As WWE is (thankfully) going back to the singles feud between The Miz and Daniel Bryan, we reach the anniversary of their first main feud 8 years ago. Where hilariously The Miz was considered a mentor to Daniel Bryan. At the time The Miz was really mentoring Alex Riley, who is in his corner. The Miz is also the Raw Money in the Bank briefcase holder. Before the match, Chris Jericho is interviewed by Josh Matthews about his chances in the WWE Championship six-pack challenge tonight. Jericho resents him calling it `lucky' and says he's the best at what he does, going over his chances in multi-man matches. Jerry "The King" Lawler, Michael Cole and Matt Striker are on commentary tonight.
The video runs over their story from NXT to Bryan challenging The Miz for the championship and making Alex Riley tap out on Raw. Michael Cole kisses The Miz's ass, he was on Smackdown in 2004 so he has seen a real improvement in Miz over the 5 years. It was about the only thing good about Cole's commentary at this point. Which of course he instantly blows during Bryan's entrance calling him a "paper opponent" for his boy.
THE MIZ © VS. DANIEL BRYAN
(WWE United States Championship)
WWE Night of Champions 2010 (19th September 2010)
The Miz avoids Bryan, going out to the apron to begin the match as Matt Striker talks about Harley Race's career instead. He kicks Bryan in the gut, trapping him in a side headlock, Daniel Bryan takes Miz into the ropes and sends him across the ring, but is knocked down by a shoulder tackle. Daniel Bryan goes prone and leapfrogs the return journey, neither man gets a hip toss so Bryan tries a LaBelle lock, but Miz is able to scramble out of the ring. The Miz talks about trainers giving Michael Cole a chance to put over Miz for Bryan's career instead of the other guy that trained him, Shawn Michaels. If this was a drinking game that would have to be a case of beer gone as a rule. The Miz charges Bryan when he eventually gets back in the ring and Daniel Bryan takes him over with an arm drag. The Miz quickly makes some space, not wanting to give Bryan the arm for the LaBelle lock again. Matt Striker talks about the innovator of that move, Gene LaBelle.
It's Miz's turn to go prone, but Bryan hits a jumping boot to cut off the leapfrog attempt, he quickly covers Miz for a nearfall as Michael Cole reads LaBelle's Wikipedia page to Striker. Daniel Bryan controls the arm again as they get to their feet, so Miz steps out to the apron. The Miz grab's Bryan's arm, dropping to the floor to send it off the top rope. The Miz starts working the arm as he gets back in the ring. He brings Bryan to his feet, putting him in a hammerlock to send the shoulder into the top turnbuckle. Matt Striker and Michael Cole are ignoring this match to argue as Bryan's shoulder hits the second turnbuckle and The Miz drops him with a back suplex in the hammerlock for a nearfall. As The Miz pulls Bryan's shoulders back I imagine the heat he'd get if he was allowed to pull off Bryan's old Cattle Mutilation move. Instead, he just holds him for a tiger suplex he has no intention of hitting until Bryan straightens his arms out, fighting to his feet. Daniel Bryan tries to counter, turning it around but The Miz uses the momentum to bring it back to his advantage, dropping Bryan to his knees. Daniel Bryan is brought back into a surfboard by The Miz as the match is still ignored. They get to their feet and trade counters until Daniel Bryan brings Miz down for a backslide, The Miz kicks out at 2.
The Miz kicks Bryan in the shoulder when they get to their feet, bringing the match back to his favour. The Miz uses elbow strikes and ties Bryan's shoulder around the middle rope. Alex Riley is on that side of the ring, as the referee brings The Miz away, he takes advantage, pulling at Bryan's arm over the rope. Michael Cole justifies the cheating well, which unfortunately hits me as a pleasant surprise. The Miz keeps his attention on Bryan's shoulder, bringing him down in a hammerlock again, forcing Bryan to carry his weight too. Daniel Bryan gets to his feet, instead of grabbing the rope he flips out of the move, hitting The Miz with forearms. The Miz cuts him off with a knee to the gut. Matt Striker uses The Miz's use of a shoulder breaker to wish a happy birthday to Arn Anderson. Could they not put a spinebuster in any match tonight to squeeze that in? Did Triple H take tonight off? The Miz gets a nearfall. The Miz uses the bottom rope against Bryan's shoulder as Bryan's on the apron. He drops to the mat, Bryan drops to the floor and I'm surprised Miz doesn't have Bryan's arm still. The Miz quickly brings Bryan back in the ring and covers, but Daniel Bryan kicks out at 2.
