One of the key selling points to the Survivor Series in its 24-year history has always been teams comprised of guys who usually dont interact with each other. Several teams were sold as dominant because they included mostly main event wrestlers. Meanwhile, others proved more popular and memorable among fans because they included talented and popular wrestlers. The two best examples over the years may have been the Hulkamaniacs (Hulk Hogan, Jake Roberts and Demolition) in 1989 and Team DX (Shawn Michaels, Triple H, CM Punk, Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy) from 2006.
However, one team in particular has obtained a fair amount of attention since it debuted less than two years ago. It isnt because the five men were the best in the business, nor is it because they were all extremely popular among fans. Rather, this team was comprised of five young superstars who, at the time, had all the potential in the world to become the best in the business and all the time to reach that goal.
And that team, on Nov. 22, 2009, was Team Miz: The Miz, Sheamus, Drew McIntyre, Jack Swagger and Dolph Ziggler.
Certainly, they all had and continue to have detractors, but there was still a noticeable amount of intrigue when it was announced they were teaming in 2009. Unlike teams that included guys who were already at the top of their game, here we had five guys who were supposed to be the future of WWE. And little did those men know, on that November 2009 night, a bar was quietly being set for all of them to overcome, and the fans were going to be watching. Never has there been a Survivor Series team of which each member was closely watched by fans who wondered if all men would win either the WWE Championship or the World Championship.
It was all a matter of who would do it first, and the answer shocked many.
On Dec. 13, 2009, Sheamus beat John Cena for the WWE Championship in a tables match at TLC. His victory was questionable, as the Celtic Warrior had only been in WWE a few months. Fans speculated his win was supposed to be a fluke, since it appeared Cena merely fell through a table, as opposed to being pinned. Nonetheless, Sheamus was champion and would have another reign later in 2010.
Next up, on March 30, 2010, Jack Swagger stepped up by winning the World Championship. Just two days earlier, he won the Money in the Bank match at Wrestlemania XXVI and gained the right to challenge for a world title whenever he wanted. Swagger cashed in on an injured Chris Jericho and won the World Championship in short order. He held the title until June 20 and began a slow descent back to the midcard. Nonetheless, Swagger was officially a former World Champion.
Nearly a month after Swagger lost his championship, The Miz set forth on a similar path toward the top of the card. The former reality TV star won Raws MitB briefcase at the July 18 pay-per-view and held onto it until Nov. 22 when he cashed in on Randy Orton. This match was a little more competitive than Swagger/Jericho and lasted about three minutes. The Miz pinned the Legend Killer and has held onto the title ever since.
The next member to win a championship was Dolph Ziggler, albeit in controversial fashion from a kayfabe and real-life perspective. On the Feb. 18 edition of Smackdown, Ziggler was awarded the World Championship after it was stripped from Edge a week earlier. His reign lasted only a matter of minutes, as he was pinned by the Rated-R Superstar shortly after. Afterward, he was fired. At this point, its too early to say if Ziggler will continue to play a pivotal role and be a permanent main eventer, or go down Swaggers path toward the midcard.
That leads us to the final member of Team Miz: Drew McIntyre. Its actually quite ironic, since he was pushed off the bat and proclaimed Vince McMahons chosen one. Within a few weeks of his re-debut, McIntyre won the Intercontinental Championship and was constantly sold as a threat in all of his matches. His momentum started to slow down, although he had a brief tag team championship reign with Cody Rhodes. Since then, hes gotten involved in a minor storyline with Kelly Kelly, who has since been linked to the feud between Ziggler and Edge. Regardless, he now finds himself in what may be an unenviable position of the only member of Team Miz to win either of the top titles.
If McIntyre wins a championship, it could prove significant for the legacy of Team Miz. While there have been Survivor Series teams made up four or five men whove held the WWE or World championship, there has never been a team of midcarders who each went on to hold a top title. It should also be noted that each man is a heel and was so upon their championship win. Of course, Drew appears to be headed toward a face turn, but well see what happens there.
