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WWE Intercontinental Championship

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WWE Intercontinental Championship

The WWE Intercontinental Championship is a men's professional wrestling championship created and promoted by the American promotion WWE, defended on the Raw brand division. It is one of two secondary championships for WWE's main roster, along with the WWE United States Championship on SmackDown. The current champion is Dominik Mysterio, who is in his second reign. He won the title by defeating previous champion John Cena at Survivor Series: WarGames on November 29, 2025. The championship was established by the then-World Wrestling Federation (WWF) on September 1, 1979, as a result of the WWF North American Heavyweight Championship being unified with an apocryphal South American Heavyweight Championship, with Pat Patterson as the inaugural champion. It is the third-oldest championship currently active in WWE, behind the WWE Championship (1963) and United States Championship (1975), but the second-longest tenured championship, as WWE has only owned the U.S. championship since 2001. Although generally contested in the midcard at WWE shows, it has been defended in the main event of pay-per-views including WrestleMania VI, SummerSlam in 1992, the third and eighth In Your House shows, Backlash in 2001, and at Extreme Rules in 2018. It has been called a "stepping stone" to a WWE world championship. In November 2001, the then-WCW United States Championship was unified into the Intercontinental Championship. In 2002, after the introduction of the first brand split, it became exclusive to Raw and the WWF was renamed WWE. Later that year, the European and Hardcore championships were unified into the Intercontinental Championship, which itself was unified into the World Heavyweight Championship (original version). The next year, it was reactivated for Raw, followed by the United States Championship's reactivation as a counterpart championship on SmackDown. The Intercontinental Championship has switched between brands over the years, usually as a result of the WWE Draft; the 2023 draft moved the title back to Raw.

Infobox

Promotion
WWE
Brand
Raw
Date established
September 1, 1979
Current champion
Dominik Mysterio
Date won
November 29, 2025
Statistics
StatisticsFirst championPat PattersonMost reignsChris Jericho(9 reigns)Longest reignGunther(666 days)Shortest reignDean Douglas(14 minutes)Oldest championRic Flair(56 years, 205 days)Youngest championJeff Hardy(23 years, 222 days)Heaviest championBig Show(441 lb (200 kg))Lightest championRey Mysterio(175 lb (79 kg))
First champion
Pat Patterson
Most reigns
Chris Jericho(9 reigns)
Longest reign
Gunther(666 days)
Shortest reign
Dean Douglas(14 minutes)
Oldest champion
Ric Flair(56 years, 205 days)
Youngest champion
Jeff Hardy(23 years, 222 days)
Heaviest champion
Big Show(441 lb (200 kg))
Lightest champion
Rey Mysterio(175 lb (79 kg))

Tables

· Brand designation history
March 25, 2002
March 25, 2002
Date of transition
March 25, 2002
Brand
Raw
Notes
WWF Intercontinental Champion Rob Van Dam was drafted to Raw during the 2002 WWF Draft.In May 2002, the WWF was renamed to WWE.The European Championship was unified into the Intercontinental Championship on July 22.
July 30, 2002
July 30, 2002
Date of transition
July 30, 2002
Brand
SmackDown!
Notes
Intercontinental Champion Chris Benoit was moved to SmackDown!.
August 25, 2002
August 25, 2002
Date of transition
August 25, 2002
Brand
Raw
Notes
The Intercontinental Championship was returned to Raw after Rob Van Dam defeated Chris Benoit to win back the title.The Hardcore Championship was unified into the Intercontinental Championship on August 26.
October 20, 2002
October 20, 2002
Date of transition
October 20, 2002
Brand
N/A
Notes
At No Mercy, Triple H defeated Kane to unify the Intercontinental Championship into the World Heavyweight Championship. The Intercontinental Championship was subsequently deactivated.
May 5, 2003
May 5, 2003
Date of transition
May 5, 2003
Brand
Raw
Notes
Raw co-general manager Stone Cold Steve Austin reactivated the Intercontinental Championship.The United States Championship was reactivated for SmackDown! in July 2003 as the Intercontinental Championship's counterpart.
April 13, 2009
April 13, 2009
Date of transition
April 13, 2009
Brand
SmackDown
Notes
Intercontinental Champion Rey Mysterio was drafted to SmackDown during the 2009 WWE Draft.
August 29, 2011
August 29, 2011
Date of transition
August 29, 2011
Brand
N/A
Notes
End of first brand split.The Intercontinental Champion could appear on both Raw and SmackDown.
July 19, 2016
July 19, 2016
Date of transition
July 19, 2016
Brand
SmackDown
Notes
Reintroduction of the brand split.Intercontinental Champion The Miz was drafted to SmackDown during the 2016 WWE Draft.
April 10, 2017
April 10, 2017
Date of transition
April 10, 2017
Brand
Raw
Notes
Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose was moved to Raw during the 2017 WWE Superstar Shake-up.
April 16, 2019
April 16, 2019
Date of transition
April 16, 2019
Brand
SmackDown
Notes
Intercontinental Champion Finn Bálor was moved to SmackDown during the 2019 WWE Superstar Shake-up.
May 8, 2023
May 8, 2023
Date of transition
May 8, 2023
Brand
Raw
Notes
Intercontinental Champion Gunther was drafted to Raw during the 2023 WWE Draft.
Date of transition
Brand
Notes
March 25, 2002
Raw
WWF Intercontinental Champion Rob Van Dam was drafted to Raw during the 2002 WWF Draft.In May 2002, the WWF was renamed to WWE.The European Championship was unified into the Intercontinental Championship on July 22.
July 30, 2002
SmackDown!
Intercontinental Champion Chris Benoit was moved to SmackDown!.
August 25, 2002
Raw
The Intercontinental Championship was returned to Raw after Rob Van Dam defeated Chris Benoit to win back the title.The Hardcore Championship was unified into the Intercontinental Championship on August 26.
October 20, 2002
N/A
At No Mercy, Triple H defeated Kane to unify the Intercontinental Championship into the World Heavyweight Championship. The Intercontinental Championship was subsequently deactivated.
May 5, 2003
Raw
Raw co-general manager Stone Cold Steve Austin reactivated the Intercontinental Championship.The United States Championship was reactivated for SmackDown! in July 2003 as the Intercontinental Championship's counterpart.
April 13, 2009
SmackDown
Intercontinental Champion Rey Mysterio was drafted to SmackDown during the 2009 WWE Draft.
August 29, 2011
N/A
End of first brand split.The Intercontinental Champion could appear on both Raw and SmackDown.
July 19, 2016
SmackDown
Reintroduction of the brand split.Intercontinental Champion The Miz was drafted to SmackDown during the 2016 WWE Draft.
April 10, 2017
Raw
Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose was moved to Raw during the 2017 WWE Superstar Shake-up.
April 16, 2019
SmackDown
Intercontinental Champion Finn Bálor was moved to SmackDown during the 2019 WWE Superstar Shake-up.
May 8, 2023
Raw
Intercontinental Champion Gunther was drafted to Raw during the 2023 WWE Draft.

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