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What's the story?
While the Intercontinental Championship has a rich and storied tradition, The Miz has just elevated it to a whole new level. He was a guest on Booker T's podcast recently, where he had a chat with the WWE Hall of Famer about a variety of topics, including his famous 'Talking Smack' segment with SmackDown Live Commissioner, Daniel Bryan.
This particular segment is considered to be the greatest promo of the current era. The Miz gave us a behind-the-scenes look at how it happened to come about, during the conversation.
In case you didn't know...
Talking Smack was a weekly show that followed SmackDown Live, where superstars could come and discuss their current storyline in a non-scripted environment, while still maintaining kayfabe.
In mid-2016, immediately after the brand split, this promo launched the buzz for Talking Smack absolutely sky high.
Unfortunately, the show has been relegated to a post-PPV special, as of right now because of disappointing viewership figures.
The heart of the matter
Thank you to Wrestling Inc. for the transcript:
And I will never forget where I went off on Daniel Bryan. That day, I went through so much on my mind, I was so aggravated. Here I was trying to make the title as prestigious as I can in WWE but I wasn't even on the show.
They told me that I was involved in a dark match to open the show. It is not that I didn't want to do it and perform for the audience, it was more like, this title deserves better than this.
The Miz asked to be put on Talking Smack, and the rest, as they say, is history:
Then, when I went on there, Daniel Bryan and I kind of went off. I literally thought he was going to punch me, but he just walked off.
Honestly, it was the best thing that could have happened because it allowed me to be center stage and just let off all of my frustration and everything that I was feeling at that moment, and I remember feeling inside my head reminding myself to not lose it. I then said, you know what, lose it.
What's next?
The Miz will face off against Finn Balor and Seth Rollins for the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 34.
The same Intercontinental Championship that he made prestigious again. As for Daniel Bryan, he returns to SmackDown Live very shortly, following the assault on Shane McMahon last week.
Author's take
I used to really love Talking Smack. It's unfortunate that the show went away because it provided a platform for so many superstars to speak in a non-scripted environment and get their personalities over.
I certainly rank The Miz's promo right up there with CM Punk's pipe bomb.
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