Rick Rude as IC Champion in 89

> Scott,
>
> Getting close to Summerslam in your observer flashbacks, and had a question on Rick Rude’s IC title reign.
>
> After winning the title from The Ultimate Warrior at Mania 5, he basically had no real programs other than building to the rematch with Warrior until he started feuding on tv with Roddy Piper a few weeks before SummerSlam.
>
> Was Rude’s reign basically set up as a transitional run to help get Warrior ready for his megapush en route to a Wrestlemania showdown with Hulk the next year?

Yup.