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Who is the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time? It is an accomplishment that many wrestlers who have held the title have boasted of, but only a few have an argument for that claim. There was a time when this belt was a prestigious title, and the wrestler who held it was often the best pure wrestler in the company. Some of the greatest superstars in the history of wrestling have held the IC Championship and many of them went on to become World Champions. Unfortunately, over the years, the Championship has become watered down to the point where even serious fans often do not know who holds it.

Fortunately, right now I feel we have a champion who is an extremely talented performer who, with his charismatic and entertaining persona, may make people care about the belt again. One of the more fun segments on current WWE television is Santino Marella coming out every week with his Honk-ameter and measuring his reign against the longest reigning champion in the history of the title, the infamous Honky Tonk Man. I still remember getting frustrated watching Honky announce week after week that he was the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time. While he may have been a comedy performer, his attachment to the belt and the level of importance he gave it to enhance his character should be emulated to make the title mean something again. Here are ten champions whose reigns WWE should study to elevate the IC Championship to the level of prestige it once had.

10. Tito Santana

Tito Santana was the very epitome of the upper mid-card WWF superstar in the mid-1980's. Very few would make the case that Santana deserved to be the World Champion during this time period. At a time where it was Hulk Hogan and everybody else in the company, however, he was a perfect centerpiece of the middle of the card. Tito was a solid, reliable worker who was extremely popular with the fans and gave the belt credibility with good matches and star quality. He had memorable feuds with the likes of Greg Valentino and Randy Savage that entertained but did not outshine the main event matches of the show. He did not have the flash, charisma, size or promo skills to build a company around, but the level of respect he garnered from the wrestling audience made the Championship an important place on the card during the Hulkamania era.

9. Razor Ramon

Like Santana was in the 80's, Ramon was the quintessential mid-card superstar of the 1990's. While he had a great look, charisma, and microphone skills, he lacked the stability and main event presence required to be a Heavyweight Champion. He rose to prominence in an era where Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels were clearly the top wrestlers in the company, but he held his own as a really entertaining star that exuded some of the swagger and cockiness that would become characteristics of the Attitude Era. His ladder matches with Shawn Michaels became some of the landmark battles in WWE history and elevated the Title as well as revolutionized the gimmick to become a staple of main events. The confidence with which he carried the belt and his ability to shift between the mid-card and the main event made him an integral part of the New Generation era, and the shift in the ratings war after he left the company prove his importance.

8. The Ultimate Warrior

There are few wrestlers in history that are more of a polarizing figure than the Ultimate Warrior. Many fans refuse to acknowledge his star quality, while others fondly remember him as one of the greatest stars of them all. I stand somewhere in between as a fan who grew up entertained by his charisma and incomparable presence in the ring, while understanding his match quality left something to be desired. His first IC Title victory was one of the most memorable matches of the era, when he ended the overlong Honky Tonk Man reign in less than thirty seconds. The pop you hear in the crowd during that unforgettable moment is one of the loudest you will ever hear. His winning the championship instantly elevated the belt from fun mid-card storylines to main event level status. Unlike Santana and Razor, it was obvious that Warrior was being groomed for the World Championship and the presence of such a larger than life character holding the IC Belt made it seem like a huge deal. He may not have put on classic matches but his feuds with the likes of Rick Rude were memorable. He is the one Intercontinental Champion to have defended the belt in a main event at WrestleMania, and in the champion versus champion epic against Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 6, the IC Title did not seem out of place at the top of the card.

7. "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig

After watching the Mr. Perfect DVD that recently came out, I will agree with the statement that Hennig may have been the greatest superstar of the era not to have held a WWF World Championship. No pun intended, but with Bobby Heenan at his side, he would have been a perfect heel champion for guys like Hogan, Warrior and Savage to chase. As it stood, he was a terrific IC Champion that had all the tools to be a top superstar. He oozed arrogance, confidence, and charisma, and his wrestling skills were excellent at a time when workrate was not featured in the company. Perfect had great matches with main event guys like Hulk Hogan that not only showcased his immense skills, but put the belt over in the process. His courageous Summerslam battle with Bret Hart at Summerslam '91 was one of the great matches of the decade and his performance put over Hart as a major star of the next generation. It is unfortunate that Hennig never got a chance with the World Title, but he should be remembered as one of the greatest Intercontinental Champions in history.

