Ryback: The forgotten Intercontinental Champion

The Intercontinental title win of Ryback has been followed by stagnation for the most part

If you want to see how a wrestling promotion destroys the credibility of one of the most prestigious titles ever be defended and in the process leave a wrestler’s career in neutral, just look at how Ryback is being used by WWE and its creative team.

After winning the title once Daniel Bryan relinquished the belt, the “Big Guy” has had a run that has been anything short of boring and stagnant. I can only imagine what past champions like Pat Patterson and Tito Santana must be thinking when they watch each week as Ryback fights Big Show or Miz or both. The record appears to be broken, but no one is willing to repair it or offer a new tune for fans to get behind.

WWE isn’t feeding Ryback more, as his mantra would suggest, in fact the “diet” he is currently on has gotten him nowhere fast. Given the fact the United States championship is now a main event title and is held simultaneously by WWE World Champion Seth Rollins, will Ryback ever get a sniff of a shot at the company’s lead strap, and second will he face an opponent before the end of the year who is worthy of fan support, regardless if he is heel or not?

The reign by Ryback has the same feel of Dean Ambrose carrying the title around for 351 days without a true opponent. When Daniel Bryan won the Intercontinental Title at WrestleMania (in one of the best ladder matches we have seen in some time), the idea was to showcase the title like it had been before. When Vince J. McMahon owned the WWWF and then the WWF, the title was the stepping stone to the world title or was defended by some of the best talent wrestling had to offer. Even as Vince McMahon bought the company from his father, he continued to showcase the belt with the likes of Randy Savage and Ricky Steamboat, Honkytonk Man and The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin.

As sensibilities changed and the dominance of the world title grew starting with the Attitude Era, the belt has become less and less important to the company and the fans who have become so accustomed to seeing Rollins, Cena, Brock Lesnar et al fighting over either the US Title or the World Title.

You could argue of all the titles in the company right now, which includes the Divas Title and the World Tag Team Titles, the Intercontinental Title is the last on the list of significance. That isn’t Ryback’s fault or even Daniel Bryan’s – that’s just a lack of solid booking and promotion.

The current state of the title is more than upsetting, given the fact the likes of Cesaro, Kevin Owens, Bray Wyatt, Rusev and Dolph Ziggler all could pose a threat to Ryback’s reign, but now have been asked to answer the call. There is a mid-card division that could be very good, centered on the champion, the title and six or seven solid opponents.

But instead, we see Ryback and Big Show every week. Enough is enough.

If WWE is going to give the United States Title the promotion it has been receiving, then the same should be true for the Intercontinental Title. If WWE does not like the direction of Ryback’s character or how the title is being defended, change the game plan or write another program or, if it has to be done, take the strap off the current title holder.

At Night of Champions, the Intercontinental Title should be defended and it should be respected. It will be defended by Ryback and a match will result in him keeping the strap or losing it to his opponent. Whether or not it is respected by WWE, its writers and the fans is another story. One that is being written slowly as the belt loses more and more integrity with each passing day.