10 WWE Stars Who Saved The Intercontinental Title
4. Randy Orton
Randy Orton won the Intercontinental Championship from Rob Van Dam in December of 2003, and a few months later, he became the first wrestler in over five years to rack up a run of more than 100 days with the title.
Between Orton and Ken Shamrock, who lost the title in February of 1999, the belt changed hands 50 times.
Orton would go on to hold the title for seven months, but more than bringing stability to it, he brought prestige to it. Even though Orton had his shortcomings as a wrestler, it was very clear that the Intercontinental Champion was once again a star who was being groomed to be a world champion.
Orton racked up several defenses of the Intercontinental Title, but the most memorable one came at Backlash 2004. At that show, Cactus Jack came out of retirement to challenge Orton in a hardcore match, but Orton - despite being thrown into a pile of thumbtacks - picked up the win and retained the belt.
Orton lost the title in July of 2014, then won the World Heavyweight Title the next month.