The 411 Wrestling Top 5 5.06.09: Week 21 – Top Intercontinental Title Matches

Posted by Michael Bauer on 05.06.2009

From Steamboat vs. Savage at WM III and Warrior vs. The Honky Tonk Man at Summerslam 1998 to Bret Hart vs. British Bulldog at Summerslam 1992 and even Randy Orton vs. Mick Foley at Backlash 2004, the 411 staff ranks their top Intercontinental Title Matches in the latest edition of the 411 Wrestling Top 5! Check out the full article for all the details and make sure to share your top IC Title Matches!

Hello everyone and welcome to 411 Wrestling's Top 5 List. What we are going to is take a topic each week and all the writers here on 411 wrestling will have the ability to give us their Top 5 on said topic, plus up to three honorable mentions. At the end, based on where all these matches rank on people's list, we will create the 411 Wrestling Top 5 list. The scoring is very similiar to the Wrestler of the Week as it looks like this:

#1 Choice – 5 points
#2 Choice – 4 points
#3 choice – 3 points
#4 Choice – 2 points
#5 Choice – 1 point
Honorable Mentions will break ties, but get no points.

Also, in the case of a tie, the most votes win, regardless of where it is listed in the individual Top 5. I will also use this rule in the event that one item is mentioned more often, but is one point behind. For example, one second place vote and two Honorable Mentions will defeat simply one first place vote.


So, on to this week's topic…

THE TOP 5 INTERCONTENTIAL TITLE MATCHES

We start our month long look at the greatest matches by starting with the Intercontential Title and the greatest matches that have ever been fought for the belt. The history of the title dates back to 1979, when Pat Patterson defeated Ted DiBiase for the newly-created WWE North American Championship. He then unified his title with the South American Championship, thus becoming the first-ever Intercontinental Champion. Since then, up to Rey Mysterio, 63 different wrestlers have laid claim to being Intercontential Champion, inclduing 31 former World Champions** (either WWWF/WWF/WWE, ECW, WCW, TNA, World, or NWA), with Chris Jericho leading the pack with eight title reigns. The longest reign is held by the Honky Tonk Man, who ironicly ended his 454 day reign end with the shortest Intercontential Title match, as the Ultimate Warrior beat him in 32 seconds. And throughout the years, there have been a number of amazing title defenses, including some matches that rank up there as the greatest of all time, let alone the greatest for just this title.


So what did our great group of writers select? Let's find out…



Ryan Byers

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Ultimate Warrior vs. The Honky Tonk Man (Summerslam 1988) - Purists will hate a thirty second match being anywhere near this list, but the fact of the matter is that wrestling is just as much spectacle as it is sport, and this deserves recognition as being one of history's best-remembered IC Title matches, even if it is not necessarily one of the most technically sound.

Shawn Michaels vs. Marty Jannetty (Monday Night Raw, May 1993) - In many ways this is the workrate fan's version of the Warrior/HTM match described above, with a challenger coming out of nowhere to to stun a cocky heel champion. Both made for rather memorable television, and this match in particular helped to give Monday Night Raw the "anything can happen" feel that Vince McMahon so desperately wanted it to have.

Val Venis vs. Rikishi (Fully Loaded 2000) - I do not think that this was a GREAT match in the conventional sense of the word, but I do think that these two men deserve recognition, because they both worked their asses off like no other in order to establish this feud as something meaningful. Their pay per view steel cage match, including 'Kish's big splash off of the structure enclosing the ring, was no exception. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, the harder the two men worked, the less fans seemed to care about them.

5.Randy Orton vs. Mick Foley (Backlash 2000) - I had to go back and forth on whether I would include this match on my list at all. Why? Because, even though it was a great match in which the championship was on the line and even though it is well-remembered by fans, the championship largely got lost in the shuffle. However, at the end of the day, I decided to give it the number five spot, because it had all of other elements which make championship matches great: There was a well-worked storyline headed in to it, the action in the ring absolutely delivered, the right man won, and the match ended in such a way that both the winner and the loser were more over after the match than they were before. If you want to point to a match that made Randy Orton more than any other, this has to be it . . . and, perhaps for that reason alone, the bout deserves some significant recognition.