6. Randy Orton

By 2003, the Intercontinental Championship had plummeted to a status so meaningless that the belt was gotten rid of completely. Around the same time, a cocky young third generation upstart was showing signs of greatness. He had model good looks, an arrogant attitude and a swarmy heel persona that showed no fear or respect for the older stars that paved the way for him. After winning the IC Belt, the Legend Killer carried the strap as if it were a precious jewel, and that is exactly how a superstar can get over the importance of holding a belt. Orton was "a chosen one" from the very beginning and it was obvious that WWE was preparing him to eventually hold the World Title. He was never more over as a performer, however, as he was during his IC Title reign as the youngest member of Evolution. His reign included wins over main event performers like Shawn Michaels, Booker T, Mick Foley and other legends of the business. Orton not only knew how to carry himself as a top star, he could also put on very good matches, and his reign with the IC Title reestablished it as a prestigious belt and major drawing card for the company.

5. The Rock

The Rock's inclusion on this list is a fascinating one because his original run as Rocky Maivia with the IC Title was nothing short of a disaster. It was the classic case of WWF pushing a young star down fans' throats before he had earned their respect. The chants of "Rocky sucks" echoed through the crowd throughout his matches. Thankfully, they were smart enough to turn him heel and put him in the Nation of Domination. He began to refer to himself as The Rock and it became easy to see that a star was born. It was during this Intercontinental Title reign that he grew as a performer and exhibited the unmatched charisma and promo skills that would make him the biggest mainstream star in the history of wrestling. Like Honky, he referred to himself as the "best damn Intercontinental Champion there ever was." Only this time, The Rock had all the tools to live up to that billing. He coined countless memorable catchphrases during this reign and brought glamour and electricity to the belt. His feuds with Austin, Ken Shamrock, and especially Triple H were highlights of the mid-card, and it became apparent during his reign that he would be one of the top two stars of The Attitude Era. The Rock's run with the IC Belt fueled his ascension to main event status and the belt never felt as big of a deal as it did when it was around the waist of "The People's Champ."

4. Honky Tonk Man

Honky Tonk Man's infamous run with the Intercontinental Championship was the classic example of a ridiculously unlikable superstar who lacked the look and athletic skills to be a top star, but who got over through long-term booking and his ability to play the obnoxious heel to the hilt. When Honky first won the belt from Ricky Steamboat, everybody assumed it must have been a transitional reign that would lead to a more credible wrestler winning it. As the months went by, and Honky's overinflated opinion of himself escalated, he miraculously became a champion that people would pay to see defeated. While he did not have any of the tools one would deem necessary to even hold a secondary belt, the raw conviction with which he stated he was the best title holder ever somehow elevated its value. Wrestling companies sometimes forget that they are masters of their own universe and can train fans to believe in the importance of their titles by having their champions treat them as valuable prizes. This was a reign that ironically got over on the champion's lack of credibility as a wrestler and his obliviousness to that fact. He rarely had a clean victory, instead clinging to the title with countouts and disqualification finishes. By the time he had held the title for over a year, fans were clamoring for anyone to take the belt from him, and it was apparent that whoever would beat Honky for the title would instantly be viewed as a major star. Due to great long-term booking by WWF, the perfect star emerged and created the perfect unforgettable moment when Ultimate Warrior destroyed him in a matter of seconds at the inaugural Summerslam. Honky had the longest IC Title reign ever and while he may not have been the greatest champion ever, his unique charisma and ability to generate heat make him one of the top IC Title holders of all time.

