Next Challenger for the Intercontinental Title

[Troy]

Cody Rhodes brought back the old school style Intercontinental Title at Hell In A Cell PPV and talked about bringing back some prestige to the Intercontinental Title. For this to happen Cody Rhodes needs to get involved in a feud over the title and needs to defeat some top challengers for the title.

So the question is who would you like to see challenge Cody Rhodes for the Intercontinental Title?

Ted DiBiase - Former partners who have now turned on each other. Ted DiBiase is now a face and could be looking for revenge by taking the IC title.

Justin Gabriel - Ever since his split from Heath Slater Gabriel has been a face in the midcard on Smackdown with no clear direction. Gabriel is pretty over with the crowd and this would be a great way to push him up the card and get him more over. Would be a good opportunity for him.

Daniel Bryan - Hasn't really done that much on Smackdown since winning the MITB briefcase but as long as he holds that briefcase he will always be a threat. This would be a good way to make Bryan relevant again and to keep him busy each week on Smackdown. Would be able to produce some good matches with Rhodes as well.

Ezekiel Jackson - The former champion who has been practically unsighted since he dropped the title. Had one rematch but there is always the chance that he can have another shot at the title.

Sin Cara - Once his feud with Black Sin Cara ends he needs something else and placing him in the IC title scene wouldn't be a bad move.

Randy Orton - Long shot but they have wrestled A LOT in recent weeks and this would add a lot of prestige to the title if a huge name like Orton was wrestling for the title.

I think that covers all potential opponents so vote in the poll and post your reasons in this thread for who you want to see be the next challenger for the IC title.

 

[Keith]

Its between Cara and Daniel Bryan for me.

Dibiase has not really stepped up enough, a feud with Rhodes would make sense going on recent storylines, but I just think it would not be creible enough, people would not see him as a threat.

Jackson had a very forgettable title reign, and has already had a rematch recently, so he is way down the pecking order.

Gabriel is not ready yet, having recently come out of a tag team.

Orton is too big for the title, sure I can see that it could give the title and Rhodes a boast, but only if Randy is willing to make him look like a million bucks, and I don't see that happening, also it would be seen as a step down for Orton.

Cara and Rhodes could have some slick fast pace matches, and there could be quite a nice clash there in the fact that Rhodes is so image motivated and Cara wears a mask.

But I would go with Daniel Bryan. The main reason is because WWE have booked him horribley since winning MITB and he needs a strong mid-card feud to rebuild himself. Of course the matches between the two would be great, and I can see some heated promos too.

 

[Andrew]

Voted Gabriel because he needs to be pushed and I reckon they'd get a good match in.

Orton may be too big for the title but it wouldn't surprise me with Rhodes wanting to add Prestige and listing ex-Legends who have once held it. This could turn into a good storyline if Orton chooses to go after it or something, I can see Orton delivering promos of how he used to beat legends like them (legend killer gimmick) and speak about how he wants to add prestige to that title.

It can work, believe me.

 

[Aniking]

Gonna narrow it down before I get into any further detail:

Randy Orton - No fucking way, simply because he's leaps and bounds above that title and should always be kept above it.

Ezekiel Jackson - He lost the title to Rhodes, followed by losing his rematch, so based off the WWE's current definition of what a "feud" is, he won't be in line anytime soon.

Justin Gabriel - Doesn't get enough TV time as is, so if he was suddenly to feud with Rhodes over the title, it really wouldn't be much of a feud. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure they could do something great, but build up is what gives feuds an extra edge and makes them credible. I'd be all for this if Gabriel was used frequently already, but since he's not, it's a no.


So basically, Orton getting a title shot would be absolutely Blue, whereas Jackson getting one would be silly as there are others who should be in line before him, not to mention he isn't used much anymore. As for Gabriel, he'd need to be built up a lot more and used more frequently. Now for the others:

Ted DiBiase - I'm surprised their feud ended so fast. For something that was supposed to be the Smackdown equivalent of The Miz & Alex Riley, this turned out pretty bad. There was a lot of potential for this, but they basically went their seperate ways, had 1 title match, and now it's like nothing happened. I'd still like to see DiBiase in the mix for a title shot, because their feud ending quickly does him no justice.

Daniel Bryan - Ever since he won the MITB briefcase, he has lost something like 90% of his matches, which in the long run doesn't affect him in the slightest. I think he's primarily being used at the moment to build other feuds, like the whole Sin Cara vs. Sin Cara thing wouldn't have gained much ground in the beginning if it wasn't for Bryan's involvement. He's sorta just floating about on Smackdown, which isn't very good for him right now, but the briefcase guarantees that he will be involved in something big in the next few months. Anyway, in his current "form", a title shot wouldn't be right.

