Dean Ambrose Wins WWE Intercontinental Title On Smackdown
"The Lunatic Fringe" ends The Miz's sixth reign.
The first Smackdown Live of 2017 played host to the first title change of the new year, as Dean Ambrose pinned The Miz in the main event to win the Intercontinental Title. This marks Ambrose's second reign with the belt.
The Miz's issues with Ambrose first started on the episode of Smackdown following TLC, when he picked up a victory over "The Lunatic Fringe" with some inadvertent help from James Ellsworth. Following that victory, The Miz continued to goad Ambrose - first by presenting him with the first-ever "Miz Appreciation Award," and then by disrespecting Ambrose's real-life girlfriend, Renee Young.
On Smackdown, Ambrose got a rematch, and he made good on it from the very beginning, pummeling his enemy around the ringside area. Interference from Maryse turned things in The Miz's favor, but Ambrose fought back and reclaimed the advantage.
When things spilled to the outside, Maryse slapped Ambrose, nearly drawing a disqualification. Ambrose managed to convince the referee not to throw the match out and instead send Maryse to the back, making the contest a fair fight. Still, Miz nailed Ambrose with a title belt shot, but Ambrose kicked out and hit Dirty Deeds for the win.