Predicting WWE's Champions At WrestleMania 34
5. Intercontinental Champion - Samoa Joe
The WWE Intercontinental Championship reign of The Miz is a peculiar one. The A-Lister’s stock has risen since the 2016 Brand Split and he is now included in conversations about great Intercontinental Champions, but can anyone name a single good title defence? If people are being honest, The Miz’s many IC reigns have been disappointing.
Samoa Joe is due to return from injury at some point soon, and the Samoan Submission Machine is just the man to bring legitimate credibility to the ‘prestigious’ secondary championship. The set up is simple - The Miz claims he has defeated everyone and has nothing left to prove as champion, before Joe arrives and chokes him out to win the title.
Joe should then embark on a lengthy run as champion, taking on and defeating all comers. WWE doesn’t need to market it as an open challenge reign, but the circumstances should be the same. Week after week, Samoa Joe defends his title against a new challenger, having good 10 minute matches and making everything better in the process.