The Miz Continues to Elevate Intercontinental Championship on WWE SmackDown

There is plenty of truth to the maniacal rants The Miz has spouted on WWE SmackDown. He has indeed aided the Intercontinental Championship's relevance.
     
Normally, the loudmouth heels who populate the WWE landscape fire off hyperbolic speeches that are best dismissed as hollow tirades. Not with The Miz.
            
During his now-famous diatribe on Talking Smack in August, The Miz said of the IC crown, "I swear to you, I promise you—it will be the most relevant title on SmackDown Live."
        
The arrogant, wannabe Hollywood star has worked to make that come true. He has helped change the perception of that championship, elevating its significance by way of stellar performances, compelling rivalries and pride over the prize.
       
On Tuesday's SmackDown, when an ankle injury kept WWE world champ AJ Styles from competing, the blue brand turned to The Miz.
     
The Hollywood A-Lister nailed both of his opportunities that night. He killed it in a Miz TV segment opposite Dean Ambrose and then delivered in the main event, an IC title match against The Lunatic Fringe.
     
The Miz scoffed at the crowd in Houston for not chanting "You deserve it!" at him:

He tore into Ambrose, blaming him for his buddy, James Ellsworth, betraying him at the TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs pay-per-view on Sunday. The Miz was powerfully conniving, grating and self-admiring as usual.
        
This was par for the course for him. For much of 2016, he has been one of WWE's best heels. 

And he has been that with the Intercontinental Championship raised high and proud.
     
During his two IC title reigns this year and in the midst of his feud with Dolph Ziggler, that leather strap has been the focal point of his character. He gushes about what it means to him. The Miz constantly talks up the prestige of the belt.
     
He called his first reign of the year "The Never-Ending Intercontinental Championship World Tour" with such cocky gusto that one couldn't help but want to see someone knock him off his self-made pedestal.  

While some midcard champs have used their titles as ignored accessories, The Miz is constantly fawning over his.
     
His desire to hold onto to the championship is visceral. He adores it. That has helped it feel more meaningful. 
     
The Miz is bringing buzz to the belt with his in-ring performances, too.
     
When he, Cesaro, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn composed a thriller of a Fatal 4-Way match for the IC title at Extreme Rules, many credited the other men involved. After all, The Miz was an average performer—a man who transitioned into the squared circle from reality TV. He wasn't a real wrestler. 
        
Then the standout performances kept coming.
     
The Miz excelled against Cesaro on SmackDown and Zayn at Survivor Series. He and Ziggler tore the house down at No Mercy. At TLC, The Miz outlasted The Showoff in a ladder match.

Indy wrestler Gran Akuma was among those who raved about the bout and the rivalry:  

On Tuesday night, The Miz had to defend the title once more. He fended off Ambrose in SmackDown's main event. 
       
It was yet another strong showing for The Miz.         

As we saw when John Cena took on all comers as United States champion in a series of open challenges, nothing boosts a title like great matches. And The Miz has had plenty of them.       
     
The Miz is having a career year, and he's doing it with the IC title in the spotlight.          
      
The crown lacked status of late. WWE had to bring up the names of champions from decades ago to remind fans what the title used to mean. Inconsequential reigns were the norm. 
     
It was just another title.
           
The Miz has followed through with his promise to change that. As the folks at Fightful put it, he's done "an amazing job" in restoring it: 

His verbal clashes with SmackDown general manager Daniel Bryan have made the IC champ one of the most talked-about figures on the show. His personal rivalry with Ziggler has assured the belt plenty of attention.

And now WWE has to find another fitting foil for him.
         
A fresh, intriguing challenger needs to step up to The Miz—be it Ambrose or an up-and-comer like Apollo Crews. The drama and excitement surrounding the IC title must continue.     
        
WWE is halfway there already; it has a masterful champion in place.