4.Tito Santana vs. Greg Valentine (WWF, 7/6/1985) - Throughout the 1980's, wrestling fans who grew up on styles other than that of the WWF turned their noses up at most of the Vince's product because it gave off more of a cartoonish vibe as opposed to having a legitimate sports presentation. Even before Hulk Hogan hit his stride, Bruno Sammartino was on the top of the company's cards and working a style of match which was not a huge departure from the Hulkster's typical main event. However, if you caught the right WWF card on the right day, you would be able to see a match which grew out of a serious storyline and rivaled anything from the various NWA affiliates or the AWA in terms of bell-to-bell action. Such was the case with the entire feud between Tito Santana and Greg "The Hammer" Valentine over the Intercontinental Championship. When it came time to put the rivalry to bed, the two men met in a steel cage match in Baltimore that was light years ahead of its time in terms of the in-ring product that the WWF was producing. Many spots from that bout have been lifted for modern-day cage matches, and, perhaps just as importantly importantly, sore loser Valentine's destruction of the IC Title belt after the match was the storyline explanation for the new belt design that most fans associate with the 1980's and pre-Attitude 1990's.

3.Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels (Wrestlemania X) - Yes, just when you got sick of hearing about it in the 5,000 "History of Wrestlemania" columns that dominated this site a month and a half ago, the Michaels/Ramon ladder match is BACK. All kidding aside, though, this match deserves every bit of praise that it has ever gotten. As with Orton/Foley, some other aspects of the match have eclipsed its championship implications in terms of importance. However, once again, the match exemplified everything that a title contest should be, even if history will remember it more as the birth of a new standard gimmick match than as the night that Razor Ramon became the undisputed Intercontinental Champion.

2.Bret Hart vs. Mr. Perfect (Summerslam 1991) - When I first saw this match, I was not "smart" in the slightest, so I did not know any of its real life implications. However, it still absolutely blew me out of the water. The two ring technicians put on a clinic which was enjoyed by fans of all ages. With Hart's Sharpshooter and Hennig's Perfectplex being two of the most protected finishers of the era (in which finishers as a whole were protected more than they are now), it was almost beyond my markish comprehension when both holds failed to finish the bout the first time that they were applied. On top of that, every non-finisher nearfall in the last half of the match all felt as though they could result in the bout coming to an end. When you have a crowd buying in to every nearfall for that long of a period of time, you know you have an epic match on your hands. Then, when I later learned that Perfect was wrestling the entire match in agonizing back pain thanks to the injury that would keep him on the shelf for the next seven years, I gained a whole new level of respect for both men's efforts.

1.Ricky Steamboat vs. Randy Savage (Wrestlemania III) - Was there really much doubt? In many ways, this is the match that made the IC Title relevant during the Hulkamania era and allowed it to serve as a platform for launching not only Randy Savage but also the Ultimate Warrior, Bret Hart, and Shawn Michaels in to roles as legitimate main event competitors. Steamboat and Savage crushed the notion that the WWF was the "anti-workrate" promotion and smashed it to pieces in ways that the aforementioned Santana/Valentine cage match could only dream of doing. Though some may criticize it for being choreographed spot-for-spot, the goal of any high card professional wrestling match on a show like Wrestlemania is to leave audiences absolutely awestruck, no matter what method you take to get there. Savage and Steamboat did more than that in the Pontiac Silverdome, as they not only left their own audience awestruck but also caused several subsequent generations of fans to fall in to the same state.



