WWE Starrcade 2019 has wrapped up it’s hour and fifteen minutes on the WWE Network, but the show is still going on as I type this, and in fact had already been underway for some time at the time that it went live. With the post-show dark matches ensuing, let’s rewind a bit to the pre-show dark matches. I already talked about Seth Rollins’ match with Erick Rowan, which ended with a Curb Stomp. But that wasn’t all. We – or atleast the people in attendance – also saw the first title match of the night, one with some peculiar circumstances.
For whatever reason, out of nowhere a handicap match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship was booked. Shinsuke Nakamura and his manager – for lack of a better term – Sami Zayn faced off with the Miz in a 2-on-1 handicap match with Nakamura’s Intercontinental title on the line.
As one might expect, the 2-on-1 advantage was too strong and the Miz was defeated.
From reports, it seems the finish saw Miz chasing Sami Zayn around the arena, eventually being baited into the ring where Shinsuke Nakamura was waiting to strike with a Kinsasha. This of course put the Miz away, with the King of Strong Style retaining his championship.
It’s an odd thing to make a match like this, which won’t even air, into a handicap bout with zero explanation. But obviously it’s a nice thing for cheap heat and I could imagine these three men having some fun with the stip. Of course it’s also notable that Sami Zayn hasn’t wrestled a TV match since being defeated in the first round of the King Of The Ring tournament back in August, even though he’s been cleared to wrestle this whole time – never being taken off the house show circuit. If I had to guess, he was portrayed more or less like a non-wrestler in this match, just taking cheap shots like any heel manager might whilst his charge did all the real work.