After the introduction packages, WWE Backlash 2018 opens with The Miz making his way to the ring. Miz gets a huge reception from the crowd in New Jersey. The Intercontinental Champion, Seth Rollins, is out next to another big reception.
WWE Intercontinental Championship Match
(C) Seth Rollins Vs. The Miz
The bell rings and the crowd go crazy before they even touch. Eventually they lock up and Rollins applies a hammerlock. Miz fights out and hits a kick to the gut and beats Seth down to the mat. Rollins retaliates with a dropkick and a few chops to the chest. Rollins takes to the apron and tries to springboard into the ring but Miz jumps kicks him off the rope to the floor. He slams Rollins’ head into the announce table before bringing him back into the ring. He slows the pace down as he grounds Rollins with a headlock.
Seth fights out but Miz chokes him against the middle rope until the ref forces him to break. Seth hits a facebuster out of nowhere! He sends Miz’s face into the middle turnbuckle and takes him down with a sling blade. Rollins clotheslines Miz out of the ring and then takes him out with a suicide dive and rolls him back in the ring for a near-fall. Miz counters a springboard, but Rollins is still able to hit a blockbuster a moment later for another near fall.
Miz pulls Rollins off the apron and his head hits the side of the ring. He climbs to the top rope for a crossbody, but Rollins rolls through and lifts him up for a swinging side slam to get a near fall. Seth jumps off the top turnbuckle with a huge frog splash to get another close two count. Rollins begins setting up for the stomp, but Miz rolls out of the ring – to a chorus of boos from the fans. Rollins decides to take the fight to him with another suicide dive but Miz catches him in mid-air with a forearm shot.
Both men clamber onto the apron and trade punches, until Miz counters the Revolution Knee and Seth hits the ring post hard. Miz gets him into the ring and immediately locks in the Figure Four. Seth suffers in the move for over a minute, then gets fired up and turns over to reverse the pressure. Miz rolls it back over and Seth reaches the ropes immediately. Miz looks for his finisher but Rollins rolls down for a pin attempt, howevr Miz lifts him back up like a wheelbarrow and hits the Skull Crushing Finale for a very close two count. Very cool segment.
Miz hits a corner clothesline before heading back to the top turnbuckle. Miz blocks a superplex attempt and kicks Rollins away. Seth runs right back up the ropes and hits a superplex. Miz counters the falcon arrow and hits another Skull Crushing Finale for yet another near fall. The crowd is going nuts for this match. Miz avoids a stomp and they trade pin attempts until finally Rollins rolls out and lands The Stomp for the win!
Winner: Seth Rollins
That was a fantastic match. Rollins really seems to have found a new gear in the past few months. After the match Rollins celebrates, while Miz retreats, holding his head in pain.
