Top 25 WWE Intercontinental Champions Of All Time
25. Shelton Benjamin
Shelton Benjamin captured his first Intercontinental Championship at Taboo Tuesday 2004 after WWE fans voted him to challenge Chris Jericho. Benjamin won over 37 percent of the votes, surpassing competitors like Batista and Christian. He defeated Jericho and began an impressive eight-month reign, the longest in roughly a decade. He later held the title twice more, including a second reign where he used a clever distraction to defeat Ric Flair.
24. Cody Rhodes
Cody Rhodes revived the Intercontinental Championship’s classic white leather strap after winning the title in 2011. His first reign lasted 236 days, and he reclaimed the championship from Big Show at Extreme Rules 2012. Rhodes’ reigns combined in-ring excellence with a visual return to tradition, cementing him as a defining champion for his generation.
23. Stone Cold Steve Austin
Stone Cold Steve Austin won his first Intercontinental Championship at SummerSlam 1997 despite suffering a broken neck. He rolled up Owen Hart to claim the title, showcasing his legendary toughness. Austin vacated the title due to injury but returned later the same year to win it again, proving his resilience and determination.
22. Jeff Hardy
Jeff Hardy held the Intercontinental Championship four times, relying on his high-risk style to defeat dominant competitors like Triple H and Umaga. His matches were always exciting, and although his reigns were often brief, Hardy’s athleticism and charisma made his title victories memorable.
21. Goldust
Goldust captured the Intercontinental Championship three times and used his unusual persona to gain an edge over opponents such as Razor Ramon and Savio Vega. He redesigned the black belt to gold, defended it against stars like The Undertaker and Jake “The Snake” Roberts, and became one of the most unique champions in WWE history.
20. Jeff Jarrett
Jeff Jarrett won his first Intercontinental Championship from Razor Ramon at the 1995 Royal Rumble. Over the next five years, he captured the title six times, defeating competitors like Edge and The Godfather. His multiple reigns put him among the most decorated Intercontinental Champions of his era.
19. The Rock
The Rock, initially known as Rocky Maivia, first won the Intercontinental Championship as a bright-eyed newcomer. Fans quickly turned against his character, prompting him to evolve into The Rock. His second reign lasted 265 days and established him as The Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment. Moreover, this reign helped him to later hold the WWE World title on 10 different occassions.
18. Edge
Edge first won the Intercontinental Championship in 1999 by defeating Jeff Jarrett. Over the next decade, he captured the title five times, defeating top opponents such as Randy Orton and Christian. These early reigns laid the foundation for his later success as a multi-time world champion.
17. Greg “The Hammer” Valentine
Greg Valentine earned his nickname by battling Tito Santana for the Intercontinental Championship between 1984 and 1985. After winning the title in September, he retained it against challengers like Junkyard Dog, including at the inaugural WrestleMania. His loss to Santana in a Steel Cage Match led to the creation of a new belt design.
16. Triple H
Triple H first captured the Intercontinental Championship in 1996 and became a five-time champion over a decade. He defended the title against Jeff Hardy, Kane, and others, including a unification match at No Mercy 2002. Triple H’s reigns highlighted his evolution from rising star to WWE’s dominant figure. His ladder match against The Rock at SummerSlam 1997 was a high point in his early career.
15. Rob Van Dam
Rob Van Dam held the Intercontinental Championship six times and made each reign remarkable. In 2002, he unified the Intercontinental, European, and Hardcore titles. His ladder matches against Eddie Guerrero and Christian were standout contests, keeping the championship at the center of WWE’s mid-card spotlight.
14. Don Muraco
Don Muraco became the fourth Intercontinental Champion by defeating Pedro Morales in June 1981. He regained the title in January 1983 and held it until February 1984. Muraco’s aggressive style and charisma added a rough edge to the championship and paved the way for future hard-hitting champions.
13. Shawn Michaels
Shawn Michaels made his name as a solo competitor through three Intercontinental Championship reigns. His ladder matches against Razor Ramon at WrestleMania 10 and bouts with Jeff Jarrett, Diesel, and Bret Hart showcased his athleticism and storytelling. Michaels’ reigns were often controversial but consistently memorable. Moreover, his in-ring skills took the belt's prestige to the next level.
