WrestleMania Countdown: WWE Intercontinental Championship Match

Today, we go with the match that has probably had the least amount of build to it, but could very well be a fun bully vs. cruiserweight, David and Goliath match:

WWE Intercontinental Champion

John Bradshaw Layfield

vs.


Rey Mysterio, Jr.

This match has been in the works for a grand total of three weeks now, but it's alright, since this is the first time the Intercontinental Championship will be defended at WrestleMania in seven years. Seven years... you have to go back to WrestleMania XVIII, when Rob Van Dam defeated William Regal for the strap. Better late than never, I always say though.

It all started three weeks ago, when Michael Cole just glibly announced that Rey Mysterio had challenged JBL for his newly won Intercontinental Championship, and that JBL accepted. Okay. So the next week on RAW, JBL had Regal challenge Mysterio. ReyRey was in trouble against the grizzled veteran, but he came out on top. Then last night on RAW, JBL challenged Rey in a non-title match, claiming that he was going to soften Rey up for the most decisive win in WrestleMania history. So what happened? Rey beat JBL decisively with the 619.

What do I think is going to happen? Well, I expect to see JBL toss Mysterio around like a lawn dart. Bradshaw has had little problem in the past throwing guys twice Rey's size around, so I think that will be the crux of his offense. When Mysterio is on the offensive, he will rely on his aerial offense with strikes, ranas and flips. As for the finish, I expect that Mysterio will have Bradshaw set up for the 619, but JBL will move out of the way and nail him with the Clothesline from Hell, sealing the win and retaining the Championship.

What do I want to see? Well, I do want to see Bradshaw tossing Rey around like a lawn dart. I love the bully matches where the bigger guy tosses the cruiser around like he's a baseball. I guess that's why I've grown to like Mark Henry so much over the last year... that's all he does in his matches, and it looks so damn cool. I'd like to see Rey bust out more of his ranas. He used to be called the King of the Ranas, and he had some pretty sick and stiff ranas that he'd bust out that actually looked like they hurt the head. As for who wins? I won't lie. I'd love to see Rey Mysterio pull out it because I think he'd do well with the title. I'd love to see the WWE make the IC title into their X-Division Championship, a title based on workrate and high-energy matches. Having Rey defend against the likes of Kofi Kingston, Evan Bourne, Christian, Jack Swagger, Finlay, Ted DiBiase or The Brian Kendrick would provide must-see TV on any program.