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TORONTO — With his title, his reputation, and the supremacy of his brand on the line, The Miz emerged victorious at Survivor Series to remain Intercontinental Champion, and his title stays with SmackDown LIVE. And as usual, he has Maryse to thank for it.
Miz’s victory over Sami Zayn — fighting to bring the title over to his home on Raw — was the capper to a career week in a career year for The A-Lister. He beat Zayn’s announced opponent of Dolph Ziggler to win the title on Tuesday’s SmackDown LIVE 900, thereby throwing a wrench into Zayn’s preparation. For a while, however, it looked as though The Underdog from the Underground would coast to the title on sheer crowd support alone, as the Toronto faithful showered their man with “Ole” sing-alongs and the strains of his theme song.
The A-Lister, as always, played the long game. First, he softened Zayn’s leg up for the Figure-Four Leglock, then slammed it against the steel ring post to take away nearly all of the challenger’s explosiveness. Zayn managed to deny several of Miz’s Figure-Four attempts and even battled through the pain to deliver a plancha to the outside. But the hobbled Canadian missed on two Helluva Kicks when his leg gave out during the first and Miz dodged the second, allowing Miz to finally lock in the Figure-Four.
Zayn battled his way to the ropes to break Miz’s hold and locked in a Figure-Four of his own, but Maryse saved her husband by ringing the bell and stopping the action. After Zayn — who thought he’d won — released the hold and the ref went to clarify, Miz sprang with a rollup and put Zayn away. Fair? No, not at all. But you have to admire the bravado. You might even call it awesome. Miz certainly will.