Greatest Intercontinental title matches
WWE.com is asking fans to help select which matches should be on its upcoming History of the Intercontinental Title DVD. I came up with a baker’s dozen that I would include, although some of the matches I chose are not among the choices on WWE’s ballot.
As I reviewed my list, I noticed that only one of the matches I selected occurred in this decade. But considering the way the title has been de-emphasized over the past 10 years, that’s actually not surprising.
Here are my picks (in chronological order):
Pedro Morales vs. Magnificent Muraco in a no-disqualification match (11/23/81): Morales became the first man to regain the title by defeating Muraco in a wild, bloody brawl at Madison Square Garden. Morales got the win after taking a foreign object away from Muraco and knocking him out with it. It was poetic justice, as Muraco had used a foreign object to win the title from Morales five months earlier. Morales went on to hold the title for 14 months, which is the second-longest reign in the 29-year history of the title.
Magnificent Muraco vs. Jimmy Snuka in a steel cage match (10/17/83): Even though the title did not change hands this night in Madison Square Garden, the match has become legendary. After Muraco lucked into the victory by falling through the cage door after being on the receiving end of a flying headbutt, Snuka would have the last laugh. “The Superfly” brought the bloody, battered champion back into the ring and delivered a breathtaking splash off the top of the cage.
Tito Santana vs. Greg Valentine in a steel cage match (7/6/85): For the first time, the title changed hands in a cage match. This match also has special meaning for me because I was there that night at the sold-out Baltimore Civic Center, although I was a Valentine fan and hated to see Santana regain the belt from the man he had lost it to nearly 10 months prior. “The Hammer” got a measure of revenge after the match, however, by destroying the belt.
Ricky Steamboat vs. Randy Savage (WrestleMania III, 3/29/87): Some consider this to be not only the greatest Intercontinental title match ever, but also the best match of any kind in WWE history. Two of the all-time great performers took fans for a thrilling ride that included 13 near falls in the final six minutes. Steamboat won the title with a small package after George “The Animal” Steele, who was in Steamboat’s corner, pushed Savage off the top rope to thwart the “Macho Man’s” attempt to hit Steamboat with the ring bell.
The Honky Tonk Man vs. Ricky Steamboat (6/2/87): It still is the biggest upset in the history of the championship, as no one believed Honky Tonk Man even belonged in the same ring with someone as accomplished as Steamboat. The Elvis impersonator won the title after grabbing the rope to reverse a small package. At the time, Honky Tonk Man was considered by far to be the worst wrestler to win the title, but he went on to hold it for nearly 15 months, a record that still stands.
Bret Hart vs. “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig (SummerSlam, 8/26/91): This was Hart’s coming out party, as he won his first singles title in WWE after a very successful tag-team run with Jim Neidhart. When this match took place, Hennig was perhaps the best worker in the U.S., and Hart wasn’t far behind. Despite Hennig having a serious back injury, he and Hart put on a tremendous match that saw Hart kick out of Hennig’s finisher, The Perfectplex, before eventually getting the submission victory with The Sharpshooter.
Bret Hart vs. Roddy Piper (WrestleMania VIII, 4/5/92): Piper, an established superstar making his only run as a singles champion in WWE, helped Hart get one step closer to superstar status by putting him over in this match-up of top babyfaces. The match built to a dramatic finish in which Piper contemplated hitting a bloody, defenseless Hart over the head with the ring bell, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. Hart took advantage of Piper’s indecision and went on to grab the fall. The two embraced after the match and left the ring with their arms around each other.
Davey Boy Smith vs. Bret Hart (SummerSlam, 8/29/92): For the first time, a WWE pay-per-view took place outside the United States or Canada, as more than 80,000 fans filled Wembley Stadium in London. It also marked the first time that the Intercontinental title match was positioned as the main event over the WWE title match. The brothers-in-law engaged in a classic, which ended when “The British Bulldog” countered a sunset flip attempt and rolled up Hart to win the title and send the huge crowd into a frenzy.
Marty Jannetty vs. Shawn Michaels (5/17/93): Next to Honky Tonk Man’s victory over Ricky Steamboat, this is probably the second-biggest upset in the history of the title. Michaels was enjoying a seven-month reign when former Rockers partner Jannetty showed up out of the crowd during Raw and challenged him to an impromptu title match. Jannetty, who had been released by WWE a few months earlier, was considered the lesser star of the two, but he rose to the occasion and pinned his ex-partner in an exciting match.
Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels in a ladder match (WrestleMania X, 3/20/94): Ramon went into the match as the official champion, but Michaels also had an Intercontinental title belt in his possession, claiming that he never lost it in the ring (he had been stripped of the title, and Ramon then won the vacated title). On this night, Michaels and Ramon created the blueprint for future ladder matches, as they both found creative ways to make use of the ladder. Although it was Ramon who prevailed, Michaels’ inspired performance is what people most remember about the match.
Triple H vs. The Rock in a ladder match (SummerSlam, 8/30/98): Before they became multi-time world champions, natural rivals Triple H and The Rock battled over the Intercontinental title. Both of them were on the brink of superstardom at the time, and this match helped seal the deal. As great as the Ramon-Michaels ladder match was, this was one was even more entertaining and physically grueling. After 25 minutes of intense action, Triple H won the title after Chyna gave Rock a low blow.
Chyna vs. Jeff Jarrett in a good housekeeping match (No Mercy, 10/17/99): Chyna made history by becoming the only woman to hold the Intercontinental title, as she defeated Jarrett in this wild gimmick match. Jarrett had been going around smashing guitars over women’s heads and claiming that they belonged in the kitchen, so WWE came up with a good housekeeping match. It was a falls-count-anywhere bout that featured the use of objects such as an ironing board, frying pan, toilet seat and even the kitchen sink, as well as flour, eggs and milk. Chyna used Jarrett’s own guitar to knock him out and pick up the win.
Chris Jericho vs. Jeff Hardy (3/10/08): Jericho has held the title a record eight times, so I figured he had to have at least one of his matches on the list. His title-winning victory over Hardy on Raw was a shocker because Hardy had been one of the hottest wrestlers in WWE. It all made sense the next day when the news broke that Hardy had been suspended 60 days for a second violation of the company’s drug policy. Hardy did not leave with a whimper, however, as he and Jericho put on an outstanding, fast-paced match. Jericho won with The Codebreaker after Hardy missed a Swanton Bomb.
Comments
bret hart..the best..end of story
Posted by: kiran | July 10, 2008 6:11 AM
I really enjoyed the Bret Hart/British Bulldog matchup. The added spectacle of having family members at ringside really made it an entertaining match to watch.
And I must admit, the Razor Ramon/Shawn Michaels ladder match was definitely ahead of its time.
You are right about the IC title's de-emphasis within the past decade. I don't know why, though. It has more credibility than the Hardcore title ever did.
Posted by: Chris | July 10, 2008 9:16 AM
I would nominate when Elvis finally lost the title in all of 20 seconds to the warrior, that was hilarious.
Posted by: double b | July 10, 2008 9:42 AM
That Steamboat/Savage match is definitely the best match in the history of the WWE. In an era where the emphasis was more on storytelling through in ring action vs cutting 5 minute long promos this match stands out and stands the test of time.
Posted by: PikesvillePerson | July 10, 2008 10:35 AM
If you're determined to include a Jericho match here, I think his Royal Rumble 2001 ladder match versus Benoit for the IC strap is one of his best matches ever. I almost didn't even suggest this match, as I know some wrestling columnists are ignoring Benoit, but then I remembered you included the WM XX Triple Threat match in your top WrestleMania moments. The Rumble ladder match is a 5-star classic, and they did some fun things in that match that we hadn't seen before in a WWE ladder match.
One more match that has to be included is Randy Orton vs. Mick Foley from Backlash 2004. It was a no holds barred match with some great spots, including Orton missing the RKO and landing on hundreds of thumbtacks, Orton being thrown off the stage through a table (followed by a Foley elbowdrop), and a barbed-wire covered board and bat coming into play. There was a lot of great psychology in that match and for my money, that was the Legend Killer's coming out party.
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: I can't argue against either one of those matches. Jerich-Benoit was awesome, but I left it off for two reasons: 1. I didn't want to have too many ladder matches (and michaels-ramon and hhh-rock had to be there); 2. i was thinking in terms of which matches wwe actually could put on the DVD, and you and I both know there's no way a Benoit match is getting on there.
Orton-Foley was very good as well, and I agree that it did help "make" Orton. I left it off for one reason: I forgot that it actually was for the IC title. Good catch on your part.
Posted by: Rob | July 10, 2008 11:18 AM
Now wait a minute, it only permits you to select up to three per decade! Seriously though, good choices. I think their focus should be on the 80's and 90's when the competition was more fierce for the championship.
