10 Worst WWE Intercontinental Title Matches This Decade

8. Big E. Langston Vs. Curtis Axel - Survivor Series 2013

Big Show Cody Rhodes Extreme Rules 2012
WWE.com

This one would have underwhelmed even had it occurred on Superstars - that it was contested for the IC strap on what is still promoted as a big four WWE supershow was a damning indictment of the belt's status in 2013.

It was also a body blow to WWE's pushing policy and their attempts to preserve realism. The Axel experiment was a failure - there's no doubting that - but he shouldn't have been booked to be easily swatted away by Big E Langston in just over five minutes. It was as if Vince McMahon had received a shiny new toy, and there was no space left in the chest for his old one.

Axel didn't really help his cause with his performance here, which flitted unnaturally between boring and overblown. He pulled out his best impression of an incredulous Undertaker at WrestleMania XXV when Langston kicked out of the PerfectPlex after just four minutes, which the New Day standout barely sold before retaining the strap with his still-underwhelming Big Ending finisher.

Big E has grown in leaps and bounds since 2013 - he repeatedly used his pounce here to an awfully dull extent. The same can't be said for Axel, who on this and subsequent evidence is fairly cast in his deluded jobber comedy role which, to his credit, he excels at.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!