WWE SmackDown: 10 Things You Might Have Missed (Dec 13)
2. The Miz Didn't Lose Face Even Though He Was Eliminated First
Given the first in-ring segment of the show, The Miz was also involved in the last on SmackDown. Part of the Fatal-4-Way match designed to determine a new contender for AJ Styles and the WWE Title, Miz was the first one eliminated from the bout. Afterwards, he sold shock and pleaded with the referee.
Trying to sneak in and pin Dean Ambrose, Dolph Ziggler and Luke Harper after that trio had been battling, Miz was then rolled up in a small package pinning combination by Ambrose. Unable to kick out, he was the first to go in SmackDown's main event. Yet, the embarrassment doesn't hurt him at all.
The Miz has a braggart character so solid that he's almost Teflon at this point. He was there to be the proverbial sacrificial lamb in the Fatal-4-Way, the kind of guy fans love to see get his comeuppance in such situations.
This shows the progression Miz has made as a character since the start of 2016, he's now 100% vital to SmackDown and one of the most straightforward to write for the creative team.