12. Pat Patterson
Pat Patterson became the first-ever Intercontinental Champion in September 1979 by unifying the North American and South American titles in Rio de Janeiro. His victory set the standard for the championship and ushered in a new era for WWE.
11. Rick Rude
Rick Rude held the Intercontinental Championship once, defeating Ultimate Warrior at WrestleMania V. He held the title for 148 days before losing it back to Warrior. Rude’s athleticism and charisma made his reign stand out despite its brevity. Moreover, his heelish persona along with the company's workhorse title made an interesting mix.
10. Gunther
Gunther’s Intercontinental Championship reign stands as one of the most dominant and celebrated in modern WWE history. From the moment he captured the title in June 2022, the “Ring General” redefined what it meant to hold the prestigious championship. With a mix of brutal physicality, unmatched discipline, and old-school intensity, Gunther elevated the title back to main-event status. His reign was marked by classic bouts against stars like Drew McIntyre and Sheamus att WrestleMania 39. Moreover, he is now the longest reigning IC title holder in history at 666 days before losing it to Sami Zayn at WrestleMania 40.
9. Randy Orton
Randy Orton won the Intercontinental Championship at Armageddon 2003 by defeating Rob Van Dam. His reign lasted 210 days, during which he defended the title against competitors like Mick Foley and Edge. Orton’s run helped restore the championship’s prestige in the modern era.
8. Pedro Morales
Pedro Morales was the first wrestler to win WWE’s Triple Crown and the first to hold the Intercontinental Championship twice. His combined reign lasted over 600 days, the longest in history at that time. Morales’ dominance helped solidify the title’s importance.
7. Bret “Hit Man” Hart
Bret Hart defeated Mr. Perfect at SummerSlam 1991 to claim the Intercontinental Championship in an all-time classic. He had two reigns and competed in classic matches against The British Bulldog at Wembley Stadium in 1992. Hart’s technical skill elevated the prestige of the title. Moreover, it paved the passage for him to hold the WWE title 5 times in the 1990s and becoming the face of the company.
6. Razor Ramon
Razor Ramon, a four-time Intercontinental Champion, held the title for a combined 438 days. He had historic ladder matches against Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania X and SummerSlam 1995. Ramon’s reigns combined longevity with innovation. His bad guy persona was a perfect fit for the prestigious title.
5. The Honky Tonk Man
The Honky Tonk Man holds the record for the longest Intercontinental Championship reign at 454 days. He won the title from Ricky Steamboat in 1987 and used any means necessary, including disqualifications and count-outs, to retain it. His guitar-strumming persona left a lasting mark on WWE history.
4. Mr. Perfect
Mr. Perfect held the Intercontinental Championship twice, first defeating Tito Santana in a tournament. His second reign lasted 280 days, the longest of the decade. He battled stars like Bret Hart and The Texas Tornado, showcasing near-perfect athleticism and strategy.
3. The Ultimate Warrior
The Ultimate Warrior won his first Intercontinental Championship by defeating The Honky Tonk Man in 31 seconds. He held the title for 216 days in each of his two reigns and vacated it after winning the WWE Championship at WrestleMania VI against Hulk Hogan. Warrior’s explosive style made him a dominant champion.
2. Chris Jericho
Chris Jericho holds the record with nine Intercontinental Championship reigns, first defeating Chyna in 1999. He faced Jeff Hardy, Rob Van Dam, and Rey Mysterio in high-profile matches, including a Mask vs. Title contest in 2009. Jericho’s longevity and versatility defined the modern era of the championship.
1. Randy Savage
Randy Savage defeated Tito Santana on February 8, 1986, to begin his legendary Intercontinental Championship reign. He held the title for over 400 days, defeating challengers like Jake “The Snake” Roberts and George Steele. Savage’s WrestleMania III match with Ricky Steamboat remains one of the greatest in WWE history.
