While all the talk was about the swerve the WWE creative team pulled in the main event of Extreme Rules where Samoa Joe won the Extreme Rules Fatal Fiveway match to become the Number 1 Contender for the WWE Universal Championship, there was an equally surprising swerve in the first match of the night.
The Miz defeated Dean Ambrose in a great match where the stipulation was that The Lunatic Fringe would lose the Intercontinental Championship if he were disqualified. The A-Lister is now IC Champion for a seventh time, second on the all-time list behind only the legendary Chris Jericho.
Putting the title on The Miz is sure to restore some of the shine that the belt lost during its time around Ambrose's waist. Mr Mizanin is one of the finest IC Champions of all time, and it will be interesting to see the opponents he works with going forward.
So, without any further ado, here is our list of 5 possible opponents for The Miz's Intercontinental Championship reign:
#5 Dean Ambrose
We start off with the man that just lost to The Miz at Extreme Rules, Dean Ambrose. The Lunatic Fringe is sure to have a chip on his shoulder about the way he lost the Intercontinental Championship and will be itching for a rematch and the chance to regain the belt.
Even if Ambrose does invoke the rematch clause, it seems unlikely that he will be given an extended feud with The Miz as his stock has fallen considerably over the past year. There have been strong rumours that officials backstage have been unhappy with his work and his program with The Miz seems to have given all that it could.
The former Shield member needs something to restart his ascent to the upper echelons of Monday Night Raw, and if he can prove himself, he might get another crack at the title and The A-Lister.
Also read: Best and Worst of WWE Extreme Rules 2017
#4 Austin Aries
Ahh that one confused you, didn't it? Austin Aries? But, isn't he a Cruiserweight? Well yes, but maybe not for too much longer. A Double just came off a hellacious Submission match against Neville at Extreme Rules, and even though he was on the losing side, he put in a hell of a shift.
His feud with The King of the Cruiserweights seems to have run its course, and Aries is too big of a star to waste away in a secondary feud on 205 Live. Instead, he should be bumped to a major program on the upper mid-card, and it makes perfect sense to have him go up against The Miz.
The two have the potential to put on great programs – both on the mic and in the ring – and The Greatest Man That Ever Lived can really help The A-Lister to ascend to the next level as well. Also, if his smile at the end of his match against Neville is anything to go by, there are big plans in store for Aries.
#3 Elias Samson
Now, this one is a bit weird because it would be Heel vs. Heel but that might not be a bad thing in this case. Elias Samson has garnered some real heat since his promotion to the main roster from NXT, and his whole singing shtick really rubs people the wrong way.
The Miz is also widely detested for his smug Hollywood persona, and it would be a lot of fun to see two such fundamentally disliked characters going at it. This is a program that can make The Drifter's star while also helping gain some much-needed appreciation for The A-Lister and the work he puts in.
It's one that will have to come out of left field but has quite a few intriguing possibilities.
#2 Roman Reigns
I can feel your shock through the screen right now. "What? Roman Reigns? There's no way they're going to put him in a feud for the secondary title of all things." But, might I remind you what happened last year between Reigns and Rusev.
It is very much a possibility that Reigns is given a feud with The Miz as a filler program until the return of Braun Strowman or his inevitable return to the main event picture. Also, remember that Reigns needs to win the IC Championship to become a Grand Slam Champion, and that's another achievement the WWE will be looking to bestow on The Big Dog ASAP.
Do not be surprised to see a program between Reigns and The Miz sometime soon.
#1 Finn Balor
Without a shadow of a doubt, the best possible opponent for The Miz's IC Championship reign is Finn Balor. The two are perfect representations of babyfaces and heels and have already teased something together during Payback.
It would be a high profile feud for The Miz while it would give The Demon a solid program before his inevitable quest to regain the WWE Universal Championship, which he never lost in the first place.
With Balor's shock loss and The A-Lister's shock win at Extreme Rules, this is the feud that makes the most sense for both men.
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