10 Worst WWE Intercontinental Title Matches This Decade

The Intercontinental title holds a special place in the heart of a generation of wrestling fans.

Quite possibly the best-looking of all the belts, it was the title which gave vindication to those who stuck with pro wrestling through constant abuse at the hands of their peers, to whom wrestling was now a fake bodybuilding sideshow.

The title symbolised that wrestling was an art form, able to transcend the plodding, cartoonish likes of Hulk Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior.

Lifelong wrestling fans of a certain age largely stayed in love with the grapple game as a result of the sterling efforts put forward in the early to mid-1990s, long after Sky Sports-induced WWF fever reached its peak. Built to impeccable standards by the likes of Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels, its years-long devaluation has felt like a betrayal.

2016 has been a banner year for what is affectionately nicknamed the IC belt; the three Match Of The Year candidates contested for it testify to that. But, before you get too excited, here's a reminder of just how easily WWE can lose interest in their second biggest prize...

This isn't especially galling in terms of content, as pedestrian as it was. The decision to award Ryder with a transitional reign out of pity was seemingly made purely to create a meme out of his then and now picture with Scott Hall.

Kevin Owens and Dean Ambrose had done a sterling job of rebuilding the Intercontinental title to somewhere approaching its former glory, and the decision to book Ryder with a 24-hour reign benefited nobody - least of all Ryder himself. The message was clear - WWE would rather create a moment in social media time than rebuild the legacy of its legendary star-maker of a title.

While Ryder was at least dignified with a loss caused by interference, he shouldn't have been anywhere near the belt in the first place. To put Miz over the edge as a sneaky and loathed heel, he should have instead won at WrestleMania itself - by pushing sentimental favourite Ryder from the top of the ladder just as he was set to unhook the belt from its carabiner.

The match was eye-rolling in its predictability, too. Everybody knew from the mere sight of Miz that a title change was afoot. Which again begs the question: Why bother giving Ryder the belt in the first place? Not that it matters a jot to WWE, but his win/loss record was so poor that he shouldn't have been in the ladder match in the first place.