13 Ups & 3 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (July 23)

5. MizTV Over-Delivers

Dolph Ziggler The Miz Shawn Michaels
WWE.com

There's an understandable level of fatigued surrounding the recently revived Dolph Ziggler vs. The Miz feud. The duo have shared a ring 68 times throughout their WWE careers. It's a retread of a retread of a retread, and with 'The Show-Off' typecast as a big-match loser a long time ago and Miz struggling for in-ring momentum since tangling with Shane McMahon, it's not the easiest storyline to get amped up for.

Well guess what? WWE did it last night, albeit with a little help from Shawn Michaels.

This was a fine MizTV segment that smartly played on the long-running comparisons between Ziggler and HBK, with Dolph shredding Michaels for what he has become. He claimed that he used to idolise Shawn, and that him coming back "broke his heart," and while Michaels didn't disagree, he said that "what's more embarrassing is working your whole career to become a second-rate Shawn Michaels."

The Miz stepped in, daring Ziggler to do something. Dolph's response? A Superkick intended for 'The A-Lister' landing right on Shawn's jaw, before Miz recovered to run him off.

Great, great stuff, and a perfect way to use a returning legend.

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Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.