**MERGED** Classic Intercontinental Championship Returns
- Thread starter mikde_
- Start date
DeathClutch
HaRDcOrE ChAMpiOn
Yes, the new IC belt is the same mold/base design as the old school, but where as the the old school had very little design on the main plate, this one seemed to have loads of stars (or so it looked), either way I'm glad the redebuted the belt, and also the leather looked creamy to me as apposed to the white IC belt Shawn held in the 90s.
Bla Bla0155
Dark Match Jobber
it looks exeptional apart from one thing - the white strap. it makes it look like it doesnt fit in with the rest of the belts. all they need to do is change it from white to black and it will be by far my favourite title design in the WWE
Cody Rhodes would definitely hold the IC title for a long time. Unlikely it may seem, but recently there are a lot of superstars being fed to Cody Rhodes. Ezekiel Jackson. Ted DiBiase. Sheamus. John Morrison. And all the rest that are involved in the over the top rope battle royal.
This is the very title that his brother Goldust held in the 96. It feels nostalgic.
This is the very title that his brother Goldust held in the 96. It feels nostalgic.
Some pictures of Cody with belt. You know, so y'all don't have to go picture-fishing on WWE.com. Nightmare.
INT. CODY RHODES' LOCKER ROOM
CODY is sat in a chair and fiddling with his Blackberry - presumably texting hot bitches. Suddenly, someone raps on the door; loud, booming, rapid, urgent. Before Cody can even respond, the door bursts open. VINCE MCMAHON bursts in, wearing only a bright pink jacket. His face is red and he's clearly agitated. 'Big Earl' swings lazily in front of Cody's face.
VINCE: Cody! CODY!
Cody stands up from his chair, presumably not enjoying having Big Earl dangling directly in front of his face.
CODY: Vince, what is it? You need me to take a title off another black man?
VINCE: What? No! And I told you already; I thought Zeke just had a deep tan, otherwise I would have never let him near that title to begin with.
CODY: For sure. For sure. Well, uh, what is it then?
VINCE (massaging Big Earl): I was just looking at the script for tonight. You know what my son-in-law's gone and done?
CODY: No, what?
VINCE (fondling his nipples): Something I wouldn't have done, the piece of shit. It's going to tank, Cody, and tank hard. We need-- we need--
CODY: To live off the past.
VINCE (fondling Cody's nipples): To live off the past! Exactly. I knew you'd understand, Cody.
CODY: My dad's polka dot costume is two states away, Vince. Besides, I'm not sure how I'd fit into it.
VINCE: Don't worry - I have just the thing. I had three hundred grand to burn the other day and, uh, well--
Vince snaps his fingers. A gimp, clad head to toe in leather, shuffles into the room, holding a brand new intercontinental title. It's bright white; resplendent, gorgeous. He hands it to Vince before shuffling back out of the room.
CODY: Genius. Good thing you thought of this. The WWE is at its weakest point yet. Living off old ideas like this - that's what'll save us.
VINCE (erect): I know, right?
Cody and Vince stare longingly at each other. Vince begins to lean in. Fade to black.
Alternatively, you could think of this as just something neat that feeds into Cody's character. His whole obsession with the appearance of things, you know? It's just a sexy belt. Cody's a great wrestler. This is all pretty cool. No need to read too much into it.
INT. CODY RHODES' LOCKER ROOM
CODY is sat in a chair and fiddling with his Blackberry - presumably texting hot bitches. Suddenly, someone raps on the door; loud, booming, rapid, urgent. Before Cody can even respond, the door bursts open. VINCE MCMAHON bursts in, wearing only a bright pink jacket. His face is red and he's clearly agitated. 'Big Earl' swings lazily in front of Cody's face.
VINCE: Cody! CODY!
Cody stands up from his chair, presumably not enjoying having Big Earl dangling directly in front of his face.
CODY: Vince, what is it? You need me to take a title off another black man?
VINCE: What? No! And I told you already; I thought Zeke just had a deep tan, otherwise I would have never let him near that title to begin with.
CODY: For sure. For sure. Well, uh, what is it then?
VINCE (massaging Big Earl): I was just looking at the script for tonight. You know what my son-in-law's gone and done?
CODY: No, what?
VINCE (fondling his nipples): Something I wouldn't have done, the piece of shit. It's going to tank, Cody, and tank hard. We need-- we need--
CODY: To live off the past.
VINCE (fondling Cody's nipples): To live off the past! Exactly. I knew you'd understand, Cody.
