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The WWE Intercontinental Championship became a part of the WWE in 1979 and holds a historic legacy. From the first winner, Pat Patterson, right up until the latest champion as of this writing, Apollo Crews. Many greats have held the Intercontinental gold.
The Intercontinental Championship has always been considered the secondary championship behind the WWE Championship. It effectively is the main title for the mid-card.
This could ultimately give mid-card superstars the opportunity to show their talent and hold the gold to push them on further in their career. After all, it is the talent that makes the title, not the title that makes the talent.
That being said, let's take a look at the five longest reining WWE Intercontinental Champions of all-time.
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#5. Rob Van Dam has held the WWE Intercontinental Championship six times
The Whole F'N Show has a longstanding legacy when it comes to the Intercontinental Championship. He has held Intercontinental gold six times throughout his tenure with WWE.
His first reign carrying this 'workhorse title' came at the WrestleMania 18 pay-per-view in 2002 where he defeated William Regal in the opening contest. He won the Intercontinental Championship two more times in 2002, defeating Eddie Guerrero in a ladder match and Chris Benoit at SummerSlam.
He held the gold again twice in 2003, defeating Christian and Chris Jericho, respectively. He wouldn't win the title again until three years later, when he faced Shelton Benjamin at the Backlash pay-per-view in 2006. This would also mark Rob Van Dam's final reign as Intercontinental Champion.
Rob Van Dam was recently inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, where he commented on the induction with the Battle Creek Enquirer:
"Being inducted into the Hall of Fame probably means more than being a world champion because there are probably a lot of world champions that will never be in the Hall of Fame. To have Vince McMahon stand up during the induction ceremony and tell me that I changed the style of the business was probably the highest compliment I could imagine." (h/t Bleacher Report)
Whether we see Rob Van Dam back in the WWE ring for one last run remains to be seen. Who knows? He may add a seventh Intercontinental Championship to his accolades before hanging up his boots.
#4. Jeff Jarrett held the WWE Intercontinental Championship six times
Carrying the Intercontinental Championship, Double J had quite the run, especially during WWE's Attitude Era. He has held the WWE Intercontinental Championship on six separate occasions.
The former NWA World Heavyweight Champion won his first Intercontinental Championship at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view in 1995 with The Roadie by his side, defeating Razor Ramon. Jarrett became the 30th superstar to win the Intercontinental Championship.
He won the Intercontinental Championship two more times in 1995, before reclaiming the gold three times in 1999. In 1999, he defeated The Godfather, Edge and D'Lo Brown, respectively.
Jeff Jarrett spoke with SportBible about his reign, and about him never winning the WWE Championship:
"Without question, it wasn't meant to be. You know, early '90s I was on that track of the IC Title and then I went to the other organisation, WCW, I won the US Title and then the next progression was the World Title. So, as far as me and the WWE Title, it just wasn't meant to be. It's not a regret. It's just a set of circumstances. That's how it worked out. I'm very fortunate, very blessed when I look back over my in-ring career." (h/t SportBible)
#3. Dolph Ziggler held the WWE Intercontinental Championship six times
Dolph Ziggler is perhaps the biggest show-off to have held the WWE Intercontinental Championship in the modern era. Capturing the title six times during his WWE tenure, he will no doubt go down as one of the most talented performers in history.
He captured his first Intercontinental Championship in the summer of 2010 defeating Kofi Kingson. He held it officially for 154 days. Ziggler didn't win Intercontinental gold again until 2014, where he held the title on three separate occasions. He defeated The Miz twice and Luke Harper, respectively.
He won the Intercontinental Championship for a fifth time at the No Mercy pay-per-view in 2016 in a title vs. career match, defeating The Miz. It was one of the best matches we saw that year full of drama and emotion. It was also one of the best matches of Ziggler's career.
His final reign as it stands came in 2018, when he defeated Seth Rollins on the June 18th episode of Monday Night RAW.
#2. The Miz has held the WWE Intercontinental Championship eight times
The WWE Intercontinental Championship has been held eight times by The Miz. The Miz will go down as one of WWE's best homegrown products after securing his services following a stint on WWE Tough Enough in 2004. Of course, The Miz was a reality star before joining WWE, and has become one of WWE's most consistent stars of the last two decades.
Miz's first reign carrying the Intercontinental Championship came in 2012 on Monday Night RAW's special RAW 1000. The Miz defeated Christian to win his first Intercontinental title.
Miz has been on a consistent run, winning the Intercontinental Championship frequently in the years since. He's defeated some of the best WWE has to offer along the way, including Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose (now Jon Moxley) and Dolph Ziggler.
His last reign as Intercontinental Champion came in 2018 at RAW's 25th year anniversary event. The Miz defeated Roman Reigns in front of a sold-out crowd in Brooklyn before losing the championship at the WrestleMania 34 pay-per-view to Seth Rollins.
#1. Chris Jericho has held the WWE Intercontinental Championship 9 times
That's right, Jericho is number one, having held the WWE Intercontinental Championship a record-breaking nine times. The Ayatollah of Rock n' Rolla is WWE's most successful Intercontinental Champion of all-time. He will also be remembered as one of WWE's greatest superstars ever.
Now performing on All Elite Wrestling, Jericho's first Intercontinental Championship reign came in 1999 at the Armageddon pay-per-view. He defeated Chyna by submission and became the 60th superstar in history to hold the championship.
During a live interview with Inside the Ropes, Chris Jericho detailed a controversial discussion with Vince McMahon. This was regarding the Intercontinental Championship, during his feud with Fandango:
"I'm a nine-time Intercontinental champion. I could go for my tenth victory. The record-breaking tenth Intercontinental championship. He goes, 'Oh, nobody cares about the f—ing Intercontinental championship.' And I said, 'But they don't care about Fandango either.' And he goes, 'That's your job, is to make them care.' ...So I hung up on him. I hung up on my billionaire boss because I wasn't happy with what he wanted me to do," Chris Jericho said. (h/t Comic Book)
Jericho's current final Intercontinental Championship reign came in 2009 at the Extreme Rules pay-per-view. He defeated Rey Mysterio in a No Holds Barred Match.
Whether anyone will break Jericho's record remains to be seen. As it stands, The Miz is the superstar closest to reaching this record-breaking feat.