Julian Bond

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Chris Benoit vs. Rob Van Dam (Summerslam 2002) - First for the record, I had some other very good Intercontinental Title matches in mind that I wanted to place on here (mainly one of my favorite matches of all time in Cactus Jack vs. Randy Orton @ Backlash and the awesome Flair vs. HHH @ Taboo Tuesday), but I opted to only list the ones that I personally saw as truly representing what the belt really means as opposed to just having it as an afterthought to a storyline. So I wanted to start with mentioning this horribly underrated match between two of the best IC champs of all time in RVD and Chris Benoit mainly due to its very awesome mismatch of good technical wrestling and nice high-flying action.

Shawn Michaels vs. Marty Jannetty (Raw 1993) - This match was not only very awesome ring-wise, but was even more memorable due to Jannetty shockingly showing up AND defeating his former partner Michaels after a horribly cocky open challenge for the IC belt from the heel champ HBK.

Randy Orton vs. Edge (Vengeance 2004) - Sure there has been some pretty sweet IC matches with the likes of Benjamin, Carlito, Morrison, Hardy, and Jericho in the last few years, but this long-anticipated match-up between the now current World Champs was perhaps the last good REAL IC match I've seen due to the nice built-up of Edge attempting to finally dethrone Orton's almost year-long title reign along with the heavily-hyped crowd behind it.

5.(Tie) RVD vs. Eddie Guerrero (Raw 02')/Benoit vs. Jericho (Royal Rumble 01') – Ladder Matches - I was so damn torn between these two classic matches that I couldn't really choose just one…so I cheated by listing them both. While these sick ladder bouts for the IC belt were significantly different from each other, they both represented the "return to glory" that all four of these guys brought back to the Intercontinental Championship between 2000 – 2002. Before IC title ladder matches became standard and kind of dull in the years afterwards (no offense to these matches whatsoever), it was very exciting to see talents like Jericho and Guerrero tear it up in bouts that truly represented the highly competitive nature of the belt.

4.Bret Hart vs. Mr. Perfect (Summerslam 1991) - People often complain that the IC champions nowadays aren't seen as they're truly meant to be, which is as the #2 top person in the company. But when Bret Hart won the belt in a technical masterpiece back in 1991, it totally was the case as the belt and the win got him over big time from former tag team specialist to huge singles star, eventually setting him up on the path of multi-time World Champ. Hopefully the belt will be seen this way again instead of just having it represent opening PPV match filler.

3.Macho Man vs. Ricky Steamboat (Wrestlemania 3) - Easily one of the best title bouts of ALL TIME. Won't waste my breath by repeating what made this match so great because I've pretty sure it's at the top of everyone's list here, but this match to me is essentially the blueprint for how all competitive Intercontinental Title bouts should be fought. Matches for this belt shouldn't just be brief 5 minute affairs…they should be fought just as hard as those who are dueling it over the World Title because the title should be worthy of it.

2.Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels – Ladder Match (Wrestlemania X) - At first I honestly was hovering the Savage/Steamboat match around the number #1 and #2 spot on my list, but the main reason that I didn't was because I personally felt that the match's focus, while ultra-competitive, wasn't fully and totally on the actual championship belt itself. Instead this landmark ladder match between bitter rivals Razor Ramon and Shawn Michaels totally was. Besides the obviousness of this match being called one of the best Wrestlemania, ladder, overall WWE, and IC Title bouts of all time, people sometimes forget about the story that led up to this bout being made. The storyline revolved around Michaels returning back from a leave of absence after being stripped of the IC title and claiming that he was still the champ despite Ramon now having the strap. So Michaels put his "old belt" on the line against Ramon's "new belt" to see who was the BEST Intercontinental Champion amongst the two. I believe that this is one of the best IC matches not just because of the action, but mainly because of the fact that the actual championship belt was the sole focus of the whole feud.