CODY: My dad's polka dot costume is two states away, Vince. Besides, I'm not sure how I'd fit into it.
VINCE: Don't worry - I have just the thing. I had three hundred grand to burn the other day and, uh, well--
Vince snaps his fingers. A gimp, clad head to toe in leather, shuffles into the room, holding a brand new intercontinental title. It's bright white; resplendent, gorgeous. He hands it to Vince before shuffling back out of the room.
CODY: Genius. Good thing you thought of this. The WWE is at its weakest point yet. Living off old ideas like this - that's what'll save us.
VINCE (erect): I know, right?
Cody and Vince stare longingly at each other. Vince begins to lean in. Fade to black.
Alternatively, you could think of this as just something neat that feeds into Cody's character. His whole obsession with the appearance of things, you know? It's just a sexy belt. Cody's a great wrestler. This is all pretty cool. No need to read too much into it.
The old IC title was in all sorts of colors, while the others stayed on black. There's a very good article on it here http://www.wrestling101.com/home/2011/02/wwe-intercontinental-title-belts-a-guide-to-the-gold/ The one they do miss out though, is Ultimate Warriors purple belt.A little off topic, but these new tag team belts look a bit like the belts of OLD For example, the "BIG GREEN" :
See the similarity, or is it just me?
This was the world title in WWF that was held by Iron Sheik, and then Hulk Hogan back in 1984. It was made of trophy shop metal, cheap, thin, and flimsy.
See the similarity, or is it just me?
This was the world title in WWF that was held by Iron Sheik, and then Hulk Hogan back in 1984. It was made of trophy shop metal, cheap, thin, and flimsy.
Iwantwrestlingback!
Dark Match Winner
I think this is a very great idea to help make the IC title something again. I also think they should have Del Rio (or someone they will have keep the belt more then a few weeks) take the WWE belt and make it go back to the original as well or just make it look better I haven't ever been a fan of the spinner. But anyways I think having Cody Rhodes be the guy that changes it back to the original was perfect because it goes perfect with his character and I don't think anyone could have done his promo better. IMO
Cody Rhodes is my pick for "Most Improved in 2011". Or perhaps he was this good all along, but he finally he gets a proper chance to show it.
His current gimmick fits him so naturally, it's fantastic. He's perfect in the mic, and very good on the ring. Bringing back the old belt was a neat move to add more hype for that title, something it desperately needs.
His current gimmick fits him so naturally, it's fantastic. He's perfect in the mic, and very good on the ring. Bringing back the old belt was a neat move to add more hype for that title, something it desperately needs.
Jessie Lynn DivaGirl
Future Mrs. Gabriel ;)
Brilliant! This is a nice step forward for WWE and it's turing into an awesome push for Cody. I think the fact alone that he was able to keep his status heel with the fans but cutting a good promo is proof enough how good he's gotten on the mic skills.
Bet you guys anything someone quotes this and says "he was already good, he just never got air time".
Bet you guys anything someone quotes this and says "he was already good, he just never got air time".
This is a small change, but one that could reap of huge benefits. The vintage IC title is absolutely gorgeous and a very prestigious looking championship. People will make a big deal out of this just because of how nice the belt looks. The IC title Cody had before looked fine, but this change really fits into Cody's character. Cody is obsessed with image and this falls into that. However I look at this as more of Cody being a throwback. When I see Cody wrestle he does so in an old school style and mixes in the new school flair. His promos to me feel very vintage. And he is a character and the best one going in the WWE. What the vintage IC title represents is a stepping stone. That version of the title usually meant you were next to carry the lineage of the WWE championship. The newer version didn't really have that feel as it got passed around more so than the vintage one. And if you weren't next in line it usually meant you were one of the best workers in the industry at the time. When you look at the guys who have held the IC title it falls into place. Cody, like the past champions is one of the best workers currently in the company and this small change could lead to huge things for one Cody Rhodes.
The reverting back to the classic Intercontinental title belt is clearly a step forward. I totally disagree with the notion that the WWE is at it's weakest point and as such needs to reach back into the past.
The Intercontinental title used to mean something. It was typically held by someone as a catapult into the main event, as we've seen on many occasions, some of which were given by Rhodes himself last night. It wasn't seen as a meaningless lower tier title which was hot potatoed around the roster like a meaningless prop.
Reverting back to this title is not reaching into the past out of desperation. It is elevating the stature of the title back to where it should be, and it is a vote of confidence for Cody Rhodes to be the first one to hold it, which he hopefully does for an extended run. Too often in recent times, someone is given the IC title on a whim, because they didn't know what else to do with a particular superstar. It was treated like a contingency prize; we don't think enough of you to give you areal title run so here, have this instead. How many PPV's have there been in which the damn thing wasn't even defended?
Hopefully this is the start of the belt having some value and meaning again. Guys holding it will be taken a little more seriously. Guys not holding it may aspire to do so. And guys who had a main event run which is less than stellar (I'm looking at you ADR) can go back into the IC scene without it looking so much like a demotion.
Plus, the damn thing just looks good.
The Intercontinental title used to mean something. It was typically held by someone as a catapult into the main event, as we've seen on many occasions, some of which were given by Rhodes himself last night. It wasn't seen as a meaningless lower tier title which was hot potatoed around the roster like a meaningless prop.
Reverting back to this title is not reaching into the past out of desperation. It is elevating the stature of the title back to where it should be, and it is a vote of confidence for Cody Rhodes to be the first one to hold it, which he hopefully does for an extended run. Too often in recent times, someone is given the IC title on a whim, because they didn't know what else to do with a particular superstar. It was treated like a contingency prize; we don't think enough of you to give you areal title run so here, have this instead. How many PPV's have there been in which the damn thing wasn't even defended?
Hopefully this is the start of the belt having some value and meaning again. Guys holding it will be taken a little more seriously. Guys not holding it may aspire to do so. And guys who had a main event run which is less than stellar (I'm looking at you ADR) can go back into the IC scene without it looking so much like a demotion.
Plus, the damn thing just looks good.
BigPoppaPunk
BPP is your hookup, now GTS!
I have to agree here. Cody being the one to bring back the classic IC Championship fits his character perfectly, plus it adds more prestige to the belt. Him bringing it back and paying tribute to the guys who made the title was a nice reference. I gotta admit that I wasn't initially a fan of Cody's, but recently he is starting to win me over. While I still don't like his disfigured gimmick and think he can stand to improve on the mic, he is making the IC Title relevant once again. Something that hasn't really been done since Orton was champ for a year. And he's one uping Orton by bringing back an older belt. It's great to see finally that WWE is making that belt a priority once again.
I wanna see the WWE do like in the old days, use the IC belt as a stepping stone to the WWE Title. Using it to establish new stars and testing them in the mid card before advancing them to the main event. Hopefully, if the title means something again, then they will bring back the idea of winning the IC title putting you in contendership for the WWE or WHC titles. A concept that is usually lost and too often the title doesn't mean anything at all. Maybe with all the current focus on it, that title will be as relevant as the main titles.
All we need now is for WWE to bring back an older WWE Title to replace that fugly spinner belt. Maybe either the eagle belt or the old undisputed title that was made after the WWE and WCW titles were unified...
Poop Master Flex
Mid-Card Championship Winner
I loved this decision to bring back that particular IC Title belt.
I'm hoping its the WWE symbolically saying that they are gonna try and revitalize the IC division and bring back some prestige and meaning back to the title which I'm sure is the plan after Cody's promo last night.
Ironically it seemed after the belt style changed was around the time the IC title became meaningless (not immediately but after HHH won it and relinquished it in '98 that was about the time it became nothing, so about 4-6 months after the belt change) and I think this is WWE saying "hey, we are recognizing this title has become meaningless so we are gonna attempt to make something of it again like we are doing with the tag titles".
All in all great decision, I love that they are trying to bring meaning and prestige back to the titles that were once the most prized possessions a wrestler could get. The IC title used to mean as much as the World Title, lets hope it can reach that level again (and bring some prestige back to the WWE title while you are at it).
I'm hoping its the WWE symbolically saying that they are gonna try and revitalize the IC division and bring back some prestige and meaning back to the title which I'm sure is the plan after Cody's promo last night.
Ironically it seemed after the belt style changed was around the time the IC title became meaningless (not immediately but after HHH won it and relinquished it in '98 that was about the time it became nothing, so about 4-6 months after the belt change) and I think this is WWE saying "hey, we are recognizing this title has become meaningless so we are gonna attempt to make something of it again like we are doing with the tag titles".
All in all great decision, I love that they are trying to bring meaning and prestige back to the titles that were once the most prized possessions a wrestler could get. The IC title used to mean as much as the World Title, lets hope it can reach that level again (and bring some prestige back to the WWE title while you are at it).
