Who Is Fitting to Take the IC Championship From Cody Rhodes?

[aboynameddirt]

In recent months we've seen Cody Rhodes do wonders for the Intercontinental Championship. He has taken a championship that was devalued and essentially meant nothing and turned it into something relevant and important again. He has held the title for approximately 5 months and he has defeated some serious competition in defending it. Thus making not only the belt, but also himself important.

But it's almost Cody's time. His time to take that next step. I'm not saying that he's going to be a World Champion next month, but he will certainly be working his way towards the top in the coming months, meaning he will need to drop the IC Title to someone else eventually.

My question to everyone is who can Cody Rhodes drop the IC Championship to that will continue building where he left off? Who can take the belt and continue to keep it relevant? Who can properly help further the prestige of the Intercontinental Championship?

Let me know your thoughts.

 

[Fuel The Fire]

I'm going to try and answer this one for ya.

I'm putting my hat in for Wade Barret. I know he has help the I.C title before but I really dont remeber very much about it. So I know he has been faceing a randy orton but I feel that he hasnt established him as main event. I know who has faced cena, then fell of the face of the earth and cambe back to started this with Orton and I know that has helped him but I think that since he has faced main event people that would improve the I.C title even more and help elevate it.

In order for this to happen he cant face rhodes one and one and he needs to win it in a triple threat.
He can't pin Rhodes for it becuase that would make Rhodes look weak then. So Rhodes lose the title without being pined and that may give him a chance to move up or try to get the IC title back but also helps Barrett more relevant in the picture since Orton is out right now.

 

[ABMorales787]

Mark Henry. No, really. His career is winding down. That's no mystery. He's said it himself. But right now he's among the top stars in the WWE. There's a large gap between the midcard and the main event. Cody is stepping up and Mark is stepping down. If there's any desire to keep Herny's steam rolling, this is the way to go rather than having him feud with top level guys for title shots we know he won't get for a while. He's a far better champion than a challenger.

 

[JWGunslinger]

Mark Henry. No, really. His career is winding down. That's no mystery. He's said it himself. But right now he's among the top stars in the WWE. There's a large gap between the midcard and the main event. Cody is stepping up and Mark is stepping down. If there's any desire to keep Herny's steam rolling, this is the way to go rather than having him feud with top level guys for title shots we know he won't get for a while. He's a far better champion than a challenger.

I like this, I think it would be the best option and a great way to boost Rhodes to the next level but I don't see it happening. Now if Sheamus doesn't go on to win the Rumble or get into any good feud I think that he's in a unique position where he isn't in title contention exactly but he's upper echelon and one of the hottest superstars on SD. He could give Rhodes a great feud while taking his title and pushing him to the world title scene. On top of that Sheamus is a guy who would continue to bring prestige to IC title and it would give him something meaningful to do.

 

[y2grae]

Drew - not yet, they need to build him up (again) to be able to keep any kind of momentum on the title.
Dibiase - would say yes buuuut, having him lose to hunico has completely derailed his momentum after being built up. It annoys me because Dibiase has GREAT inring work and his match with Orton for the title a year or so ago was IMO brilliant. He was outshining cody something chronic and now i look at him with tears in my eyes....

 

[FunKay the Inevitable]

If they persist with the Legend Killer 2.0 thing he's got going on, then Ted DiBiase. DiBiase is the son of a Hall of Famer. He's a 3rd generation superstar. There is no better natural feud for Rhodes to finish up his midcard title reign with than DiBiase. Ted defending the legends of the past that are incapable of defending themselves makes him a great foil for Rhodes. Factor in the fact that these two have history together anyway with Legacy and last year's alliance, and really the feud writes itself. Ted gets the midcard belt and a solid run whilst Cody drops the title and positions himself for his main event run. Seems simple, though I doubt it'll be that way.

 

[The Eighties]

Nobody on the current Smackdown roster. I think it will be either a contender that ends up on the same show as Cody post-draft, or it will be one of the prospects brought up from developmental.

