Intercontinental Championship, circa 1984 - 1985
This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of the inception of the WWE Intercontinental Championship. The Intercontinental Title is the premier second-tier Championship in World Wrestling Entertainment; often used as a steppingstone for wrestlers to climb the ladder of success in the company, or as a way for main event talent to remain relevant when not challenging for the World Heavyweight Championship.
The Title was introduced on September 15, 1979, and the first Champion was Pat Patterson. Patterson beat Ted DiBiase for the WWF North American Heavyweight Championship, and then according to a fictional story Patterson won a tournament in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to unify his North American Championship with a South American Championship. Thus the Intercontinental Championship was born.
Through the first half of the ‘80s, men like Ken Patera, Pedro Morales, Don Muraco, Tito Santana and Greg “The Hammer” Valentine held the Championship in long reigns. These men provided entertaining feuds and matches that could be counted on to main event a card when Hulk Hogan and the World Championship were not there.
In particular Don Muraco’s rivalry with Superfly Jimmy Snuka provided a historic moment etched in WWE history when Snuka jumped off the top of a steel cage in Madison Square Garden onto a prone Muraco. Snuka didn’t win the Intercontinental Title that night, but future wrestlers Mick Foley, Tommy Dreamer and Bubba Ray Dudley were all in the crowd that night and claimed it helped in their decision to become a pro wrestler themselves.
Superfly Jimmy Snuka v. Magnificent Muraco for the Intercontinental Championship, Steel Cage Match, Madison Square Garden
Greg “The Hammer” Valentine and Tito Santana also waged an incredible feud over the championship that lasted over a year and a half. Santana came into the rivalry as Champion only for him to go out with a legitimate leg injury. The injury was worked into the storyline and Valentine took the belt and “injured” Santana’s knee in the process. Santana returned from the injury and won the Title back in a rematch. The two men waged countless battles that featured various stipulations over the course of their war.
Tito Santana v. Greg “The Hammer” Valentine for the Intercontinental Championship, Steel Cage Match, Boston Garden
In 1986 Santana lost his second Intercontinental Championship to “The Macho Man” Randy Savage in early 1986 thanks to a crooked referee. With Savage as Champion, it brought a new level of prestige to the Championship and a new belt design that is best associated with its more fondly remembered period.
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