve some kind of honorable mention for holding the IC title 4 times over 3 distinctly different stages of his career.

[Guest]

Pedro Morales

Randy Savage

Honky Tonk Man

Rick Rude

Mr. Perfect

Bret Hart

Owen Hart

Chris Benoit

[Guest]

Chris Jericho

Randy Savage

Ricky Steamboat

Bret Hart

Shawn Micheals

Razor Ramon

Mr. Perfect

Chris Beniot

[Guest The Man in Blak]

My Picks:

 

Randy Savage

Honky Tonk Man

Rick Rude

Mr. Perfect

Bret Hart

Shawn Michaels

Razor Ramon

Steve Austin

[Guest cobainwasmurdered]

Randy Savage

Honky Tonk Man

Mr. Perfect

Bret Hart

Shawn Michaels

Razor Ramon

Owen Hart

Steve Austin

[Guest Some Guy]

Randy Savage

Honky Tonk Man

Mr. Perfect

Bret Hart

Shawn Michaels

Razor Ramon

Jeff Jarrett

The Rock