WWE Backlash: Dolph Ziggler Vs. The Miz (WWE Intercontinental Title Match)

The following is from our live coverage of WWE Backlash. To access our full coverage, click here.

WWE Intercontinental Title Match: Dolph Ziggler vs. The Miz

We go to the ring and out first comes Dolph Ziggler. We see WWE Intercontinental Champion The Miz backstage yelling at Daniel Bryan about being underappreciated. Miz says Bryan needs to bring something to the table. He says SmackDown needs the title, which means Shane and Bryan need him. Miz wants to renegotiate his contract and wants more pay. Bryan just stares at him. Miz refers to Bryan as a coward and says when he retains, the negotiations will be tougher. Miz tells Bryan to go watch what he can't do anymore. Miz walks off with Maryse and Bryan looks to be getting emotional. Miz makes his way to the ring now.

Mauro shows us the Russian, Portuguese and Japanese announcers elsewhere int he arena, including Sho Funaki. The referee raises the title as we get the bell. The bell rings and they size each other up. Miz charges and gets taken down. Miz scrambles to the ropes to break it and retreats to the floor as fans boo. Miz comes back in and they tangle. Ziggler with a takedown into a 2 count. Ziggler with another 2 count and another. Miz comes right back and slams Ziggler as Maryse cheers him on. More back and forth with Ziggler getting some offense in. Miz cuts him off and catapults him to the floor as the referee counts.

Ziggler sells a shoulder injury on the floor and Miz dropkicks him through the ropes. Miz goes to work on the shoulder and brings it back in for a 2 count. Miz with more offense and another pin attempt. Miz goes on and hits a few corner dropkicks. Miz mocks the "yes!" chant and nails his corner clothesline. Ziggler blocks a Skull Crushing Finale and nails a dropkick. Ziggler makes a comeback with clotheslines now. Ziggler with a swinging neckbreaker. Ziggler with more offense and a 2 count. Miz ends up running into the ring post and hitting hard. He counters and hits a sitdown powerbomb for a 2 count. More back and forth. Ziggler with a Fame-asser and a close 2 count as he sells the knee injury.

Miz blocks a Zig Zag but Ziggler applies the sleeper hold. Miz eventually breaks it and sends Ziggler head-first into the corner. Miz talks things over with Maryse now. Ziggler catches Miz with a big DDT for a close 2 count. Ziggler readies for a superkick but it's blocked. Miz applies the Figure Four in the middle of the ring. Ziggler manages to get the bottom rope and break the hold but Miz keeps it locked as long as he can. Ziggler blocks another Figure Four attempt. The Network goes out but comes back to Miz dropping Ziggler. Miz crawls out to the floor and looks to be crawling away but here comes Ziggler as Maryse looks on. The referee counts. Ziggler brings it back in and they trade pin attempts. Miz distracts the referee, allowing Maryse to spray something into Ziggler's face. Miz takes advantage and catches Ziggler in the Skull Crushing Finale for the win.

Winner: The Miz

After the match, Maryse enters the ring as Miz is handed the title. We get replays and come back to Maryse and Miz on the entrance as Ziggler recovers in the ring.