1.Bret Hart vs. British Bulldog (Summerslam 1992) - This bout is to me the sole definition of what an "Intercontinental" title match really should mean. Besides the assumed #2 position that a wrestler should have with carrying it around, the other thing I and many others forget about is the actual name and meaning of the belt itself. "INTERCONTIENTAL"….which is supposed to mean like a champ who represents many countries w/o particularly being the "#1 best" in the world (cause' that's supposed to be the "WORLD" champ's job). So to have one of the best Canadian (Hart) and British (Bulldog) wrestlers go at it in a foreign country (London, U.K.) for the strap that's supposed to represent the best from multiple countries is without a doubt the TRUE definition of what the belt should really mean. On top of this and the match being awesome as hell, the fact that it was the MAIN EVENT (not opener, not even in the middle of the card) of a major PPV event, even above the World Title, is a feat to witness no matter if it was mainly a "hometown" ploy for fans who just wanted Bulldog to win. No doubt the best IC title bout that fully sums up what the belt truly and should mean.



Robert S. Leighty Jr

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Bret Hart (c) vs. The British Bulldog (SummerSlam 1992) - A classic match that may be better technically than some of the matches in my top 5, but I just enjoy them more than thsi match.

Randy Orton (c) vs. Mick Foley (Backlash 2004) - Crazy, insane brawl that helped propel Orton into a Main Event player in the WWE.

The Rock (c) vs. HHH: Ladder Match (SummerSlam 1998) - The match that made the careers of both men in front of a racous crowd at MSG.

5.Bret Hart (c) vs. Mr Perfect (SummerSlam 1991) - The match that put Bret on the scene as a singles wrestler. I was 10 at the time of this match and even as a kid I knew this match had show stealer all over it. Perfect worked his ass off with an injured back to put Bret over as a big deal, and you know something, I think it worked.

4.Roddy Piper (c) vs. Bret Hart (WrestleMania VIII) - Piper's best match ever, and just a forgotten classic overall. They told a great story, and Piper actually did a clean job to put Bret over in the end. Sure matches in the honorable mention may be technically better than this match, but personally, I enjoy this match more than most.

3.Razor Ramon (c) vs. Shawn Michaels: Ladder Match (WrestleMania X) - The match that made the ladder match what it is today. It may seem a little tame by today's standards, but there is no doing the impact this match has had on the wrestling landscape.

2.Shawn Michaels (c) vs. Razor Ramon: Ladder Match (SummerSlam 1995) - Yes, I like the ladder rematch between these two better. The fact it took place in Pittsburgh, PA only makes it more special. The ending was botched some, but it doesn't matter. This match built off the earlier match, and feautured a much better story with Ramon sliding heel during the match and abusing the leg of Michaels. Just fantastic stuff.

1.Randy Savage (c) vs. Ricky Steamboat (WrestleMania III) - This is my favorite match of all time, and gets my vote for not only greatest IC match ever, but greatest match period. I am in awe of this match as much as I was when I was a kid watching it live. Not much more I can add about this match except that it is perfect.



Scott Rutherford

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Randy Orton vs Cactus Jack - Orton's star making performance. Was nice to see Mick playing the dominator in this match instead of the bump monkey he used to be for all the other top stars. The last great IC title match.

Razor Ramon vs Shawn Michaels (WM10) - Very famous match that made the title seem important.

Triple H vs Jeff Hardy (Smackdown) - This is the exception to what I say in my #3 choice. The last great title change that seemed important.

5.Chris Benoit vs Chris Jericho (Ladder Match) - While title changes had become routine by this point, it didn't stop two of the best workers in the last 25 years from putting on a great, intense match. Far from being a spotfest, they created a great story built on intensity and images of Benoit's unprotect headshot form a suicide dive, while looking cool, does make you think these days now we know he was severely brain damaged when he died. This match also has the enduring image of Jericho applying the Walls of Jericho over the top of the ladder in a moment that I truly marked out for. It may be a little hard to watch these days because of history, it still truly is a great match between two great wrestlers.

4.The Honky Tonk Man vs The Ultimate Warrior - One of the hugest mark out title change moments ever. For all his bluster, HTM knew how to do business if he was shown respect and when Vince informed Honky 6 months out Warrior was going all the way, HTM had no problems getting squashed in 30 seconds creating a defining moment in time for wrestling. I'm also sure the pay-offs from the house show circuit with HTM getting squashed again and again by Warrior didn't hurt either. This is the match that made Warrior a superstar.