Sin Cara - Personally, I can see him getting a title shot in the future, but that'd have to be once this thing with the Black Sin Cara is finished. He still needs to adapt to the WWE style of things and cut out the issues he has backstage, but his huge merch sales will likely trump those issues. With the WWE wanting to break a mask record at Wrestlemania, don't be surprised if Cara becomes IC Champ in the coming months as it'd build him further. As for next in line? Not quite yet.


Based off my explanations, I'd be giving Ted DiBiase the next title shot as their feud should not have ended. It needs to be revived before Rhodes continues to drag the IC title into the main event scene further. Face it, his feud against Orton is to test Rhodes' ability in the main event, and although I feel he's passing with flying colours, giving him the title just to blow past a quick feud and tested in the main event was certainly the wrong way to go about it.

There aren't any other faces on Smackdown that are close to that title... and the WWE wonder why Smackdown's ratings are bad. Well, it's probably because the main event uses the same superstars, and the build up for mid-carders is terrible. But anyway, my vote was for DiBiase.

 

[The New F'n Show]

I'm thinking Sin Cara. Blow off this feud with the heel Sin Cara at Vengeance and have him and Rhodes feud over the title. It could help Cara in ring as Rhodes isn't great but is dependable and it has the potential to be a decent feud.

 

[Prodigy]

I've gone with Orton. He needs to step down and realize the WHC doesn't revolve around him. I don't care if it is a step down for him it's about time he started putting guys over.

 

[Andrew]

Let's think here...

Cody Rhodes wants to put prestige back into the Intercontinental Championship,

he mentioned that HBK, SCSA, Ricky Steamboat, Honky Tonk Man have held it.

Jericho has also held it, HHH, Edge, Orton, CM Punk, Rey Mysterio... The list goes on.

They're all stars, Jericho held the IC in 2009 and he's considered a top star.

So why can't Orton and Rhodes go for it at the IC? I believe it's the best choice and it will give credibility back to the belt.

 

[Aniking]

It's such a dumb choice. All those guys you listed weren't considered main eventers at the time they won the IC title, other than Jericho and Mysterio who were both out of the world title picture for a while before even going near the IC title. So what if past big names held the title, it's supposed to be a title that helps develop a superstar to possibly becoming a future star. If the WWE wanna bring back prestige to the title, actually have decent feuds for once!

 

[rcoot93]

I think orton due to the fact they have been put together for a few weeks and it will help give the title more prestige and help elevate Rhodes to the next level

 

[Prodigy]

It's such a dumb choice. All those guys you listed weren't considered main eventers at the time they won the IC title, other than Jericho and Mysterio who were both out of the world title picture for a while before even going near the IC title. So what if past big names held the title, it's supposed to be a title that helps develop a superstar to possibly becoming a future star. If the WWE wanna bring back prestige to the title, actually have decent feuds for once!

None of the other guys are over though apart from Cara a little. Having a guy like Orton who is actually over will get the reaction for the feud.

 

[Keith]

I am not in favour of Orton chellanging Rhodes for the title, I just think he has been in the main events too long now, don't mind a non-title feud, but don't see the point in it being over the title. Just because Orton should not be in the world title picture, does not mean it makes sense for his to drop down a level.

 

[Troy]

I really see them going through with the Rhodes vs. Orton feud, they have been hinting at it for too long not to do it. Plus they have to do it for the title because it would be a terrible idea to have Rhodes drop the title so soon after changing the design, he will hold this belt for a lot longer. Orton challenging for the title, and Rhodes winning, would put the title over huge. It would finally make it so that the IC title is considered only a small step down from the World Heavyweight title whereas at the moment fans see it as a big step down.

 

[Keith]

But who says that Rhodes would retain the title against Orton? It is possible that WWE might give RO the IC Title, just to raise the profile of the belt and also as a stop gap for Orton before he returns to the world title picture, hope it doesn't happen, but it might.

 

[Troy]

They may indeed give the title to Orton I just simply hope that they don't. With the way Rhodes has attacked Orton and come out on top the past few weeks I am hopeful that he will defeat Orton. Plus after watching Rhodes switch belt designs and cut that awesome promo about the history of the title I really hope that they are serious about Rhodes and the IC title.