 

[Cats Pajamas]

Mark Henry. No, really. His career is winding down. That's no mystery. He's said it himself. But right now he's among the top stars in the WWE. There's a large gap between the midcard and the main event. Cody is stepping up and Mark is stepping down. If there's any desire to keep Herny's steam rolling, this is the way to go rather than having him feud with top level guys for title shots we know he won't get for a while. He's a far better champion than a challenger.

Yea, this was my initial thought. My only gripe is that both make interesting heels. I don't know if they could pull off an Undisputed thing with these two, but it'd be great to see them square off at Mania for the Intercontinental Title. Have them take it a few months before Henry finally won it. I really wish he could have another title run, but that titles got a lot going for it for a few months with Barrett, Sheamus, Christian, Big Show and the eventual return of Orton.

Summerslam would be a better time for it though. Cody's kicking ass with that belt! A good long title reign would be good for the title and it would give Rhodes another chance to tweak himself ever so slightly to get ready for a higher level feud.

 

[Wolf Pac]

Christian

I know he's won it multiple times before but he isn't going anywhere on SD. Never again will he hold the World Heavyweight Title as far as Vince is concerned yet he's one of the most popular guys with the wrestling fans when he's a babyface but the IWC does also give him praise when he is a heel and he was a good IC champion back in the day, so why not just give it back to him and give him something to do? He can keep the belt relevant.

 

[TempestH]

Ted DiBiase. DiBiase is going to be the one to revitalize the IC title, not Cody. Someone has to take the title off of Cody and use it to rebuild the midcard instead of hanging around the main eventers all the time.

 

[Martin Gabriel]

Considering how similar McIntyre's current storyline is to MVP's in which he went through the same process of having his expenses cut and Teddy threatening to fire him, only to eventually turn face after getting back some wins or something, maybe they'll turn McIntyre face too so when the time comes, Rhodes can drop it to him. I don't see Goldust winning the title, his days as an active wrestler are number. I also don't imagine Mahal staying on the main roster for much longer or turning face.

DiBiase would be the other best choice and I think I'd prefer it, considering I rather McIntyre stay heel. He just needs to be built up more. I wouldn't say feuding earlier in the year would make this stale, especially when it felt cut short so Rhodes could feud with Orton instead.

Whoever he loses it to, it should be in a meaningful feud. It won't hurt Rhodes' push to lose the title cleanly. Look at Dolph Ziggler. He's beaten CM Punk twice since losing the US Championship, but at the same time, Zack Ryder was elevated thanks to their feud and winning the title. THAT'S how a mid-card title should be treated. One person loses it to move onto bigger things, while the guy he drops it to is elevated by the title.

 

[ringjobber1]

Justin Gabriel... i think their slowly setting him up to become champion last weak he came out nd 450 splashed heath slater, which is good giving him more exposure and he's gotten better with his mic skills and his moveset and ring work....self expalanitory i think gabriel would make a great champion

 

[IHW]

THE FUNKASAURUS ! ! !
Well, maybe we should see where he is going first.

I say Christian (unless he gets ONE MORE MATCH)
Maybe Mark Henry.
Possible Sheamus.

Either way, i want the person to e someone who can keep the prestige Cody has brought back.

 

[slice_of_life]

I would love for it to be Dibiase. He has won me over, and I thought he was in the midst of a push. He rifles off a bunch of wins and then loses to Jinder Mahal and Hunico on back-to-back weeks? Classic WWE creative move.

I think RVD takes it from Rhodes in an attempt to further revive the mid-card.

 

[gwarren]

THE FUNKASAURUS ! ! !
Well, maybe we should see where he is going first.

I say Christian (unless he gets ONE MORE MATCH)
Maybe Mark Henry.
Possible Sheamus.

Either way, i want the person to e someone who can keep the prestige Cody has brought back.

I'd say turn Christian face again, then have these 3 and Cody Rhodes in a Fatal 4 Way match at Elimination Chamber. Have Cody beat all 3 of them in 3 consecutive weeks, but at the PPV, Dustin Rhodes can come out and screw Cody, setting up their WM match. Have him defend it in one last match against Booker T at Royal Rumble.

