10 Worst WWE Intercontinental Title Matches This Decade

2. Curtis Axel Vs. R-Truth - Battleground 2013

Big Show Cody Rhodes Extreme Rules 2012
WWE.com

Axel also has the dubious honour of appearing twice on this list.

The third generation superstar was so inherently forgettable that in the build up, after sneak attacking R Truth on SmackDown, he actually said 'Remember me? I'm the Intercontinental champion, Curtis Axel!' in a display of exposition so obvious and desperate that it bordered on parody.

Perhaps he thought by reintroducing himself in the manner of his manager, Paul Heyman, he could use his shtick as a lightning rod.

The match itself was instantly forgettable, crammed with tiresome tropes like the ten-punches-atop-the-turnbuckle spot and an over-reliance on restholds. It threatened at one point to break out into hives of excitement - Axel if nothing else possesses a killer dropkick, and he then rammed Truth into the barricade in a brutal-looking spot - but they fast ran out of things to do.

Even Heyman's peerless ringside expressions couldn't disguise the dullness between the ropes. A great match should peak at the finish - this petered out so badly that the crowd could barely muster up the effort to give it the 'Boring!' treatment.

AJ Lee in her infamous Bellas diss said that talent wasn't sexually transmitted - it doesn't appear to be hereditary, either.

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!