[2016-10-09-WWE No Mercy] The Miz vs Dolph Ziggler

[Superstar Sleeze]

WWE Intercontinental Champion The Miz vs Dolph Ziggler - WWE No Mercy 2016

I am not surprised this match is considered better than Backlash but in my mind the Backlash match is the clearly superior match. But this match has the more pronounced leg work, more bells & whistles during the finish and Maryse in White WOAH oh and the babyface gets the big triumphant victory. However, it think the body of the Backlash match is far more interesting. They work with more urgency and the character work is better in Backlash. The Hair Spray finish is more tasteful as well, 

I thought the first ten minutes were fine but more in a routine Smackdown match way. I liked all the callback psychology. Ziggler lands on his feet on the catapult. He avoids the clothesline in the corner on the Danielson dropkicks. He avoids the Slingshot Powerbomb not once but twice. I thought the transition to heat was weird. I really liked Miz punting the ropes into Zigglers nuts but then Ziggler snaps off a dropkick. So then a Bret Bump in the corner settles us into heat. It was off. Miz is not as interesting in what and there are less hope spots. I thought the cutoffs and hope spots were all over the place. I liked how Miz had to earn the Slingshot Powerbomb using the exposed Buckle. Miz getting done by his own hubris with his shitty It Kicks resulting in the Zig Zag was a great spot. Strong Nearfall liked the tenacity on the Sleeper. The Hair Spray and Skull Crushing Finale hitting too close to the ropes was a little too cute. Though Miz going all Bockwinkel and attacking the leg that wronged him was cool. He rips off the boot and Superkick with da stinky feet! Here comes the Spirit Squad. I am all for extracurriculars but this was lame. Kenny never gets hit and they don’t do anything and the ref just throws them out. Why didn’t he just do that to begin with? He kicked out of Skull Crushing Finale for one last near fall. Superkick win. 
 

They give this the big main event treatment even though it was an IC match. But didnt really land. They really went for EPIC but their reach exceeded their grasp. it is safely great But what makes the September match a classic is they are present in the moment reacting to each other trying to win the by product is a classic match. When try for Classic the by product is usually falling short. ****