3.Steve Austin vs The Rock (Degeneration X PPV) - This is probably the last period of time the IC title really meant something in a match as The Rock was probably the last guy to really make the title important and have the fans caring if he won or lost. This match while very short covering for the injured Stone Cold, it packs so much mayhem into it you really don't have time to catch your breath before it finishes. It's interesting watching this match because it's so frantic and fun you can just see Vince lighting up backstage seeing the future of the business didn't have to rely on HBK and Bret Hart.

2.Bret Hart vs Davey Boy Smith - While Bret Hart has managed to make this match all about him in resent years, at the time it was all about what was right in wrestling. Bret wanted to have a match so good it would prove to Vince he was ready for the main event and the fact he managed to put Davey Boy over so big during the match helped its legacy and provided that moment that turned Smith into a wrestler for the ages. While Hart has stated recently that he carried Davey, I contend you can't carry someone in this style of match to five stars with it lasting over 30 minutes unless both guys carry the can. It was Smiths crowning moment and announced to the world that Bret Hart was really one of the very best.

1.Randy Savage vs Ricky Steamboat - It's an easy number for the very reason is that everything about this match from build to execution was so note perfect you couldn't hope it went any better. It was a simple blood feud of one man wanting revenge and the fact you had the most sympathetic babyface ever being attacked by someone who just came off as a huge psycho couple with the vastly superior in-ring work of both men managed to steal the thunder right out from under the nose of Hulk/Andre shows just how cool it was. The fact something so real and exciting was attached to your mid-card title only elevated the whole match in fans eyes. Perfection.



Dan Torkel

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Honky Tonk vs. Ultimate Warrior - Summerslam 1988 - I was there, and it was the most shockingly great moment to finally see the end of Honky's reign of terror.

Chris Benoit vs. Chris Jericho - Backlash/Judgment Day 2000 - These are two of my favorite matches: at Backlash, a great ****+ match ends in a DQ, and they upped the ante with a submission match a month later.

5.Randy Orton vs. Mick Foley - Backlash 2004 - Down on the list because it was less about the IC Title than their personal blood feud, but this was a crazy, bloody, and brutal match that elevated Orton to main event status in 25 minutes. This was also perhaps the last great IC Title match.

4.Macho Man Randy Savage vs. Tito Santana - NO DQ - This is not the title switch, but the final in a series of rematches for Tito. Savage had gotten DQ'ed to save the title so this was No DQ, and Tito bloodied and beat Savage within an inch of his life before Savage reversed a rollup and grabbed the tights for the win. A lost classic from the golden age of the IC Title.

3.HBK vs. Razor - Ladder Matches I & II (WM X, and SS 95) - Both matches are great, and too tough to call although I prefer the original since HBK blew the ending twice in 95. I also feel Razor deserves some credit as he was not just "the ladder" as Flair described. Great, historic and revolutionary matches.

2.Bret Hart vs. British Bulldog - Summerslam 1992 - 30 minutes of wrestling greatness, as Bret and Davey had perhaps the best pure wrestling match of the decade. Sure Bret carried a tired Bulldog, but the heat, family angle and clean finish make it historically special.

1.Macho Man Randy Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat - WM III - The match that defines the title belt and still, 22 years later universally considered one of the 5 greatest matches ever. Simply put, I watched Wrestlemania III when I was 5 years old to see Hulk fight Andre and at show's end I was the biggest mark for Steamboat and Savage and was forever a pure wrestling fan more than sports entertainment.



Aaron Hubbard

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Shawn Michaels vs. Jeff Jarrett (In Your House 1995) - Criminally overlooked match between two great workers who knew how to mix hard work and crowd interaction perfectly.

Chris Benoit vs. Rob Van Dam (Summer Slam 2002) - Believe it or not, the IC title was once so valuable that RAW and Smackdown! battled over it's possesion, and these two guys gave us a good match to get the title back on RAW.

