10 Times WWE Stars Were Struck By The Intercontinental Title Curse

9. Rick Rude (1989)

'Ravishing' Rick Rude apparently detested working with The Ultimate Warrior. According to his manager, Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan, it wasn't uncommon for Rude to complain about having to work with the man, and they had some heated confrontations behind the curtain. A well-rounded worker, Rick Rude didn't like sharing the ring with someone he deemed clumsy and undeserving of the spotlight. At WrestleMania V, Rude inflicted Warrior's first ever pinfall defeat on WWF television. Winning the Intercontinental Title in the process, the 'Ravishing One' was never really portrayed as a strong champion. Instead, he needed Heenan's help to steal the belt from his rival. Mere months later, Rude dropped the title back to Warrior at SummerSlam. Despite being Warrior's first big challenger for the WWF Heavyweight Title post-WrestleMania VI, Rick Rude's career never really recovered after holding the Intercontinental Title. He wasn't treated as a serious threat to Warrior's crown in 1990, and left the promotion shortly after the feud concluded.