Jack-Hammer
YOU WILL RESPECT MY AUTHORITAH!!!!
I thought it was a great promo in general and, quite frankly, I marked out when Cody Rhodes brought out the classic IC title out of the velvet bag. I even did a little hop in my chair. Just from a purely cosmetic standpoint, I always prefered the look of the classic design to the one WWE has been using for years now.
From a storyline perspective, I think it adds some tangible creedence, something we can actually physically see as far as Cody Rhodes "restoring" prestige to the IC title. After all, as he mentioned in his promo, some of the greatest to ever lace up a pair of boots held not only the IC title but the classic design that he pulled out last night. Rhodes, in my opinion, had been doing a solid job as champ and something as simple as bringing back that title last night has caused his stock to go up.
From a storyline perspective, I think it adds some tangible creedence, something we can actually physically see as far as Cody Rhodes "restoring" prestige to the IC title. After all, as he mentioned in his promo, some of the greatest to ever lace up a pair of boots held not only the IC title but the classic design that he pulled out last night. Rhodes, in my opinion, had been doing a solid job as champ and something as simple as bringing back that title last night has caused his stock to go up.
I'm sorry, but I can only see positive things coming from the re-debut. It's a classic look for the belt that has all of us talking, and a lot of us reminiscing. I can only foresee Cody going on to a lengthy/record breaking run as IC champ from here, ie- Honky Tonk Man. Which will be a very good thing. Most of us have been complaining for the better part of the last decade about the lengths of title runs and the credibility of the mid card titles. I think [hope] this will finally bring an end to this. In the 80s and early 90s the IC champs were arguably the coolest champs because they had the best matches. Cody is definitely on his way to bringing that back. I just hope we'll have something like that come for Ziggler and the U.S. title as well.
The classic design of the Intercontinental Championship returning was a great moment for us older fans. It will also help Rhodes out to be the one who brought it back because just like he said, some of the greatest of all time held that same belt. I can see a lot of positives coming out of this for both Rhodes and the belt. They are trying to rebuild its prestige while adding to his push at the same time. I think it is a great idea and cannot wait to see what happens next.
berlinbrawler
Lovable Curmudgeon
I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE THIS!
This is better than I'd hoped for. I had hoped for a completely new design because the current one looked so cheap and classless. But going back to that classic look is SO much better!
The mission of breathing life back into the Intercontinental title begins with this. This is one hell of a milestone.
And Cody Rhodes might be the perfect guy to carry the title to greatness. They should make him chase Honky Tonk Man's record. He could break it or come at least very, very close. Maybe get one day short (and then totally freak out because of that).
This is great. It feels like the Intercontinental title has awakened after a very long coma.
This is better than I'd hoped for. I had hoped for a completely new design because the current one looked so cheap and classless. But going back to that classic look is SO much better!
The mission of breathing life back into the Intercontinental title begins with this. This is one hell of a milestone.
And Cody Rhodes might be the perfect guy to carry the title to greatness. They should make him chase Honky Tonk Man's record. He could break it or come at least very, very close. Maybe get one day short (and then totally freak out because of that).
This is great. It feels like the Intercontinental title has awakened after a very long coma.
You can tell that Rhodes knows the history of the IC Title and really wanted to restore it back to it's former glory. WWE did the right thing by making Rhodes the IC Champ and bringing back this belt. Maybe they'll take notice of all the positive feedback on bringing back the old IC belt and change the WWE title back to the old WWF belt. That would be classic and alot better than that spinner belt.
Good Golly It's Ollie
Magical Girl
First, I love it. It's classic and it really makes the belt look prestigious again. The white strap is unusual as well - it stands out among all the black straps in the current Fed; this can only be a good thing. Say what you like - Rhodes is right in this respect. Appearances do matter when it comes to such things.
Second, I love that they changed the one belt that least needed a change as opposed to the WWE title that nearly everybody hates. One almost gets the feeling they're deliberating the irony of it all. Haha, WWE ... one thing's for sure, as least the spinner belt doesn't look like the Hardcore Championship - that ugly, rancid undercard piece of crap.
Second, I love that they changed the one belt that least needed a change as opposed to the WWE title that nearly everybody hates. One almost gets the feeling they're deliberating the irony of it all. Haha, WWE ... one thing's for sure, as least the spinner belt doesn't look like the Hardcore Championship - that ugly, rancid undercard piece of crap.