Matt Striker calls this Miz's pace as he keeps Bryan on the mat, trapping the arm again. Daniel Bryan again gets to his feet, using forearm strikes to break free. The Miz cuts off the attack with another boot to the shoulder and charges across the ring, Daniel Bryan sidesteps and dumps Miz to the floor, following with a dive through the ropes. Even Cole has to mark out for that. Daniel Bryan brings it back in the ring, climbing to the top rope and hitting a missile dropkick. Daniel Bryan covers but only gets a nearfall. Daniel Bryan hits a running penalty kick to The Miz but begins to favour his shoulder, slowing him down. He attempts a single leg boston crab, but Miz kicks the shoulder. Daniel Bryan backs into the corner but lifts his boot as The Miz charges. Daniel Bryan hits a running leg lariat and covers for 2. Daniel Bryan shouts for Mix to get up as a section of the fans chant for Bryan. The Miz shoves Bryan away and gets to his feet, they exchange punches and Daniel Bryan gets a combination together and ducks a clothesline. A kick to the chest sends Miz into the corner, Daniel Bryan piston-fires kicks at The Miz's chest (now known as the "Yes" kicks I believe) and follows up with a running dropkick. Daniel Bryan hits Tajiri's old buzzsaw kick for a nearfall.
Daniel Bryan puts Miz over the top turnbuckle and joins him, but gets crotched on the top rope. The Miz hits a clothesline from the middle rope bringing Bryan back in the ring and Bryan flips over! The Miz pins Bryan but still only gets 2. The Miz drops his knee onto the back of Bryan's neck, pulling back at the shoulder, Bryan refuses to tap, Miz applies more pressure but has to change his position so Bryan uses that moment to shift his body weight, turning himself around and getting his foot to the rope. The Miz has Daniel Bryan in a full nelson as they get to their feet, but Bryan fights off the Skull Crushing Finale, rolling through for a nearfall that the crowd fell for. Cole screams "Not like this" making Lawler laugh. The Miz tries to fight off a LaBelle lock as Alex Riley jumps on the apron. He distracts both the referee and Daniel Bryan, The Miz charges Bryan from behind but Daniel Bryan sidesteps, Sending Miz into his real protege. Daniel Bryan rolls Miz up again for an even closer nearfall. The Miz sends Daniel Bryan through the ropes to the floor and the referee holds him back. Alex Riley tries to blindside Bryan but gets sidestepped and sent into the ring post. Daniel Bryan rams his shoulder into Miz's gut from the apron but Miz rolls him up as Bryan steps through the ropes for another close nearfall. The Miz snaps, attacking Daniel Bryan so the referee reminds him who's in charge. Daniel Bryan catches Miz in the LaBelle lock, slowly locking it in with a weak shoulder, The Miz tries to get to the ropes but has to tap out.
WINNER: DANIEL BRYAN (NEW WWE United States Champion
Wow. This was definitely the time that The Miz started improving in my eyes, He was building up credentials on his own merits but putting him with Bryan showed he could have a passable match. Of course, it's easy to say against Bryan, but it's more difficult to give him all the credit for a WWE style match. The Miz worked the shoulder well and the interference added to the atmosphere of the match instead of cutting the momentum. It was a slow start for the crowd, who sat on their hands until Bryan went kick-mad but by the end, they were with them. The commentary was the glaring negative here, ruining my enjoyment slightly. – WORKRATE: 4/5 PERSONAL ENJOYMENT: 1.5/5 OVERALL: 5.5/10
Michael Cole complains that it was a fluke as Bryan celebrates all the way to the back, leaving The Miz crying at losing the title.
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