#5 WWE Intercontinental Championship: The Miz (c) vs. Dolph Ziggler
This was probably the most important match in Dolph Ziggler’s entire WWE career and ironically his career was also on the line. The Career vs. Title match kicked off with The Showoff receiving a huge pop from the crowd – for one last time?
The match kicked off at a frantic pace with Ziggler making his intentions clear as he tried to nail the Superkick first up. However, Miz moved out of the way and followed it with a clothesline tossing the Showoff out of the ring. But Ziggler rushed back into the ring and took him out with a clothesline of his own, throwing him out of the ring which resulted in an awkward landing for the champion.
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Chants of “Let’s go Ziggler” and “Let’s go Miz” ring around the arena. Miz then mocks Daniel Bryan’s Yes chant before driving Ziggler’s knees into the mat. After some back and forth, The Miz nails the Hangman’s Neckbreaker.
The Miz then followed it with multiple dropkicks into the corner – a la Daniel Bryan – which sends the crowd into a frenzy. However, The Showoff responds with a dropkick of his own before unleashing it on the champion.
Ziggler then reverses The Miz’s attempts for a Powerbomb into a Sunset Flip before pinning the champion for a nearfall. The Miz then rolls up the challenger and tries to use the ropes to help with the pin only for the referee to notice it. He then nails a DDT but surprisingly Dolph kicks out once again.
After some more to and fro, Ziggler and The Miz are on the top rope and the Show Off goes for a Superplex but is reversed into a Sunset Flip from Miz, however, Ziggler counters it with a Sunset Flip of his own and converted it into a pinning combination.
Following the nearfall, The Miz locks Ziggler in the Figure 4 but he is able to reach to the ropes. Maryse gets on the apron to distract the referee as The Miz removes the padding from the top turnbuckle but as soon as he turns he is met with a Rough Ryder. Ziggler tries to follow it up with another move but is instead thrown face first into the exposed turnbuckle. The Miz then nails a modified powerbomb for a 2-count.
The Miz again copies Daniel Bryan and launches a series of kicks to Ziggler but the Showoff nails the Zig Zag, literally out of nowhere but The Miz kicks out at 2 from the resulting pin.
The Champion then tries for the Skull Crushing Finale but is countered into a pin by Ziggler for a nearfall before locking Miz in the sleeper. However, Miz somehow manages to make it to the ropes. Maryse finally interferes and sprays in the face of Ziggler allowing her husband to nail the Skull Crushing Finale but Ziggler kicks out from the resulting pin. Ziggler is just not ready to give up.
Ziggler gets back up and hits a Superkick on Miz but Maryse calls The Spirit Squad to aid her husband. However, Ziggler welcomes his former stablemate Mikey with a Superkick but this allows Miz to hit the Skull Crushing Finale on him. Ziggler kicks out from the resulting pin sending the crowd into a frenzy and chants of "This is Awesome" ring around the arena.
The referee then ejects Maryse and the Spirit Squad and Ziggler takes advantage of the situation by nailing a Superkick. He then pins Miz for the 3-count!
Ziggler survives to retire another day. His resilience and defiance helped his cause and what a performance from the new Intercontinental Champion. This is also the 5th time Ziggler has wn the Intercontinental Championship.
Result: Dolph Ziggler saves his career and wins the Intercontinental Championship via a pinfall victory over The Miz
