Predicting the next 5 Intercontinental Champions

The Intercontinental Championship has had a rich and glorious history. Commissioned in the year 1979 after Patt Patterson unified the WWF North American and South American Heavyweight Championships, the IC title has been held by some of the greatest of all time. Superstars like Curt Henning, Rick Rude, Bret Hart, Owen Hart, and Chris Jericho have held the prestigious title.

It is the second oldest active Championship in the WWE, with over 80 Superstars holding the championship. The IC title is also called the 'workhorse title' and has been proudly worn by some of the biggest workhorses of the company, from Bret Hart to the current champion Seth Rollins.

During the mid 2000s to late early 2010s, WWE came under severe criticism for not utilizing the IC title properly as it was sparsely defended and didn't have a noteworthy champion during that period, but the past few years have seen a revival in the fortunes of the Champion.

The Miz has been one of the best Intercontinental Champions in recent memory and has been the driving force behind the resurgence of the Intercontinental Championship. He has had classic IC title matches against the likes of Dolph Ziggler, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose.

The IC Title has become one of the premier titles in the company and is the top singles titles, given how frequently one sees the Universal Championship on Monday Night.

Here are 5 Superstars who we think would be the next Intercontinental Champion:

# 5 Dean Ambrose

Ambrose's heel turn has been quite underwhelming

Ever since returning from a long layoff from an injury in August, the Lunatic Fringe has been through a lot. After reuniting with the Shield after SummerSlam, Ambrose would win the RAW Tag Team Championship with Seth Rollins and then, it happened.

Ambrose snapped on Rollins and laid out the Kingslayer, turning heel for the first time since his days in the Shield. While Ambrose's heel turn hasn't gone the way many had excepted, many are pegging him dethrone Rollins as the next Intercontinental Champion.

A lot of this had to with the recent reports indicating that Rollins is being considered for a match against Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 35, which indicates that he is dropping the title before Mania.

Rollins has been one of the MVPs for the WWE in 2018, carrying the IC title for the better part of the year. Rollins has had an excellent series of matches against Dolph Ziggler and The Miz and has been a part of some of the best Intercontinental Championship matches in recent memory, even being in the main-event of Extreme Rules back in July.

Rollins has cemented his position as one of the greatest Intercontinental Champions of all time but now it's time for him drop the title and move on to bigger and better things.

Although the build-up to Rollins-Ambrose Intercontinental Championship match at TLC hasn't lived up to expectations, we expect them to have a great match. Ambrose winning the title will be a great segue for Rollins to enter the Royal Rumble and go on to challenge Lesnar for the Universal Championship at WrestleMania 35.

# 4 Bobby Lashley

Lashley's current run in the company has been a trainwreck

Bobby Lashley returned to the WWE after a decade away on the RAW after WrestleMania 34 to a lukewarm response from the fans, and sadly the former ECW Champion hasn't been able to get a strong footing on the red brand. Apart from his short-lived feud against Roman Reigns, Lashley hasn't done anything substantial or had a long-term feud ever since returning to the company.

Even his heel turn has fallen flat as Lashley has booked in meaningless TV matches, most of which he has ended up losing. When you remember his unbearable feud against Sami Zayn, you'll exactly know why the Dominator has failed to click with the WWE Universe.

Many thought that a heel turn would eventually get the former Impact World Champion on track, but that hasn't been the case so far. Although his pairing with Lio Rush and the duo's chemistry on screen has received praise from all quarters, Lashley's character hasn't been enticing enough to get the fans excited.

WWE has a lot of work to do when it comes to Lashley and his character. Lashley is a great athlete but the company hasn't utilized him properly. One just needs to look at his work in Impact to gauge how great of a performer Lashley is.

But with that being said, we believe winning the IC title could be the first step in the resurrection of his character and would pave the way to the main event for the former Collegiate Wrestler.

# 3 Elias

Elias has been one of the biggest success stories of 2018

One superstar whose stock has been rising ever since he debuted on the main roster is Elias. Elias has consistently been one of the most entertaining superstars on the red brand and has only gotten better with time.

Although the Songbird isn't a great in-ring technician, he more than makes up for it through his entertaining segments. Elias recently turned babyface in wake of Roman Reign's leukemia announcement, and the Drifter hasn't disappointed so far.

It is being reported that Elias was initially penciled in to win the Intercontinental Championship from Seth Rollins whilst still being a heel due to interference by Dean Ambrose. While this would've been wonderful, we believe a future IC Title run is in the future for Elias.

The Songbird just needs to tune up his in-ring skills, as he seems to be a bit rusty in the ring. Elias has a charming personality and is one of the few superstars today who can evoke a loud response from the crowd on a weekly basis.

Elias winning the IC title will solidify his position as an upper-mid-carder, a position we think is best suited for the Drifter. This will also open the door for a myriad of fresh matches for Elias on the red brand.

He deserves the IC title after the tremendous run that he has in 2018. He has been able to get over with the crowd with personality and charisma, a trait which is becoming quite rare in today's WWE.

# 2 John Cena

The Cenation Leader has never won the Intercontinental Championship

One championship that has alluded the Cenation Leader in his nearly two-decade career in the WWE is the Intercontinental Championship. John Cena is a record-tying 16-time world champion, he has won the United States and Tag Team Championships on multiple occasion, he is a two-time Royal Rumble winner, and has main-evented multiple editions of WrestleMania.

But, Mr. Hustle, Loyalty and Respect has never won the IC title. In fact, Cena has never challenged for the said championship. But, all of that could change in 2019.

Cena is making his return to the squared circle later this month where he is advertised for a couple of live events. With Royal Rumble just a month away, Cena is expected to return to TV later this month or in early January, during the build-up to Royal Rumble. Given how busy he has gotten with his Hollywood career, this could well turn to be Cena's last run in the company.

If that is indeed the case, the company should book Cena in an IC title match, as he is the very definition of a workhorse. While Cena has always been criticized for his in-ring skills, one can't help but praise his loyalty to the WWE. Even while being away for the ring, Cena is actively promoting the WWE brand, doing media assignments and attending talk shows whenever the company asks him.

Cena has been WWE's biggest workhorse in the last one and a half decades, and it's about time that the company finally puts the IC title on Cena. Cena has had many nicknames over the course of his WWE career, but we bet that even the Leader of Cenation would like to add ' Grand Slam Cena' to that list.

# 1 Finn Balor

Balor is one of the popular acts on the red brand

Finn Balor has not had the best of times ever since he returned from an injury in April last year. The Demon King has been one of the most consistent performers on the red brand but sadly that hasn't translated into championship glory.

Balor came within inches of winning the IC title at WrestleMania 34 but was unsuccessful. He would then go on challenge Rollins for the title, but the title has alluded him so far. On top of that, Balor has been put in some meaningless feuds against the likes of Baron Corbin, Bobby Lashley, and Bray Wyatt, which have done absolutely nothing for either of the parties involved.

The first-ever Universal Champion has been a victim of the company's lazy and repetitive booking, resulting in the Irishman not having an opportunity to truly shine in the past few months.

Balor remains one of the most charismatic and gifted superstars in the WWE and it seems to be a matter of time before he gets his hands on the Intercontinental Championship. He is in a need desperate need of a career resurgence, which can start by him winning the IC title.

Balor has been one of the company's biggest workhorses in the recent months and is still one of the most popular superstars on the main roster. Balor winning the IC title will end a two-year championship-drought for the Irishman.

Winning the IC title will not only solidify Balor's position as a top star on the red brand, it will also pave the way for him to eventually challenge for the Universal Championship, a title that he never lost.