WWE Survivor Series 2017 Results: Highlights, Analysis, and Grades

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Champion vs. Champion Match #1

United States Champion Baron Corbin vs. Intercontinental Champion The Miz (w/ Bo Dallas & Curtis Axel)

Result: Baron Corbin defeated The Miz via pinfall

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

You’re forgiven if you thought Joel Gertner was accompanying The Miz to the ring tonight. But it was actually Curtis Axel in a red neck brace playing homage to the Quintessential Stud Muffin of ECW Classic. I told you, I’m a sucker for matching gear, and for the AxeMan to join in shows how important things are to the Raw brand.

Booking heel vs. heel matches are always tricky. Broken down as simply as possible, basic storytelling techniques require a hero and a villain. Someone needs to be a “good guy” for the audience to get behind. So who do you pick here? Both superstars are at their best playing the baddie.

Bringing Maryse to ringside makes The Miz almost like the de facto babyface. He’s in the ring fighting for the honor of his entire family, who Corbin has spent weeks verbally assaulting on social media. Even with The Miztourage helping him out, Miz is the good guy in this one.

And because it was a strange booking move to do heel vs. heel, it’s commendable that this one turned out as well as it did. Everything actually seemed to work out, and it was a good contrast from the first two matches of the night (all out war in a six man tag, and an elimination tag match). Nothing to set the world on fire with, but solid.

SmackDown had to get on the board at some point, and this was the perfect place to do it. Miz is almost bulletproof at this point when it comes to wins and losses, so this won’t affect him at all. But Corbin needs the wins to build himself back up after the Money in the Bank cash-in fiasco. Good call on this one.