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Well, this match was bizarrely both one of the most predictable, yet highly anticipated matches on the card. Even though these men no longer share a brand, Seth Rollins defending the Intercontinental Champion against eight-time Intercontinental Champion The Miz was always going to be huge.
Kicking off a stacked card, and with Miz looking to make history and tie Chris Jericho's record of nine reigns with the Intercontinental title, this match started off very aggressively.
Stiff strikes and strongholds galore started off this encounter before Rollins attempted a springboard which saw Miz flatten him and both men tear each other apart outside the ring.
Miz didn't pick up the pace here, he maintained it as this was one of the most intense performances we'd ever seen from the A-Lister, getting a near fall before Rollins took over and slammed the SmackDown man face-first into the second turnbuckle. Rollins then hit a slingblade and sent Miz over the top rope.
AIR ROLLINS! The champ then went through the middle rope and sent up what became undoubtedly one of the coolest exchange of the night. The pair went back into the ring, Miz tried for a Skull-Crushing Finale which The Architect countered into a roll up, near fall, Miz looked to take advantage and the Kingslayer hit Miz with a blockbuster.
Miz then went for a figure four but Rollins kicked his way free, eating a flying clothesline immediately after which saw Rollins survey the scene, charge to Miz in the corner, but both men ended up the wrong side of the ropes with Rollins eating some apron thanks to Miz being well aware of his surroundings.
Rollins took control, though, and hit a HUGE frog splash three-quarters of the way across the ring, but only got a near fall for his troubles.
Rollins seemed to be setting up for the Curb Stomp, but Miz again showed his veteran ring smarts by slipping outside. Rollins chased but Miz managed to take advantage yet again. The challenger went for a DDT on the apron, but the champion countered and the pair, again, exchanged some stiff strikes on the apron. Rollins went for his King's Landing finisher on the apron only for Miz to evade and Rollins to smash his knee into the ringpost, with a sickening thud.
Miz took advantage and locked in the Figure Four, but Rollins managed to reverse it in the middle of the ring. Miz again reversed but Rollins got the bottom rope.
The pair then exchanged chops, kicks, forearms, punches and anything else they could in the center of the ring before Miz attempted the Skull-Crushing Finale twice, the second being countered by an enziguri, and finally hitting a third for the nearest of near falls.
Miz then hit the Awesome Clothesline in the corner and went up top, but a delay allowed Rollins to counter and, favoring the knee, go up top for his Superplex into the Falcon Arrow - but Miz stopped this immediately and chucked Rollins to the floor. But before Miz could react, Rollins showed the cat-like reflexes that helped him retain his title in the Ladder Match at the Greatest Royal Rumble, hit part one, but before the Falcon Arrow, BOOM, Skull-Crushing Finale out of nowhere.
One... Two...
And a kick-out. Rollins AGAIN escaped the Skull-Crushing Finale. Miz took Rollins to the top rope to go for a third and final Skull-Crushing Finale. No luck, Rollins countered and went for a second-rope Curb Stomp. Miz evaded, rolled up Rollins off the rope for the two, Rollins rolled through for the two, Miz kicked out and finally took a Curb Stomp.
Still selling the knee injury, Rollins got the three count and retained his Intercontinental Championship to keep the belt on the red brand and make sure Monday Night Rollins sees the Architect bring a belt to the table for the foreseeable future.
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