WWE Clash of Champions 2019: Daily DDT Staff Predictions

Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. The Miz – Intercontinental Championship

Bassam Kaado: So, I’m going against all logic in this match-up. WWE is not shy about its pettiness, as we have seen with title reigns of people just to erase current record holders (CM Punk and AJ Lee). With Jericho being the AEW champion, having the Miz tie his record 9 times makes a lot of sense.

Plus, the Miz got a great pop beating Andrade. This means I’m picking Miz, right? Nope. I think the Shinsuke-Zayn collab is a great storyline, and it needs to be carried and reached to its fullest potential. Miz has been damaged since turning face, so help build up the stock of Shinsuke again.

Bryan Heaton: Have you heard that The Miz has been Intercontinental Champion 8 times already? And the record is 9? By some guy who WWE won’t mention for some strange, unknown reason? Not only do I think Miz is going to beat Nakamura to tie the record, I wouldn’t be shocked if he celebrated with a little bit of the bubbly while writing a list about IT on a giant scroll with the word ARMBAR written all over it.

Chris Jeter:  Originally, I figured Nakamura would retain the title without question. Then, our own Josiah McDonald pointed out to me in our Slack chat that Miz is one title win away from tying Chris Jericho’s Intercontinental Title reigns record.

Is WWE so petty that they would change their own record books – making them even more arbitrary than they already are – just to get back at a man who dared to leave and work somewhere else? A man who probably cares as much about that record as your average millenial cares about baseball?

Usually, the answer is yes. Fortunately, Nakamura has just started this partnership with Sami Zayn, so I doubt they cut the legs from under the act by having the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion sell Miz’s two-ply kicks and lose to him clean. So, I’ll pick Nakamura to retain.

Chris Schad: I wish I cared more about Nakamura’s title run, but then WWE overcompensated by bringing in Sami Zayn as his mouthpiece. As The Miz’s run as a babyface has started run out of steam too, I just wonder what the main plan is here.

To me, there are plenty of matchups that Nakamura can have with up and coming stars, but the Miz feels like a stepping stone to making the Nakamura/Zayn alliance feel important. This could turn out to be a decent match, but Nakamura gets the win.

Joe Anthony Myrick: For all intents and purposes, Shinsuke Nakamura should retain to kick off his new partnership with Sami Zayn in style. However, with The Miz nearing his ninth IC Title and a certain someone who currently holds that record having just won the World Title on the other side of the wrestling world, WWE may have Miz tie that record out of spite. Then, eventually, break that record. In short, The Miz wins.

Mark Justice: Like Charlotte Flair, The Miz is a mediocre babyface. He made the IC Championship prestigious as a heel, but will most likely not do the same as a babyface.

From a storyline standpoint, it wouldn’t make sense for the King of Soft Style to defeat The King of Strong Style without nefariously doing so. As a babyface, Miz no longer has the leeway to nefariously win matches, so he should lose due to the lack of strength and athleticism in his wrestling style. Also, considering that Nakamura formed a new alliance with the altruistic Sami Zayn, the WWE should let that combo thrive a bit longer before Nakamura loses the championship.

Maysum Hudda: The recent alliance between Sami Zayn and Nakamura should pay dividends as I believe Nakamura will retain his title with the help of Zayn. I find it hilarious that WWE put Zayn, one of their most talented wrestlers, as the champion’s mouthpiece rather than giving him a championship match. Hopefully Nakamura vs Sami happens sometime down the line, but for now, Nakamura retains and I pray Sami Zayn doesn’t have a microphone during the match.

Ryan Anderson: This match has two wrestlers who are booked in roles that don’t suit their
personality. The Miz has flourished as an arrogant heel. Nakamura has loads of charisma. For some reason they are in opposite roles. Sami Zayn has been able to finally lend Nakamura’s character some heel tactics. With Zayn as the mouthpiece to right all the wrongs in WWE, it makes sense to add a dimension of Nakamura being “screwed” out of the Intercontinental Championship.