Posted by: Kay | July 10, 2008 11:33 AM
I think the Steamboat/Savage match is among the best of all time matches. We all saw moves that neither normally don't do. It was the classic wrestling match that we never thought we'd see. Leading up to the match Savage not only tried to huirt Steamboat but put him out permantly. To see Steamboat come back in a match like this was much more rewarding from a fans' view. Seeing Steamboat win the the match and the I-C belt was better than anything. But we have to remember that George "The Animal" Steele carrying Miss Elizabeth off at the beginning eliminating any chance of outside interferance. And the rest proved to be a classic match between 2 of the all-time greats. This was definately among my favorite matches of all-time.
Posted by: Dave | July 10, 2008 2:51 PM
The sad thing is that when I cast my votes for the poll, the matches listed from 2000 on up, I couldn't really remember any of them.
Posted by: Glassman | July 10, 2008 2:52 PM
WWE will never include it, but the ladder match between Jericho and Benoit at the Rumble was fantastic. As was the match between Orton and Edge at Vengeance 2004.
Posted by: Ceasar | July 10, 2008 3:15 PM
I was at the Hardy-Jericho match this past March, and let me tell you that the crowd was incredibly hot. We gave both men a standing ovation after Jericho won the belt. Great match
Posted by: George | July 10, 2008 3:33 PM
The 24/7 rule turned the hardcore title into a joke.
As for the Intercontinental title, Stone Cold's throwing it into a river didn't do much for its prestige.
Posted by: Christopher | July 10, 2008 4:34 PM
Be honest Kevin. Honky Tonk Man stole your 80's Dundalk pickup line: I'm cool I'm cocky I'm bad! How many 2 baggers did you get with than line?
Posted by: eric | July 10, 2008 5:46 PM
I know that this post is about "matches" , but just to see Don Muraco's name in print brings back a lot of memories for me . When I speak of "The Rock" , this is the one I mean . The original .
Just like when I think of "Kevin" , I don't mean Kevin Sullivan, or Kevin Nash , or even Kevin Von Erich , I mean Kevin Eck .
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: I thought you were going to say Kevin Kelly.
Posted by: jack in hebron | July 10, 2008 6:09 PM
Oh yeah, Kevin Kelly.
Posted by: jack in hebron | July 10, 2008 6:53 PM
Eric, I don't know if Honky Tonk Man stole Kev's pick-up line , but he did steal Kevin's hair-do .
Posted by: jack in hebron | July 10, 2008 6:57 PM
Kev - I enjoyed the 1994 Ladder Match between Michaels and Razor a ton. But I think I might have liked their 1995 SummerSlam ladder match a bit more. Better storytelling, both performers were in the groove on that one. Shawn wanted to show the whole world he was the best in that company. As distasteful as I find Shawn sometimes, and while I find his day-to-day body of work overrated, he may have been the best "big-match" performer of my lifetime. And that includes Ric Flair and Bret Hart.
Another really good IC Title match was Rick Rude and the Ultimate Warrior at SummerSlam 1989. Probably the best match Warrior had up until that point.
Posted by: luhrm | July 10, 2008 8:03 PM
"Chyna vs. Jeff Jarrett in a good housekeeping match (No Mercy, 10/17/99)"
Wasn't this the match that led to Double JJ becoming Persona Non Grata in the WWE? If I recall it went like this - someone neglected to notice his contract was expiring the day before the PPV, and didn't get it renewed before then. Since JJ was not happy with the company in general or with being expected to job to a woman for the belt at the PPV, he held out for a $250,000 one match extension to the contract. WWE paid it not wanting him to show up at WCW with the belt (I think they didn't have a no-compete clause on him either so he could've shown up the next day), and he dropped the belt to Chyna and was through with the WWE...leading him to have to create TNA once WCW folded.
And in the, "Aw, c'mon, man, that just doesn't sound right" file;
"Bret Hart vs. “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig (SummerSlam, 8/26/91): This was Hart’s coming out party..."
"Bret Hart vs. Roddy Piper (WrestleMania VIII, 4/5/92):...The two embraced after the match and left the ring with their arms around each other."
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: You have the story correct about Jarrett's contract expiring and him holding WWE up for money to do the job. I'm not sure whether the $250,000 figure is real or just an urban legend, though.
When WCW went down less than two years later, Jarrett knew WWE wasn't going to take him back because of that. If you recall, Vince McMahon basically fired him on the air during the Raw/Nitro simulcast.
Posted by: Phoenix | July 10, 2008 9:17 PM
I was in attendance on June 2, 1987 in Buffalo, NY when Honky Tonk Man defeated The Dragon Steamboat. The whole affair turned the arena upside down. No one could believe what they had just seen.
And since they were recording several weeks of TV that evening, Honky came out later on to defend his new title.
I believe some other noteworthy items in WWF(E) history also occurred that evening that did not get on television, but I'll have to go back and check my archieves for the program and inserted card to find out for sure.
