9 WWE Superstars who defined the Intercontinental Championship in each era

#4 Ruthless Aggression Era (2002-2008) - Shelton Benjamin and Jeff Hardy

The flag bearers of the mid-card in the Ruthless Aggression era

"What is the one quality that you possess that makes you think that you can walk out here and come to the ring and face the very best in the business?"

"Ruthless Aggression!"

These famous words marked the start of an era that many of us grew up watching. With Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock leaving WWE in the initial stages of this era, a lot of new Superstars received an opportunity to prove their worth in the ring. Stars like Randy Orton, John Cena, Batista, Rob Van Dam, and Eddie Guerrero used this opportunity to rise to fame. The draft was introduced, which led to the revival of both the Intercontinental Championship and the United States Championship in 2003. While many Superstars, most notably Chris Jericho, Christian, and Rob Van Dam did their bit to make the title prestigious, it was the reigns of Jeff Hardy and Shelton Benjamin that brought the title into the limelight.

Both held the title for more than 300 days each, adding to the prestige of the title. Benjamin got his first title victory when he was selected by the fans to face the then-Intercontinental Champion Chris Jericho at 2004's Taboo Tuesday event. His rivalries with Carlito, Rob Van Dam, Ric Flair, and Johnny Nitro were essential in making the title picture must-see.

Hardy's reigns saw him competing against Umaga, Triple H, Randy Orton, and Chris Jericho. Given the talent involved, one can be sure that these rivalries were crucial in elevating the title in this era. With Hardy reportedly getting a big push on SmackDown, is there any chance that he wins the IC title again?