On the November 20, 2017, episode of Monday Night Raw, Roman Reigns made his intentions clear—he wanted to challenge for the WWE Intercontinental Championship. Fresh off a grueling victory at Survivor Series the night before, where he led Team Raw against Team SmackDown, Reigns was ready for his next challenge. The Big Dog had conquered almost every obstacle in his path, and now, the prestigious Intercontinental Title was in his sights.
The reigning champion at the time was none other than The Miz, a man who prided himself on elevating the championship and making it the centerpiece of Monday Night Raw. The Miz had held the title for over 170 days, solidifying his legacy as one of the greatest Intercontinental Champions of all time. However, Reigns was not impressed. He had already been a multiple-time WWE Champion, and now, he was looking to add another accolade to his already impressive résumé.
The night started with The Miz and his Miztourage—Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas—bragging about The Miz’s dominance. Confident and cocky as ever, Miz addressed the WWE Universe, declaring that there was no one left worthy of challenging him for the title. That was until Roman Reigns’ music hit, and the atmosphere inside the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, completely shifted. The Big Dog walked down the ramp with purpose, eyes locked on the champion, and the crowd erupted in a mixture of cheers and boos.
Reigns wasted no time in getting to the point. He stepped into the ring and went face-to-face with The Miz, stating that he wanted a shot at the Intercontinental Championship. The Miz, flustered but still trying to maintain his bravado, attempted to talk his way out of the situation, reminding Reigns that he had already beaten some of the best in the business. However, Reigns wasn’t interested in words—he was ready for a fight.
Sensing that things were about to get physical, The Miztourage tried to back up their leader, surrounding Reigns in an attempt to intimidate him. But Reigns, always ready for a fight, was undeterred. In a sudden burst of action, he took out Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel with Superman Punches, leaving The Miz alone and vulnerable. The champion quickly retreated, realizing that he was in no condition to take on Reigns one-on-one.
Later in the night, Raw General Manager Kurt Angle made it official—Roman Reigns would challenge The Miz for the Intercontinental Championship in the main event. The stakes were high, as winning the title would make Reigns a Grand Slam Champion, a feat achieved by only a select few in WWE history.
The highly anticipated match delivered in every way, with The Miz using every trick in the book to try and retain his championship. However, Reigns overcame the interference of The Miztourage and ultimately put The Miz away with a devastating Spear, capturing the Intercontinental Championship for the first time in his career.
As Reigns celebrated with the title held high, it marked the beginning of a new era—one where The Big Dog would rule as the Intercontinental Champion.
