WWE TLC 2012: WWE Intercontinental Championship - Kofi Kingston (c) VS Wade Barrett

[Mitch H. Winnfield]

Kof Retains here, but if anything, a feud for the IC title will give Barrett something meaningful to do. As usual, Kofi is having a solid reign as IC Champ, but since his return, Barrett's Barrage hasn't taken off yet. Personally, I wouldn't mind if Barrett won the title, because he could use the boost right now. But at the same time, I have this "too soon" feeling if Kofi loses.

Should be an entertaining match, and Kofi will probably hold on to the gold for a while.

[Sexcellence of Sexecution]

The need to emphasize the eye "injury" Kofi sustained at the hands of Barrett to build up this feud. If they do, they might actually be able to create some interest in this match at the PPV. The fans seem to like Kofi, and will probably sympathize with him if he really sells the injury, in turn putting heat on Barrett and positioning Kofi as an underdog going into this match. Barrett's work on the mic is also going to be key in putting over Kofi's injury, and making himself seem like a ruthless heel.

If they manage to build enough heat between them in the coming weeks, I say they go for it and make it a ladder match. We've already seen Barrett and Kofi fight in a normal one on one match on RAW anyways, and numerous times before that as well. Most importantly though, the Ladder Match could fit the story, as you would have Barrett using the Ladder as a weapon, attacking Kofi's eye and exploiting the injury. For the finish you could have Kofi make a big comeback and fire up the crowd, but when he reaches the top of the ladder he would have trouble unhooking the belt due to the damage sustained to his eye. This would ultimately cost him as Barrett would recover and be able to tip the Ladder taking Kofi out and allowing Barrett to win.

They have a chance to actually build a story involving two guys fighting over the IC Title, I hope they take advantage of the opportunity.

[Terry Gyimah]

Barrett deserves to be in the World Heavyweight Championship picture, not having to fight for the Intercontinental Championship which in my opinion is beneath Barrett anyways because he has already been Intercontinental Champion before and also since he has made his return, he has made enough of an impact already that he should be fighting for the World Heavyweight Championship

But as for the match itself, I see Kofi retaining somehow

[Mustang Sally]

All the promos in advance of Barrett's return from injury led me to believe he was in line for a monster push.....and that the next time we saw him lose a match would be in a world title match, either challenging for or defending a belt. That idea fell by the wayside quickly enough.

Instead, we still don't know what they're going to do with him. Wade has looked less than terrifying, a quality I thought they had in mind for him after all the "fight club" sequences trumpeting his return. Maybe they still see the main event in his future; he has the look and the ability to carry it. Of all the guys in the original Nexus, they chose him as the leader....and they chose correctly.

Kofi? I figured we were just seeing another in a series of mini-pushes he gets every so often. He's a good soldier and hangs around the mid-card, seemingly waiting for another shot at a push, which inevitably comes.....and then goes as quickly as it arrived. I don't know what WWE sees in his future, but I would guess it's more of the same. I can't see him ever winning the world title; his presence just isn't commanding enough to warrant it.

I'll pick Wade to win the belt, if for no other reason than a title is expected to change hands at a pay-per-view, no? If Punk and Big Show are expected to retain, somebody's gotta lose his title.

[Mighty NorCal]

This is going to be a right proper fucking, regardless of who wins. Either kofi has yet ANOTHER short lived push and utterly meaningless IC title reign, or Barretts return momentum is totally murdered. Knowing how they seem to feel about both guys, ill say barret takes this. Hopefully to go on to a meaningful title reign, putting both himself and the title over.

[Y 2 Jake]

Kofi Kingston with the IC title is the new Chris Jericho with the IC title. He hold it, he does nothing with it. Kofi is WWE's default campion and it shows.

The winner is irrelevant, Barrett did nothing with his previous IC reign as well. Whoever wins, nobody will remember. I really wish WWE would just invest properly in Barrett or drop him. If he wins he could do worse than forming an alliance with Antonio Cesaro. Something about European domination, bollocks like that.

[Rainbow Yaz]

I think Kofi can still establish himself as a legit main event guy. He has been improving his mic skills, and while he will never be a John Cena or CM Punk on the stick he is getting to a point where his skills are acceptable.

Barret is a guy who I used to think was a future star but each time I see him come back with a new theme or new finisher I think that less and less.

Because of that I'm not sure who will win. My heart says Kofi, but I think they may take the belt off him and allow him to build some momentum going into the RR, then give him a good showing there, continuing his push up the ladder.

On the other hand I think if they want to push Barret into the main event scene then he needs to feud with a certified main eventer, and holding the IC title won't really allow that.

[El Rev sXe]

I'm not sure how this match is going to be, I mean they did have this match before and well... I don't remember shit about it. I'm not expecting to be a great match, for me is just a filler. Don't get me wrong, is really good to see the IC defended in every PPV, but as far the quality of this match, well I don't have high hopes...

Who's going to walk out with the title? I think it's too soon for Kofi for him to drop it, plus he is doing a good job being the champ. On the other hand, while Barrett hasn't had an amazing run since his return, I still do think that he is a top talent in the E and for him to win the IC championship, a midcard title, is a step back for him.

However like Norcal said:

This is going to be a right proper fucking, regardless of who wins. Either kofi has yet ANOTHER short lived push and utterly meaningless IC title reign, or Barretts return momentum is totally murdered.

Anyway, Kofi retains.

[Dagger Dias]

I honestly wish I could be more interested in this match, but I'm just not. I'm a big fan of both guys. To me this reign has been no different than Kofi's other midcard title reigns. I'm glad that he's Intercontinental Champion although I really wish that he could get a chance to do something different this time around to help him get past where he is at. He seems stuck at midcard status and is capable of being further up the card.

Barrett is better than this too. He led two factions and has challenged for the WWE Championship before, so when he returned with this fighting gimmick to restart the Barrett Barrage I thought he would be climbing further up the card, especially after that feud he had with Orton. The match itself should be decent and might open the show. It will likely go on early in the evening if it is not first.

The best option would be for Kofi to retain but with Barrett still looking very strong in the process. That way Kofi gets a chance to eventually (hopefully anyway) do something different with his title reign and Barrett can move on to better things. The feud will probably end here regardless of who wins.

DAGGER'S PREDICTION
Kofi Kingston will retain the Intercontinental Championship.