As it stands now, the former Chosen One has a lot riding on him. If he succeeds, history will be made and Team Miz's legacy as the first Survivor Series team of future world champions may live on.
However, one team in particular has obtained a fair amount of attention since it debuted less than two years ago. It isnt because the five men were the best in the business, nor is it because they were all extremely popular among fans. Rather, this team was comprised of five young superstars who, at the time, had all the potential in the world to become the best in the business and all the time to reach that goal.
And that team, on Nov. 22, 2009, was Team Miz: The Miz, Sheamus, Drew McIntyre, Jack Swagger and Dolph Ziggler.
Certainly, they all had and continue to have detractors, but there was still a noticeable amount of intrigue when it was announced they were teaming in 2009. Unlike teams that included guys who were already at the top of their game, here we had five guys who were supposed to be the future of WWE. And little did those men know, on that November 2009 night, a bar was quietly being set for all of them to overcome, and the fans were going to be watching. Never has there been a Survivor Series team of which each member was closely watched by fans who wondered if all men would win either the WWE Championship or the World Championship.
It was all a matter of who would do it first, and the answer shocked many.
On Dec. 13, 2009, Sheamus beat John Cena for the WWE Championship in a tables match at TLC. His victory was questionable, as the Celtic Warrior had only been in WWE a few months. Fans speculated his win was supposed to be a fluke, since it appeared Cena merely fell through a table, as opposed to being pinned. Nonetheless, Sheamus was champion and would have another reign later in 2010.
Next up, on March 30, 2010, Jack Swagger stepped up by winning the World Championship. Just two days earlier, he won the Money in the Bank match at Wrestlemania XXVI and gained the right to challenge for a world title whenever he wanted. Swagger cashed in on an injured Chris Jericho and won the World Championship in short order. He held the title until June 20 and began a slow descent back to the midcard. Nonetheless, Swagger was officially a former World Champion.
Nearly a month after Swagger lost his championship, The Miz set forth on a similar path toward the top of the card. The former reality TV star won Raws MitB briefcase at the July 18 pay-per-view and held onto it until Nov. 22 when he cashed in on Randy Orton. This match was a little more competitive than Swagger/Jericho and lasted about three minutes. The Miz pinned the Legend Killer and has held onto the title ever since.
The next member to win a championship was Dolph Ziggler, albeit in controversial fashion from a kayfabe and real-life perspective. On the Feb. 18 edition of Smackdown, Ziggler was awarded the World Championship after it was stripped from Edge a week earlier. His reign lasted only a matter of minutes, as he was pinned by the Rated-R Superstar shortly after. Afterward, he was fired. At this point, its too early to say if Ziggler will continue to play a pivotal role and be a permanent main eventer, or go down Swaggers path toward the midcard.
That leads us to the final member of Team Miz: Drew McIntyre. Its actually quite ironic, since he was pushed off the bat and proclaimed Vince McMahons chosen one. Within a few weeks of his re-debut, McIntyre won the Intercontinental Championship and was constantly sold as a threat in all of his matches. His momentum started to slow down, although he had a brief tag team championship reign with Cody Rhodes. Since then, hes gotten involved in a minor storyline with Kelly Kelly, who has since been linked to the feud between Ziggler and Edge. Regardless, he now finds himself in what may be an unenviable position of the only member of Team Miz to win either of the top titles.
If McIntyre wins a championship, it could prove significant for the legacy of Team Miz. While there have been Survivor Series teams made up four or five men whove held the WWE or World championship, there has never been a team of midcarders who each went on to hold a top title. It should also be noted that each man is a heel and was so upon their championship win. Of course, Drew appears to be headed toward a face turn, but well see what happens there.
As it stands now, the former Chosen One has a lot riding on him. If he succeeds, history will be made and Team Miz's legacy as the first Survivor Series team of future world champions may live on.