Ultimate Warrior vs. Hulk Hogan (Wrestlemania VI) - Yeah, I know the World Title was more important, but the sheer fact that this match was title vs. title and therefore the IC Champion was considered to be at the main event level, and the spectacle of the whole match means it deserves mention.

5.Bret Hart vs. Mr. Perfect (Summerslam 1991) - These two guys were made for each other. Bret has some of the best executed offense of any wrestler, and Mr. Perfect was one of the all time great sellers. This match served as Bret Hart's bridge from Tag Team Wrestler to Main Event Talent, which is what the Intercontinental title used to do. Great match with a hot crowd.

4.Chris Jericho vs. Chris Benoit (Royal Rumble 2001) - My personal favorite ladder match. To paraphrase Arnold Furious, it might not have been as innovative as HBK-Razor, but it was as good an execution of the concept I've ever seen. These guys had a great feud that started over the IC Title and ended up being a huge grudge match over who was the better athlete/wrestler. While this match had a lot of animosity, the IC Title was still what they were climbing for at the end of the day. Fantastic match.

3.Randy Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat (Wrestlemania III) - While I personally don't enjoy the match as much as others, it's still an amazing match. When you are on the same card as Hulk Hogan vs. Andre and people still talk about your match, and some even say you stole the show, you did something right. Savage and Steamboat knew just how big Wrestlemania III would be, and added some hard work to the spectacle. However, I believe that the IC Title was more of an afterthough to the personal grudge in this match, and chose to give my top two spots to matches that were all about the IC Title.

2.Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon (Wrestlemania X) - At one point, the Intercontinental Championship mattered to wrestlers. This match and the entire feud was about the IC Title. Shawn had never lost it, but Razor was the officially champion. So they put both belts up in a ladder match and they fight to decide who will be the undisputed IC Champ. The match itself was completely revolutionary, and set the standard for all Ladder Matches that follow. A great match with historical significance, and while people talk more about the ladder than the title after the fact, going into the match both men acted like the IC Title meant something.

1.Bret Hart vs. Davey Boy Smith (Summer Slam 1992) - As far as historically significant Intercontinental Championship matches, this one pretty much takes the cake. First of all, this match was the MAIN EVENT of the second biggest show of the year. Second, it serves as the point where you can say that Bret Hart "arrived" as a main event talent. By losing the IC Title to Davey Boy, Bret was then able to pursue the WWF Championship. Hart carried Smith to the best match of his career, and made both of their careers in the process.



Larry Csonka

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Davey Boy Smith vs. Bret Hart (Summerslam 1992) - Good times here, although once the curtain is pulled back and you realize Bret is walking Davey through it because he's fucked up, it becomes a one man show.

Shawn Michaels vs. Marty Jannetty (Monday Night Raw, May 1993) - It's a shame that Marty never got himself under control, because this match proved how good he could have been.

Bret Hart vs. Roddy Piper (Wrestlemania VIII 1992) - A personal favorite of mine, hard hitting and much different from the "WWF Style" at the time. Plus this is a great example for those that say Piper was all act and no work.

5. Randy Orton vs. Mick Foley (Backlash 2004) - You don't realize how hard it is to do these top five's, because I have seen SO MUCH WRESTLING that I have to literally make huge lists and then at some point before deadline narrow them down to the top five and three honorable's, and THEN write something about them. I will start with one that is a favorite, Foley vs. Orton. I knew Foley would lose, partly because he wouldn't be given the IC Title, and partly because his job was to get Orton over. Foley worked hard and did that, and this was Orton's coming out party as he showed that he had the tools to deliver big time. While the title was largely forgotten during the feud, it was an IC Title match, so it fits.

4. Bret Hart vs. Mr. Perfect (Summerslam 1991) - Hart and Hennig had their share of great matches, and this one is likely the best. You couldn't go wrong with these guys at all, and the fact that they worked so hard in these matches are what helped make the IC Title loved by so many. I miss those days.

