IC Hero's: First is Always Best

The series continues as now I have asked all of you who your favorites are and I have given some background on this series. It's time to go back and look at some of the greatest champions to ever hold this legendary title. The first name to actually pop into my head is the first ever Intercontinental champion that being WWE Hall of Famer Pat Patterson. Now most may not know that the Intercontinental title was actually formed after WWE decided to retire the North and South American Championships that they had active at the time. At the time the title was retired Pat Patterson was the North American champion and considering I have found no record of a South American Championship I would guess the title never existed. Which plays into the fact that the Rio De Jinero Tournament for the Intercontinental title never happened and Patterson was awarded the title.

​The reason for the "ghost" tournament was to raise the prestige of the Intercontinental very early and not put it behind the 8 ball per say like it would've been if it was just awarded to Patterson. Doing the tournament cover story it help raise the ire of the title right from the outset in the eyes of most fans and those who paid attention to wrestling at the time and nobody questioned it. This could never happend with how frequently the WWE does Network specials instead just letting house shows be house shows.

​Though at this point not many people are aware of the quality that Patterson's title afforded the belt, but there was a different type of optimism surrounding the title then what surrounds the title now. There is no doubt that Patterson has a lasting legacy on this business because he was in the right place at the right time and is a hero of Intercontinental Championships long and continuing history in the WWE.