CLEVELAND — None of it worked. Not The Miz’s hometown good vibes, not the presence of good-luck charm George Mizanin at ringside, not even the signature daredevilry of Shane McMahon. The Co-Besties, a.k.a. the Best Friends, a.k.a. McMiz, are neither SmackDown Tag Team Champions, nor are they apparently even a tag team anymore. At the very least, they likely aren’t friends, if we’re to take Shane’s stunning, post-match attack of The Awesome One at face value.
Before being attacked by Shane McMahon, The Miz brings a powerful onslaught against SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos: Courtesy of WWE Network.
Of course, heinous ambushes are part and parcel of the game in a tag team division, but the former SmackDown Commissioner’s mugging was doubly shocking because it came on the heels of one of his squad’s finest moments in the short-lived alliance, a match in which Shane literally went above and beyond to get to the cusp of victory against The Usos: In what will undoubtedly be this match’s signature moment, The Prodigal Son knocked Jimmy Uso flat out of the sky with a Coast-to-Coast as the titleholder attempted to pancake Miz with a top-rope splash.
The maneuver didn’t just launch a thousand .gifs; it gave The A-Lister new life in a match where Jimmy & Jey competed like they were looking to send a message, even going so far as to add new maneuvers to their repertoire — a pop-up Samoan Drop; a two-man swinging neckbreaker — as examples of the kind of chemistry and creativity that can only come about after years of teaming together. Miz, too, was looking to send a message; with his father in the front row, The Awesome One had been rolling like a house on fire all match and saved the finishing touch for last. At the old man’s urging, Miz ascended the top turnbuckle and attempted a Frog Splash of his own, only to be kneed by Jimmy and rolled up for three.
Cleveland still showered Miz with a hero’s reception in the wake of his defeat, and Shane seemed content to let his partner have his moment. At least until he bulldozed Miz from behind, pie-faced Mr. Mizanin in the crowd and locked The Awesome One in a triangle as Mr. Miz watched in horror. Tears will doubtlessly be shed for the sudden demise of one of SmackDown’s purest friendships, but perhaps the mourners shouldn’t be surprised. Shane is a self-professed student of the game, and the lesson about friends has been told time and time again. The last word on tonight might be that it was simply Miz’s turn to learn it.
CLEVELAND — None of it worked. Not The Miz’s hometown good vibes, not the presence of good-luck charm George Mizanin at ringside, not even the signature daredevilry of Shane McMahon. The Co-Besties, a.k.a. the Best Friends, a.k.a. McMiz, are neither SmackDown Tag Team Champions, nor are they apparently even a tag team anymore. At the very least, they likely aren’t friends, if we’re to take Shane’s stunning, post-match attack of The Awesome One at face value.
Before being attacked by Shane McMahon, The Miz brings a powerful onslaught against SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos: Courtesy of WWE Network.
Of course, heinous ambushes are part and parcel of the game in a tag team division, but the former SmackDown Commissioner’s mugging was doubly shocking because it came on the heels of one of his squad’s finest moments in the short-lived alliance, a match in which Shane literally went above and beyond to get to the cusp of victory against The Usos: In what will undoubtedly be this match’s signature moment, The Prodigal Son knocked Jimmy Uso flat out of the sky with a Coast-to-Coast as the titleholder attempted to pancake Miz with a top-rope splash.
The maneuver didn’t just launch a thousand .gifs; it gave The A-Lister new life in a match where Jimmy & Jey competed like they were looking to send a message, even going so far as to add new maneuvers to their repertoire — a pop-up Samoan Drop; a two-man swinging neckbreaker — as examples of the kind of chemistry and creativity that can only come about after years of teaming together. Miz, too, was looking to send a message; with his father in the front row, The Awesome One had been rolling like a house on fire all match and saved the finishing touch for last. At the old man’s urging, Miz ascended the top turnbuckle and attempted a Frog Splash of his own, only to be kneed by Jimmy and rolled up for three.
Cleveland still showered Miz with a hero’s reception in the wake of his defeat, and Shane seemed content to let his partner have his moment. At least until he bulldozed Miz from behind, pie-faced Mr. Mizanin in the crowd and locked The Awesome One in a triangle as Mr. Miz watched in horror. Tears will doubtlessly be shed for the sudden demise of one of SmackDown’s purest friendships, but perhaps the mourners shouldn’t be surprised. Shane is a self-professed student of the game, and the lesson about friends has been told time and time again. The last word on tonight might be that it was simply Miz’s turn to learn it.