Posted by: Bradley | July 10, 2008 9:29 PM
Did you forget about Wrestlemania VI, Ultimate Warrior vs. Hulk Hogan, title vs. title for the first time?
Are you sure Hart kicked out of Hennig's finisher? I don't recall that.
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: I do remember Warrior-Hogan was title vs. title, but I look at that as a world title match more than an IC match. It never made sense to me why Hogan would want the IC belt when he already had the big belt.
Yes, Hart did kick out of the Perfectplex.
Posted by: Jeff Awtrey | July 10, 2008 10:15 PM
Bret Hart's DVD set includes the Mr. Perfect and Davey Boy Smith matches, but curiously, not the Piper match.
I am not saying that the Piper match was better than the other two (honestly, I call it the least of the three), but it was better some of the other matches included in the DVD set.
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: From a wrestling standpoint, the Henig and Smith matches were better than the PIper match, but the Piper match made it up for it with dramaa and story line.
Posted by: Christopher | July 10, 2008 11:11 PM
I remember a match between Tito Santana and Mr. #1derful Paul Orndorf that I thought was one of the greatest matches, but can you remember if that was for the intercontinental title? I thought it was in '83 or '84? A little help here?
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: I don't recall the specific match, but they definitely wrestled each other several times when Santana was IC champ.
Posted by: Chris | July 10, 2008 11:46 PM
It' nice to see the Hammer finally get some love. Valentine is one of my all-time favorites, and I think he's one of the really underrated wrestlers from that era in terms of publicity and recognition. After we've seen Hogan have at least half a dozen comeback matches and countless plugs, it's really great to see some of the great workers from that era who were overshadowed by Hulkamainia finally get some respect.
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: Valentine was one of the best heels in the business in the late 70s and early 80s. I always thought he should have beaten Bob Backlund and had a run with the WWF title.
Posted by: Mr. E | July 11, 2008 6:21 AM
Kevin, I think the reason why Chris Benoit is not included in any of the matches is because they don't want anything to do with him for the murder/suicide. They cut him out of everything else so why put him in the poll for the greatest I-C matches.
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: Yes, that is the reason.
Posted by: Dave | July 11, 2008 7:38 AM
Phoenix (& Kev): According to Jarrett, the money he held up Vince for was actually only the money owed to him in ppv bonuses. Normally this money gets paid to talent months later, but JJ used the opportunity to get it all paid immediately in one lump sum.
For sheer upset value, I would also include the match between Jeff Hardy and Triple H roundabout April/May 2001. It was back when Hunter and Austin were the 2-man powertrip, and they had put both Matt Hardy and Lita on the shelf in previous weeks. For Jeff, at that stage of his career, to pin Triple H (then already a 4-time world champion) clean for the Intercontinental Title was massive, even if he did lose it back a week later. I noticed that last year, when lots of people were assuming that Hunter would bury Jeff during his main event push that those same people forgot how Hunter had already put Jeff over in this way over 6 years before when Jeff was still very much a tag team wrestler.
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: I believe Chyna is the one who used the $250,000 figure, while Jarrett has said that he only asked for what he was owed. It depends on who you believe.
I didn't include that Triple H-Hardy match because it was treated as a fluke win (I believe Matt Hardy interfered). Hardy lost the belt a week later and did not get a big push off the title reign.
Posted by: Martin | July 11, 2008 10:35 AM
Santana and Orndorff also wrestled each other at The Wrestling Classic, the first or second WWF PPV ever. Santana was the IC champ, but the match was part of a one night tournament, so the belt wasn't on the line.
Posted by: Rob | July 11, 2008 12:13 PM
Chyna better be on this DVD! Regardless of who likes her or not, she was more than just a low level women's champ. She was a three time IC champ, and former first and only co holder with Y2J. I liked the GHK match against JJ. But I love her Survivor Series match against Y2J more. Besides it'll be great backbone for her since she is returning. Maybe not to the WWE, but it will give new fans somewhat of an expectation when she finally gets back into the ring.
Posted by: MostDominantAthlete | July 13, 2008 7:56 AM
I was at the Baltimore Convention Center to see Wrestlemania 3 on closed circuit, and the Randy Savage/Ricky Steamboat match was the greatest IC title match i saw. i think they had like 12 or 13 2-counts throughout the whole match.
I was there at the Civic Center when Tito beat Valentine for the title and Greg smashed the belt after the match, but i'm not too crazy about the current belt they have, they should use the 1 belt they wore with the interchangeable straps when Ultimate Warrior was the champ.
Posted by: Mike From Dundalk | July 18, 2008 11:11 AM