WWE SmackDown Grades: The Planet’s Champion Gains Five New Challengers

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3. The Miz And Shane McMahon Segment

The dynamic between Shane McMahon and The Miz over the past couple of months has been enjoyable to see.  In what started out as The Miz desperate to gain the affections of Shane O’Mac has developed into the duo becoming the “best tag team in the world” by capturing the SmackDown Tag Team Championship.

Miz and Shane won the titles from The Bar at the Royal Rumble and the celebration would carry over into last night’s SmackDown.  There wasn’t balloons, confetti, or champagne, but this segment would still be highly memorable thanks to the involvement of Mr. Miz.  The Miz said that he wanted to team up with Shane in the first place because his father thought Shane was the real deal, but it went further than that.

The A-Lister believed if he could have success with Shane as a tag team, it would make his father proud, who apparently has never said he was proud of The Miz before.  Shane O’Mac took notice of that and he introduced Miz’s father, George, after a video tribute.  George kept it short and simple, but it was everything The Miz has wanted to hear.

He said he loves him and he’s proud of him.  It was an actually convincing and heartfelt moment that was one of the better feel-good moments in a while.  Many fans expected some type of swerve, which still is likely coming, but this segment was simple and effective.  The crowd chanting Mr. Miz and Corey Graves’ hysterical commentary helped make this segment even better.

For what seemed like it could be a cringe-worthy segment, this turned out really well and bodes well for the future of this angle.

Final Grade: A-