The Miz Defeats Dean Ambrose For WWE Intercontinental Title At Extreme Rules 2017
Miz holds IC gold for the seventh time.
WWE's Extreme Rules Pay-Per-View got off to a noteworthy start when The Miz defeated Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose to claim to title. This marks Miz's seventh reign with the belt, putting him at number two on the all-time list after nine-time champion Chris Jericho.
The special stipulation for the match - that the title could change hands on a disqualification - ended up not coming into play, despite the fact that booking suggested "The Drifter" Elias Samson might cost Ambrose the belt. Referee John Cone refused to disqualify Miz when Maryse hit him at her husband's behest, but nearly threw the match out when the challenger pushed "The Lunatic Fringe" into him. While Ambrose pleaded with the referee not to disqualify him, Miz snuck up behind the champion and gave him a Skull-Crushing Finale. The pinfall and title change followed.
Ambrose had been in his second reign as Intercontinental Champion, a run which began on January 3. He defeated The Miz to capture the belt, though at the time - prior to the Superstar Shake Up - both men and the title were assigned to the Smackdown brand.