10 Best WWE Intercontinental Title Matches Ever

7. Randy Savage Vs Ricky Steamboat (WrestleMania 3)

shawn michaels razor ramon
WWE.com

A somewhat dated but no less dramatic title switch over 30 years on from the show it undeniably stole, Ricky Steamboat's endearing liberation of the Intercontinental strap (and ultimately Randy Savage's soul) at WrestleMania 3 remains as iconic as its vainglorious surround.

In front of an sprawling crowd as enormous as it was disputed, Macho Man and 'The Dragon' assembled a clinic that was - due to Savage's known fastidiousness - clinically assembled. This observation is not a stick with which to beat the bout as callously as Randy had done to Ricky with the ring-bell in the equally legendary build. For Savage to bullet-point a battle so captivating reveals his incredible mind for audience manipulation that betrays his insecurities around improvisation.

Proficient at all aspects of the art-form, Steamboat's flexibility bends beautifully with the rigidly-planned arc, particularly when he exhaustedly catches the Champion with a smooth small package for the win. The pair look as short of breath as the ringsiders, taken on as journey as they were by a beautifully-crafted contest. A babyface turn later in the year was the only possible destination for Savage after giving his body to such an effort.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett