WWE Intercontinental Championship

The WWE Intercontinental Championship is a professional wrestling championship contested in and owned by the American promotion WWE. The title was introduced into WWE in 1979, which was known as the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) at the time. Pat Patterson, holder of the WWF North American Heavyweight Championship, was awarded the title (with the kayfabe explanation that he won a tournament in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and unified the North American and South American titles). The Intercontinental Championship has been called the second most important championship in the company, after the WWF World Heavyweight Championship.