Having these 3 previous main eventers all go for it at once will restore so much prestige, and they could go on to have an epic 3-way match at WM. And Cody can go over Dustin at WM.

 

[#1Dobz92]

I can't really answer that seeing as Rhodes shouldn't be losing the title for a while at the least. I'd even consider giving him the push that finally breaks Honky Tonk Man's record.

 

[LoudClearVoice]

I think it should be either Christian or Sheamus. If they're not going to put Sheamus into the word title picture and they'd rather have him feuding with Hornswoggle and some other nonsense, then at least give him the IC belt.

I would say Barrett, but I believe he's going to be in the world title picture very soon.

 

[AustinHartLesnarHBKTaz80]

damn good question. the talent right now though is really NOT all that great to be honest. but if i were to choose one guy to take the IC belt off of rhodes, it would have to be WADE BARRETT.

he's been in a very good fued with randy orton lately, and it has been doing wonders as far as elevating his status among the other superstars. wade has been putting on great mic work and enjoyable work in the ring.

he could possibly skip the IC belt altogether and go straight for the world strap, but i think that spot will be preoccupied for a while by henry and orton soon. i totally disagree with daniel bryan holding the world title , but thats a different thread altogether. so the IC belt would be great on barrett.

BARRETT and rhodes can have an awesome fued for the IC title , and both should stay heel. i dont see why we cant have HEEL vs HEEL .....that formula still works.

ultimately, barrett will win the fued and the IC title. rhodes will follow ziggler's path and will go on to the world strap.

on another note, R TRUTH turning back to a face will KILL his character. they need him to stay heel vs heel miz.

 

[XXJJ]

Right now their is no smackdown midcarder that should take the IC title off Cody. No doubt Cody is going into WM as the champ and probably walking out as ic champ.

 

[Martin Gabriel]

Cody Rhodes' best feud since winning the title (versus Orton) never even had the championship on the line. He's very good and I think the title seems more important thanks to him holding it, but the reign itself hasn't been particularly impressive in terms of defense quality.

 

[Harddyboy77]

I see Cody dropping it in a fatal 4 way where he is not pinned. If they want him to become a main eventer he cant lose it clean.If he lost it clean it would have to be to a main eventer or very high midcarder like Mark Henry or Christian.Losing it to Goldust,Booker,or Dibiase would be an awful decision.

 

[Arsenal]

Sure he can lose it clean, but it should be to an up and coming face. Bret Hart lost the Intercontinental Title to the British Bulldog, but within about a month after that he won the WWF Title from Ric Flair. The key was that Bulldog was a great wrestler and a worthy adversary to lose it to.

 

[iwinulose]

ted dibiase cause he could use a push i think he could do it, or hell maybe let brodus clay have the title.... i mean starting off with the IC title that has to be something. i dont know why (mainly cause his gimmick is kinda a joke) but he seems fairly over with the crowd. he is new (like he hasn't been around for a while), but this will be his second run with the company. i think rhodes and brodus could have a decent match, put brodus over a bit more and cody could start the main eventing part of his career and work his way into the major title picture. its just a thought but it could work.

 

[TheMainEvent]

My pick for the next IC champ is Justin Gabriel... He's one of the only mid-card faces on the roster that could really benefit from winning IC Title and in doing so it allows Cody to drop it to a face and then Gabriel can go on to feud with McIntyre, Hunico, etc. I really wish they would have gone with the pretty boy Gabriel feuding with deformed Rhodes earlier in the year before Rhodes started to rise up the ranks but regardless I think its time to capitalize on the potential that Gabriel has as a top babyface and a win for the IC title is a good start.

 

[xoxo French Kiss xoxo]

Honestly on Smackdown at this point no one. I do not think that anyone active on the Smackdown Roster could fill Rhodes shoes.

Unless the WWE drops the ball on Barrett or Sheamus, Rhodes is the only person on Smackdown would rightful owner of the IC title. Ted" DiBiase, Jr is a stretch, and a long shot stretch at that to take the title off of him.

Cody could honestly become the IC and WHC at the same time, and I wouldn't have an issue with it.