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Every now and then we’ll present a hot topic on wrestling for discussion in the WZ Forums. The topic will be open for a set amount of time and at the end, the best responses will be presented in an article here on the main site. We’ve already presented the topic and have the best responses right here.
Here’s the latest WZ Forum Files topic:
Where Does Miz Rank As An Intercontinental Champion?
Responses
From Wildcat66
If you had asked this question a few years back in say 2014-15: I would’ve said that he was a good, but not great champion that did his job as well as possible.
Now, in 2018: The Miz will go down in history as one of the top 5 greatest intercontinental champions in recent memory and a candidate for one of the best the title has ever had. So many great matches and feuds have come because of him: Dolph Ziggler, A.J Styles, Cesaro, Sami Zayn, Roman Reigns, the list can go on. Not only has he seriously stepped up his in-ring game to a new level: He has delivered some of the best promos of his entire career.
Add in a smoking hot wife as his manager who’s still going strong even after all the years and two cronies desperate to do his bidding, and you have one of the best gimmicks and champions WWE has seen in the modern era.
More Responses on the Next Page
From Hakushi
Hate to admit this, but I’d stack him at #1. I prefer Jericho, Hart, Piper and Henning, but Miz does his best to make the belt what it is suppose to be each and every time he possesses it. The only exception to this that I can see is when they turned him face.
Given the number of times and combined days he held the belt, along with his upper echelon feuds during the period, I don’t honestly know how he could rate any lower than 1.
Honky has him on number of days in one run, but due ttyl the era, in the 18 months he held it he defended a fraction of the times current stars do. Jericho has him on number of reigns, but Jericho also had quite a few short….really short runs with it.
Bret gave some classic matches with it around his waist, but was on the losing end of the most memorable ones (Perfect, Bulldog).
More Responses on the Next Page
From CyberPunk
I’d go out on a limb and say this: The Miz is the best Intercontinental Champion of this decade. In an era where IC title has become more and more irrelevant, Miz has not only kept it relevant, but has had some of the best programs for it. His number of reigns do not matter as much as the quality of IC title programs do. He’s better in the ring than most people give him credit for. He’s also gold on the mic in a time when performers are saddled with scripted, uninspired promo and more than half can’t hold there own while talking.
More Responses on the Next Page
From stingray11214
As someone who remembers Ted DiBiase holding the WWWF North American strap, as well as the night when WWWF “President” Willie Gilzenberg announced that Pat Patterson won a “tournament” in Rio for the Intercontinental Championship, the Intercontinental strap was bounded about for almost five decades. Many greats of Pro Wrestling have held that strap. Some made it great. Others did not. So, where does The Miz rank on the list of all-time greats to have held the Intercontinental Championship?
In my humble opinion, he would be somewhere near the bottom of my Top Ten. Pedro Morales, Don Muraco, The Honky Tonk Man, Warrior and Chris Jericho are my Top Five. Morales and Muraco would give the belt life. Honky Tonk would give it charisma and importance. Warrior would take it to the next level. Jericho made the belt in his era greater than what it became. Those in the Top Five you actually PAID to see. Do you pay to see The Miz? Sure, you hear him on Raw. You watch his antics. Sure, WWE is a very different company than it was back in Morales’ day. But, how many people will tune in JUST to watch the Miz? How many will buy a ticket to see The Miz. Morales and Muraco spent parts of four years over that strap. People PAID to see Muraco get called “Beach Bum”. People PAID to see Morales fight whoever up and down the Northeast. The Miz cannot say people paid or tuned in just to see him. Sure, he won the belt 8 times. He also lost it eights times. During a time when the Intercontinental belt has been diminished greatly since the days of Warrior and Jericho.
This does not mean that Miz does not deserve some praise. He does. He has made the Intercontinental Championship have some relevance in the greater landscape that is WWE. But, he is with the likes of The Rock, Rick Rude, Randy Savage and Pat Patterson in the second half of the Top ten, and not with the Morales’ and Muraco’s.
WZ Forum Files #20 Topic Revealed on the Next Page!
WZ Forum Files Topic #20:
Whose 2018 Will Be Best: Elias, John Cena or Braun Strowman?
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