For over 40 years, the Intercontinental Championship has been considered a prestigious yet mid-card title in WWE, with “WWE Raw” General Manager Adam Pearce further describing it as a “beacon of opportunity” for the corporate’s male stars. Under those self same principles, WWE then introduced the Women’s Intercontinental Championship in 2024, with Lyra Valkyria crowned because the inaugural titleholder and Becky Lynch as her successor.
In accordance with Big E, a former Men’s IC Champion, calling the ladies’s iteration of the title “mid-card” actually might not be entirely fitting. “The lineage of this title, Becky has done a lot incredible work to make this title meaningful,” Big E said on “Raw Recap: WWE Now.” “When we have now recent titles, it truly is concerning the way it’s introduced, it’s concerning the individuals who hold it, it’s concerning the rivalries we see. This thing has been hot. I feel like from day one, what we got to see with Lyra, what we got to see with everyone who’s held it and competed for it, even seeing Maxxine [Dupri] step up and have her best performances holding this title and competing for it, truthfully, I feel that is my favorite mid-card title without delay. It almost feels disrespectful to call it a mid-card title because we’re seeing so many future Hall of Famers hold it, so many all-time greats hold it.”
Valkyria cemented herself as the primary ever Women’s Intercontinental Champion by besting Dakota Kai in tournament finals on “Raw” in January 2025. Lynch prolonged the lineage by defeating Valkyria at WWE Money within the Bank. With some help from AJ Lee, Maxxine Dupri then dethroned “The Man” in Madison Square Garden. Just mere weeks later, though, Lynch reclaimed it. Later tonight, Lynch will defend the Women’s IC Title against AJ Lee, a two-time Divas Champion, at WWE Elimination Chamber.
In the event you use any of the quotes in this text, please credit “Raw Recap: WWE Now” with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
Opinion: A ‘Mid-Card’ Label Is not Demeaning
Respectfully, I actually have to disagree with Big E on this case.
While still recognized as a mid-card title, the Men’s Intercontinental Championship has also been hailed, by Adam Pearce, as “symbol of excellence for the actual workhorses of our sport.” Pearce was the person who, in the identical breath, announced that the ladies of WWE would have an equivalent “symbol of excellence to fight for” in the shape of the Women’s Intercontinental Championship. By that logic, the Women’s IC Title should then be viewed and treated the identical because the long-time men’s iteration.
Across its multi-decade existence, the Men’s IC Title has been held by a plethora of WWE Hall of Famers, resembling Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Kurt Angle, and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. Elsewhere, numerous future Hall of Famers, including AJ Styles, Randy Orton, and John Cena, have tasted it too. Due to IC Title, most of the aforementioned names were also capable of cement themselves as Grand Slam Champions, which, after all, includes reigns with “mid-card” titles.
To many fans, including myself, a “mid-card” label is not demeaning. It’s an indicator of opportunity for individuals who aren’t at the highest of WWE. And simply because one is not positioned at the highest at a specific moment, doesn’t suggest they cannot be in the long run. Relating to the ladies of WWE, it’s especially refreshing to see storylines that do not involve the major world titles as well.