10 Worst WWE Intercontinental Title Matches This Decade

Unbelievably, given the limitations of the two men involved, this one was quietly on its way to surpassing all reasonable expectations.

The all-action start helped create the tone; by smashing Show with a barrage of impact moves from the opening bell, including a particularly choice clothesline over the top rope, the crowd was both unglued and conditioned to expect an early finish. By not wasting any motion, the two behemoths wisely didn't give fans the chance to save their breath for 'Boring!' chants.

Show often excels in these sorts of matches, where he isn't forced to trod languidly around the ring and whip out his dull wear-down repertoire. And while this wasn't close to approaching the heights of his short-form minor classic with Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series 2013, it was gripping, nonetheless.

That is until the Miz, with whom both men were also feuding, ran into the ring to cause an irksome disqualification finish at just 05:29, purely to set up the inevitable triple threat match. Ex-WCW commentator Mark Madden has deemed this modern phenomenon 'Sunday Night RAW', and he's got a point.

While not everything can be settled at a pay-per-view event, this cheap exercise in prolonging achieved the opposite of its intended effect.