Could an HBK Intercontinental title run work?

**HTrain90** · 04-19-2008, 01:14 PM

I don't know if this has been discussed, but I think it could make for some interesting conversation. It's pretty well known that HBK doesn't want to hold the world title for any length of time at this point in his career - he's at a point where he simply want to help get younger guys over using his established stardom. But, could this stardom be used to get some luster back to the Intercontinental Championship?

The IC strap has amounted to absolute shit in the past few years. It hasn't been defended at Wrestlemania since X8 (I believe, correct me if I'm wrong as I don't feel like researching), and hasn't really produced any bonafide stars in the past 5 years or so.

The thing that bugs me the most is the IC strap being used to promote other storylines. Such as Umaga winning the belt heading into Wrestlemania 23 and his match with Bobby Lashley - which he lost. Then Jeff Hardy holding the belt throughout his feud with Orton - only to lose every time he faced RKO. The IC strap is being used not to get people over, but to manufacture success into someone who is jobbing to the top guys. They need to fix this.

It looks like the strap on Y2J is helping a LOT. His match with Umaga the other night was great, and the Y2J heel turn tease was fabulous. This leads me to my question (sorry this took so long).

Could an HBK run work? Obviously HBK and Y2J would tear it up and have some classic matches (for those who haven't watched the Wrestlmania XIX match, please do - it's amazing). If booked right, they could use this to bring the IC belt back up, rather than to drag HBK down. The question is, could it be done? And how would it need to be booked? Who comes out of the HBK-Y2J feud with the strap, and then who is the next in line to face him? I'm partial to HBK getting the strap and lining up Kennedy or Carlito to face him. HBK could drag some fantastic matches out of Carlito, and Kennedy-HBK have proven they can work well together.

Anyways, what do you all think? Would putting HBK into the IC title picture for 6 months or so boost the IC strap, or hurt HBK? Could it work?

04-19-2008, 01:14 PM	#1
HTrain90 HBK mark since 1995 Posts: 488	Could an HBK Intercontinental title run work? I don't know if this has been discussed, but I think it could make for some interesting conversation. It's pretty well known that HBK doesn't want to hold the world title for any length of time at this point in his career - he's at a point where he simply want to help get younger guys over using his established stardom. But, could this stardom be used to get some luster back to the Intercontinental Championship? The IC strap has amounted to absolute shit in the past few years. It hasn't been defended at Wrestlemania since X8 (I believe, correct me if I'm wrong as I don't feel like researching), and hasn't really produced any bonafide stars in the past 5 years or so. The thing that bugs me the most is the IC strap being used to promote other storylines. Such as Umaga winning the belt heading into Wrestlemania 23 and his match with Bobby Lashley - which he lost. Then Jeff Hardy holding the belt throughout his feud with Orton - only to lose every time he faced RKO. The IC strap is being used not to get people over, but to manufacture success into someone who is jobbing to the top guys. They need to fix this. It looks like the strap on Y2J is helping a LOT. His match with Umaga the other night was great, and the Y2J heel turn tease was fabulous. This leads me to my question (sorry this took so long). Could an HBK run work? Obviously HBK and Y2J would tear it up and have some classic matches (for those who haven't watched the Wrestlmania XIX match, please do - it's amazing). If booked right, they could use this to bring the IC belt back up, rather than to drag HBK down. The question is, could it be done? And how would it need to be booked? Who comes out of the HBK-Y2J feud with the strap, and then who is the next in line to face him? I'm partial to HBK getting the strap and lining up Kennedy or Carlito to face him. HBK could drag some fantastic matches out of Carlito, and Kennedy-HBK have proven they can work well together. Anyways, what do you all think? Would putting HBK into the IC title picture for 6 months or so boost the IC strap, or hurt HBK? Could it work?