4 Ups And 4 Downs From Last Night's WWE Smackdown (Jan 3)
Ups...
4. Happy Miz Year!
The first Smackdown of 2017 opened up with one of the brand's MVPs of 2016 - The Miz. The six-time and current Intercontinental Champion was joined by Maryse, and told the crowd that his year was everything he wanted it to be, and his only New Year's resolution was to be more forgiving. On that note, he called out Renee Young, demanding that the interviewer give him an apology.
When Young didn't come out, The Miz got more aggressive and disrespectful, eventually prompting Dean Ambrose to hit the ring. Miz left, but Maryse stood tall in the ring, slapping Ambrose in the face. "The Lunatic Fringe," who would challenge Miz for the belt later in the show, retaliated by telling the IC Champion that the hard part of his evening was over, because his wife hits way harder than he does.
The Miz's promo work here was really electric, and he was showing the kind of crowd command that only the real greats can manage. Ambrose's part in this was short but sweet, and it was an effective buildup to the show's main event.