3. Tito Santana vs. Greg Valentine (1985) - Unfortunately many fans these days snub their nose at Tito Santana AND the Hammer. They think they were jobber, they think that they had no talent, but the fact was that during this time period, these guys were hot when they feuded for the title, not only delivering crowds, but also delivering excellent matches. This particular cage match in Baltimore was not only great, but on par with the great shit that the NWA was putting out at the time, and really, way ahead of much of the then current WWF stuff. Awesome, and I am glad Bauer picked this topic, as it gave me reason to go back and watch the match.

2. Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels (Wrestlemania X) - Not only was this the first of the "high spot gimmick matches" at the biggest show of the year, it because the standard for all matches like this. It was innovative, different, and again, remembered to this day in a big way.

1. Ricky Steamboat vs. Randy Savage (Wrestlemania III) - A match that stole the show at WM III and is still constantly talked about. It became the standard for great Mania matches on that day, and many still think it's the barometer for them today. Kids grow up talking this match and wanting to make it to the big show to put on a classic like this, and that is what it is #1 here, and in many people's hearts.



Chris Lansdell

I wasn't going to vote, but the matches missing off the list PISSED ME OFF!

Ultimate Warrior vs Hulk Hogan, Wrestlemania 6 - The atmosphere alone, along with the fact that both men put on one of the best matches of their lives, get this one in the top 8.

Razor Ramon vs Shawn Michaels, WrestleMania X - Not as good as the second one, but groundbreaking nonetheless. Or was it...

Bret Hart vs Roddy Piper, WrestleMania 8 - Hey, remember when the IC title was defended at Mania? In a non-squash? These two had an underrated classic of storytelling and psychology, at both of which Piper is a master. Not a technical masterpiece, but still a well-built match

5. Shawn Michaels vs Razor Ramon, SummerSlam 95: I may be alone here, but I think the second ladder match between these two was superior to the first. Better pacing, the guys were more familiar with the concept, and the spots were better. For me, anyway.

4. Bret Hart vs Shawn Michaels, House Show (Philadelphia) 1992 : The one that started it all, and a damn fine match it was too. It's on the Ladder Match DVD and if you don't own it, go get it. These two showed just how exciting and innovative a ladder match could be, back before they hated each other, and even pulled some stuff we haven't seen since.

3. Bret Hart vs The British Bulldog, SummerSlam 92: Nothing to do with the fact that I was there. Nothing at all. Almost everyone will tell you that this was one of Bulldog's best 3 matches, up there with his matches against HBK and Owen. The atmosphere was amazing, the finish was out of nowhere and the place exploded. I still enjoy watching this one.

2. Bret Hart vs Mr Perfect, SummerSlam 91: Another one I saw, although not at the arena, and if it wasn't for the slam-dunk #1 this would be a winner easily. The match had everything, both men escaping finishers, a clean yet surprising finish, great commentary, a touching moment with Bret's family, and just tremendous wrestling. One of my top 10 matches. And I swear the abundance of Bret matches has nothing to do with me getting to see him in Toronto...

1. Randy Savage vs Ricky Steamboat, WrestleMania III: What can I say that hasn't already been said? For years this match has been the benchmark by which all WrestleMania matches are judged. Almost all are found wanting. A 10+ minute technical classic that should be shown to every wrestling student everywhere.



Michael Bauer

Ultimate Warrior vs. The Honky Tonk Man (Summerslam 1988) - I'm with Byers. This isn't about the match being five stars, but it is purely about the spectale of wrestling.

Roddy Piper vs. Bret Hart (WrestleMania VIII) - Piper's best match PERIOD. This would be higher, but I always viewed this match as they way to get the title back on Bret after he got ill before the Royal Rumble.

Chris Benoit vs. Kurt Angle vs. Chris Jericho (Wrestlemania 2000) - Ok, this is a cop out because of the way the match was structured, but this is still one of my favorite matches.

