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At the time leading up to WrestleMania I, Valentine was embroiled in a high-profile rivalry with Tito Santana over the Intercontinental (IC) Championship. Their feud was a significant draw, and they consistently drew strong crowds across the country. Valentine held the IC belt during this period, and Santana was relentlessly chasing it back.
WrestleMania I organizers wanted to have Santana challenge Valentine, but there was a concern that if Santana, a beloved face, didn’t win back the title, it might hurt his momentum. Since both performers were doing excellent business, they chose to avoid switching the belt just yet. Instead, they inserted Junkyard Dog (JYD) into the match as a substitute.