Can The Miz prove he’s still up with the best of them in the ring? If he comes close to beating Gunther in the midst of his lengthy reign, he’ll do it.
He shows no fear early on, trying to hang with the champ at his own striking game and doing pretty well. Unfortunately for him, a big left hand looks like it just ticks Gunther off, but he’s able to lure the champ to the side of the ring and wrap his leg around the post.
Corey Graves brings up the idea that perhaps Gunther has overlooked The Miz as he falls into a Figure Four around the post. The ensuing battle of strikes doesn’t go as smoothly for Miz, as Gunther eventually chops him down to the mat and yells that his opponent isn’t in his league.
The fans express their displeasure as Gunther puts Miz down again. A hurricanrana makes for a good counter to a powerbomb attempt, and Miz follows up with kicks to the left knee.
Miz keeps the kicks coming, smashing Gunther down against the middle turnbuckle in a seated position. He hits a tilt-a-whirl DDT as well, earning a two count for his efforts.
A Skull-Crushing Finale is what Miz wants next, but Gunther dropkicks him into the corner and stacks him after a powerbomb. Both Graves and Gunther seems surprised when Miz kicks out.
As Miz struggles in a sleeper, he grabs the turnbuckle cover and removes it. With the ref distracted, he hits a pair of low blows and the Skull-Crushing Finale, but even as Michael Cole goes nuts, Gunther is able to kick out at two.
The fans urge Miz to hit his finisher one more time, and even when he can’t pull it off, he nearly puns Gunther anyway. A big clothesline sends Miz to the mat, however, and Gunther ascends for a top rope splash that doesn’t quite land flush.
The champ applies a Boston Crab, then pulls Miz back toward the center of the ring and turns it into a Lion Tamer of sorts, and Miz decides he has to tap out.
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