5.Ultimate Warrior vs. Hulk Hogan (Wrestlemania VI) - Yes, this was a match for the WWF Heavyweight Title, but let's not forget that the Warrior's Title was on the line also. This match was electric and as I stated last week, it got me to start watching wrestling. It was definitly the Warrior's best match ever and was probably one of Hogan's Top 3 matches, if not his best. Everything from the performance to the atmosphere made this a great match.

4.Randy Orton vs. Mick Foley (Backlash 2004) - Ok, let's be honest here. This match was never about the Title that Orton held at the time and I think for that reason, this match delievered big time. Orton played such a perfect role in this match and Foley was his usual sick bastard self. This match was everything we could have asked for and gave Orton a much needed push up.

3.Ricky Steamboat vs. Randy Savage (Wrestlemania III) - This was the match of the first nine years of WrestleMania. And then the 10th Anniversary blew it out of the water with not one, but two stellar matches. I have looked back at this match and this is an oustanding match. I only wish I would have seen it when it first was presented, because I don't enjoy it as much as others do, and it probably is for that reason alone.

2.Bret Hart vs. Davey Boy Smith (Summer Slam 1992) - This was the absolute best match that I got to see as it happened and England was as explosive as any place ever. The British Bulldog going back home to London to face his brother-in-law in The Hitman for the second richest prize in the business. But remember, this was the MAIN EVENT of Summerslam. This was on AFTER the Heavyweight Title match. And the match did not disappoint at all. The Bulldog won and I don't think I have ever heard an entire crowd explode that much in unison.

1.Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels (Wrestlemania X) - This match defined all ladder matches to follow it and while it is tough to decide whether this match or Bret vs. Owen was the best match of the night, there is no doubt that this is one of the best WrestleMania matches ever. It was this match that helped start the Shawn Michaels push and the nickname of Mr. WrestleMania. The reason it is the best for me is that this match was perhaps the most underhyped match of any others on this list and it delievered like it was the main event of the night.



So with all said and done, here is the 411 Wrestling's Overall Top 5 Intercontential Title Matches.

5. Randy Orton vs. Mick Foley (Backlash 2004) - 5 points (1 4th place vote, 3 5th place votes, 2 Honorable Mentions)

4. Bret Hart vs. Mr. Perfect (Summerslam 1991) - 14 points (2 2nd place votes, 2 4th place votes, 2 5th place votes)

3. Bret Hart vs. Davey Boy Smith (Summer Slam 1992) - 25 points (2 1st place votes, 3 2nd place votes, 1 3rd place vote, 2 Honorable Mentions)

2. Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels (Wrestlemania X) - 26 points (1 1st place vote, 3 2nd place votes, 3 3rd place votes, 2 Honorable Mentions)

1. Ricky Steamboat vs. Randy Savage (Wrestlemania III) - 39 points (6 1st place votes, 3 3rd place votes)



Join us next week as we continue with the month of May, which will be a completely themed 411 Wrestling Top 5, as we look back at the greatest matches in Wrestling History. Next week will be the Top 5 Tag Team Matches.



**For those of you who are curious, here is the list of the 31 World Champions (WWWF/WWF/WWE, ECW, WCW, TNA, World, or NWA) to hold the Intercontential Title:
1 Reign: Booker T, CM Punk, Dean Douglas, Diesel, JBL, Ken Shamrock, Kerry Von Erich, Kurt Angle, Randy Orton, Randy Savage, Rey Mysterio, Ric Flair, Ricky Steamboat
2 Reigns: Bret Hart, Eddie Guerrero, John Morrison, Kane, Pedro Morales, The Rock, Stone Cold, Tito Santana, Ultimate Warrior
3 Reigns: Christian, Shawn Michaels
4 Reigns: Chris Benoit, Jeff Hardy
5 Reigns: Edge, Triple H
6 Reigns: Jeff Jarrett, Rob Van Dam
8 Reigns: Chris Jericho