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From the halls of Reality Television he came, with a chip on his shoulder and rad pants on his legs.
Mike Mizanin was, unlikely though it may seem, interested in a business career and enrolled in college to pursue that dream. However, when the chance to appear in MTV's The Real World came knocking, Miz didn't hesitate to drop out of the university and enter the world of reality television.
Mike Mizanin proved to be a canny presence on television, and while he was mostly a laid-back, peaceable fellow, he would sometimes adopt the alter ego of 'The Miz.' The Miz was loud, arrogant, obnoxious, and insufferable. Mike Mizanin, a longtime wrestling fan, realized the Miz persona would be a great heel.
Fast forward to the 2004 edition of Tough Enough, MTV's reality show competition where the winner would be awarded a WWE contract. Though he would lose the competition to Daniel Puder--who is most famously known for 'shooting' on Kurt Angle in an unprofessional manner--The Miz garnered enough interest from WWE that they offered him a developmental contract.
The rest, as they say, is history. Here are seven of the Miz's most awesome career moments.
#7 The object of Extreme Expose's desire
While the Miz debuted on Smackdown in 2007, he was quickly moved down to the "c" show, ECW on Sci Fi, mostly because he was still fairly green between the ropes.
On ECW, his outrageous persona was allowed to shine as he became the object of Extreme Expose's affections. He even challenged CM Punk for the ECW title at Cyber Sunday in a losing effort.
Though the Miz failed to win championships at the early stage, the charisma and presence that would propel him forward was on full display.
#6 Teaming up with John Morrison
Once the Miz had more experience in the ring, his skills improved greatly and he was called up to the 'main' roster along with fellow ECW alum John Morrison.
While the duo were put together because the creative team didn't know what else to do with them, they made the best of the situation. The team were among the first wrestlers to truly make the most of internet and social media, hosting their own podcast called The Dirt Sheet.
Here's an example of their comedic chemistry, in which they mock Primo and Carlito Colón.
#5 First title reign
With his partner Morrison, the Miz captured the tag titles held by odd couple Matt Hardy and MVP.
While the duo had a combative attitude toward each other at first, the WWE quickly downplayed this angle and they were re-cast as best friends. Their natural comedic timing and propensity for making the fans hate them made them logical choices for a title reign.
And this was only the first time Miz would hold gold around his waist.
#4 "Because I'm the Miz, and I'm AWESOME!"
All good things must come to an end, and the John Morrison/Miz tag team was no exception. The Miz remained a heel and turned on his partner, making Morrison the babyface by default.
On his own, the Miz needed a little something extra to get over with the fans. Thus, he competed as the masked "Calgary Kid" against Eugene in a "contract on a pole match."
On this night, the Miz would defeat Eugene with his new "Skull Crushing Finale" finishing move, and unmask to reveal himself. He then uttered the words of his famous catch phrase, which was mocked by the fans for years afterward by replacing the word awesome with awful.
#3 First Single title
The Miz soaked in the hatred of the fans, using it to fuel his climb to the top. That climb took a great leap upward when Miz defeated Kofi Kingston to win the United States championship, often referred to as the 'midcard' championship.
The Miz would go on to face former partner John Morrison, who was the Intercontinental champion at the time, in a battle of former friends.
The Miz proved to be a capable champion, so much so he was chosen as a coach for a certain red-haired indie darling...
#2 Slapping Daniel Bryan
The WWE did away with Tough Enough and replaced it with NXT. The biggest difference between the two shows is that the WWE chose actual wrestlers to participate in NXT, instead of reality show contestants.
The most compelling portion of the NXT competition was the rivalry between the Miz and a then-unknown--to WWE audiences--Daniel Bryan. The Miz verbally and physically abused Bryan, leading to a mini-feud between the two.
Most critics agree that if the Miz had not been so hated, Bryan would not have received so much love from the fans.
#1 Winning the "Big Belt"
The Miz finally achieved his childhood dream when he captured the WWE championship.
After cashing in his "Money in the Bank" briefcase on a wearied Randy Orton, the Miz became the 'Most Must-See WWE champion in history,' a designation bestowed upon him by Vince McMahon himself.
The Miz would go on to make numerous appearances for various media outlets, including the Tonight Show, displaying his championship with pride and panache.
The Miz's story isn't over yet. Who knows what awesome moments are still left ahead? Did we miss your favorite Miz moment? Be certain to comment and let us know!
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