Was the Intercontinental Title missed in 2002-03?

[Deleted]

Today, more or less the mid-card titles are pretty much a joke. At one time the IC title did mean something. Which brings me to 2002. Was there even a point in bringing it back in 2003 after it was taken away in 2002?

Was the roster that stacked that you needed it? It was brought back pretty quick after it disappeared, but the question is, was it even needed?

Did anyone else even know the IC title wasn't around from Oct 2002 to May 2003?

[Branimal]

I was at the show when Austin brought the belt out, announcing its return. I don't know what the general consensus was but I certainly missed it.

["I'm Batman..."]

Jan 4, 2012 14:09:52 GMT -5 @benji said:

Did anyone else even know the IC title wasn't around from Oct 2002 to May 2003?

I had no idea.

[01010010 01101001 01100011]

I missed it. Though getting rid of it was just stupid.

[Lila]

Jan 4, 2012 14:15:33 GMT -5 "I'm Batman..." said:

Jan 4, 2012 14:09:52 GMT -5 @benji said:

Did anyone else even know the IC title wasn't around from Oct 2002 to May 2003?

I had no idea.

[molson5]

"One brand, one championship" wasn't going to catch on unless they opened up the world title to angles and feuds involving everyone in the roster somehow, and that wasn't going to happen. So I think the title was missed, there was an absence, it was just a ready-made thing to feud over.

The I-C title means less now, but I think that was 100% inevitable once world champions started wrestling on TV. Ricky Steamboat and Randy Savage were TV main eventers in the 80s when they were I-C champions. If Hogan wrestled every week as champion, the I.C. title wouldn't have meant as much in the 80s.

[Nerdkiller the threadkiller]

I honestly didn't know that it was gone during that time period (mainly because I was too busy watching SmackDown over RAW), but yeah, it was an idiotic move where WWE thought no one would notice that the belt was gone.

[zeez]

Depends. Would they have actually done anything with it had it been around during that time?

[Sir Woodrow]

Getting rid of it was a s***ty move in an incredibly s***ty period

[FailedGimmick]

Jan 4, 2012 14:58:20 GMT -5 Nerdkiller the threadkiller said:

I honestly didn't know that it was gone during that time period (mainly because I was too busy watching SmackDown over RAW), but yeah, it was an idiotic move where WWE thought no one would notice that the belt was gone.

It was actually merged with the World Heavyweight Championship, which I thought was dumb in it's own right.

[Cranjis McBasketball]

I was sad to see it go, but considering how many titles were around at the time, how many they'd merged into other titles and how the IC title has been treated since.......my feelings on it are all nostalgic. I was sad to see it go, haven't really noticed it has been back.

[saneiac]

Jan 4, 2012 14:09:52 GMT -5 @benji said:

Today, more or less the mid-card titles are pretty much a joke.

One sentence in, and you lost me already. Today, right now, both the US and IC title are held by people who are proud to have them. In fact, this might be the first time since it came to the WWE in 2001 that the US title isn't pointless.

[rapidfire187]

I never understood why they got rid of it. The IC Title was still given pretty high priority back then. Just from the top of my head I remember RVD, Eddie, Benoit, Jericho, and Christian all being involved in matches and feuds over that belt in 2002. When they got rid of it, it really blew my mind. I was very glad when they brought it back, but it hasn't been the same since.

[percymania]

I did not like this move and it's probably one of the reason why I do not look back at this time period in WWE too fondly.

[mizerable]

I never got why they did that? Yes, I can understand that having a bunch of under card titles would be stupid, especially when each show had them. But only having the tag team and World titles? I'll actually go so far as to think that they should've kept either the Hardcore or European title around...as it gave lower card guys something to do, I'm assuming if they brand extension ever ends (yeah right) that the US title might become the lower title.

[kyromax]

If the belt stayed retired, Triple H would have been the last IC champ

[mizerable]

The awesome thing though was Christian's return with it. So I can overlook the entire thing, just because it brought up Captain Charisma.

[klapaucius]

Jan 4, 2012 14:15:33 GMT -5 "I'm Batman..." said:

Jan 4, 2012 14:09:52 GMT -5 @benji said:

Did anyone else even know the IC title wasn't around from Oct 2002 to May 2003?

I had no idea.

[Deleted]

It's the working man's championship so it sucks to know that it was gone around that time but honestly it wasn't a long time period so it's forgotten in my eyes, no lie. I will say that the European Title is the only title that if you asked would be taken away I wouldn't mind. It's an ok title but it's just like the TV title. A 3rd ranking title that didn't matter much.

I will say the Hardcore Title in my eyes is missed more than any title we don't have. I miss that thing.