3. "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels

In the mid-'90s, a former tag team specialist was emerging as the most talented and spectacular performer in the WWF. Despite Michaels's immense athletic skills, most would assume his undersized body would prevent him from ever being a World Title holder. It was during his various reigns with the Intercontinental Title that he dispelled this notion and broke the glass ceiling for smaller wrestlers. From the moment he superkicked his longtime Rocker partner Marty Jannetty, it was obvious that he would soon have a run with the secondary title. Although he usually wrestled in the middle of the card, his brash attitude and flashy persona made him stand out. His superb wrestling skills and high-flying moves often stole the show from the main event performers. When he had the unforgettable ladder match with Ramon at WrestleMania X, the importance of the title itself climbed with him on the way to superstardom. Like Hennig, his matches were regularly the best on the show and his talent and charisma commanded headliner status. Although he excelled at playing the arrogant jerk, his aerial artistry and daredevil aura slowly made him a fan favorite and WWF anointed him as leader of the New Generation. By the time he had his second legendary ladder match with Razor, it was obvious that a reign with the World Title was not too far away. Michaels' career should be a blueprint for young stars on how to ascend from the mid-card to the main event, and his runs with the Intercontinental Title set the stage for this ascension.

2. Bret "The Hitman" Hart

Throughout the Hulkamania era in the 1980's, musclebound performers dominated the WWF and wrestling skills were usually secondary. When Hogan became stale and Warrior's weaknesses were exposed, the WWF needed to go in a different direction, especially with a steroid scandal looking. Enter the Excellence of Execution. Bret Hart was already an established star with the company because of his run with the Hart Foundation, but he had never been given the opportunity as a singles star. When he finally got that chance, he shined. The Hitman won his first IC Title in the fantastic match against Hennig mentioned above. During his reign, he displayed his exemplary technical wrestling ability and intelligence within the ring and made the belt a serious prize. He carried himself with dignity and he regularly put on intense, brilliant matches that added respect and prestige to the belt. Hart's landmark match with British Bulldog in the main event of Summerslam '92 showcased the title as the most important prize in the business. He was the best worker in WWF during the early 1990's, and his matches often carried the shows. Like Michaels, it was his reign with the IC Title that gave the company confidence in him as a main event wrestler. By the time he actually won the World Title, he had already attained the credibility and respect amongst the wrestling circle that made fans believe in him as the centerpiece of the WWF. Hart's phenomenal skills shifted the company's focus from oversized comic book characters to talented in-ring workers that could put on great wrestling matches, and these skills were showcased during his memorable Intercontinental Title reigns.

1. Randy "Macho Man" Savage

Randy Savage was the most talented all-around performer in the WWF during the 1980's. While Hogan was the featured attraction for much of the decade, Savage was equally as colorful and charismatic, but was a far superior athlete and wrestler. When Macho Man debuted in the company, it was obvious that he would be a major star. The combination of the overbearing, overprotective Savage and the timid, lovable Elizabeth was a magical act that immediately caught the fans' attention. After he cheated his way to winning the Intercontinental Title from Tito Santana, he treated the belt as his lifeblood and would do anything to keep it. The intensity of his persona added a raw realism to all of his feuds and the added presence of Liz gave his storylines a unique dynamic. Who could forget George "the Animal" Steele's crush on her, and how it sparked Macho Man's insane jealousy. Men fantasized about rescuing the frail beauty from Savage's clutches, but at the same time they respected his immense ability in the ring. During his fourteen month championship reign, he took on all comers and he became such a hot act that WWF even gave him a few wins over Hulk Hogan, unheard of at the time. Nowhere was Savage's unrivaled talent more apparent than the groundbreaking feud between him and Ricky Steamboat, where he crushed Steamboat's larynx. Their WrestleMania 3 classic IC Title bout where Dragon got revenge by defeating Savage for the Championship was the showstealing match on the biggest show of all time. Macho Man combined a cartoonish over-the-top persona with his sensational athleticism to create a unique character that was unforgettable to anybody who witnessed him. His exceptional run with the IC Title elevated him to be a main event performer and he did the unthinkable and replaced Hulk Hogan as the company's top attraction for a full year at the height of Hulkamania. Up until Savage, the IC Belt was held by wrestlers that did not quite meet the requirements to be a World Champion, but Macho Man established the belt as a stepping stone for a talented wrestler to rise to main event status, and he should be considered the greatest Intercontinental Champion of the WrestleMania era.

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