WWE: The Miz Is A Future Hall Of Famer Because He ‘Gets It’

When you think of a true representation of a sports entertainer in WWE, Mike “The Miz” Mizanin has to be in the conversation, if not ‘the conversation.’ The Miz can do it all — act, charity, comedy, host, improv, real estate, talk, wrestle — and that surely places him on the Mount Rushmore of current sports entertainers.

The Miz is hosting The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars on Tuesdays at 10 ET/ 9 CT on MTV.

The eight-episode event, which premiered Tuesday, Nov. 21, features 10 of the fiercest champions from past seasons of the long-running series going against 10 celebrity athletes and entertainers in challenge-style competitions. Winners face-off for a chance to take a share of the $150,000 cash prize to donate to their favorite charities.

FYI: WWE alum Cameron (Ariane Andrew) is one of the Stars.

Watching the initial episode, The Miz looked very comfortable in his hosting role.

Actually, The Miz is very comfortable in many roles.

Reminiscing of WWE talent parlaying their in-ring success into other ventures, The Miz is on the verge of being right there with the best of them.

For me, it started with Hulk Hogan, Rowdy Roddy Piper and Terry Funk. Then it was Mick Foley and Jesse The Body Ventura, followed by Stone Cold Steve Austin, Goldberg, Chris Jericho and The Rock. Books, broadcasting, comedy, music, movies, politics, TV shows, they’ve succeeded in other avenues away from the ring.

The Miz, 37, has starred in movies, appeared on TV shows, competed on reality shows, and is currently a TV show host. He also enjoys giving back, doing a lot of charity for WWE. Business side, he and his wife Maryse flip houses. He is also a former burger flipper at Mr. Hero in his homeland Cleveland. (Try the Roman Burger with Wafer fries.)

In 2004, The Miz was runner-up on WWE’s Tough Enough contest, which helped launch his foray into professional wrestling. Prior, he starred on MTV’s “The Real World” where he revealed his love for pro wrestling and birthed The Miz persona.

In WWE, The Miz gets it. It’s not about the wins and losses. It’s about maintaining a spot on TV and keeping it fresh. Whether he’s on his own, with a tag partner, joined by his wife or leading a group like The Miztourage, The Miz is always entertaining. Usually the heel, it’s easier and more fun being the heel, which is how The Miz makes the most of it in the ring.

When a charity is involved, like WWE’s Be a STAR anti-bullying program, The Miz switches gears and is one of the first to volunteer. He is a very good speaker, bringing lots of energy and connecting with kids. I’ve seen it firsthand at Be a STAR rallies, twice — once during WrestleMania 28 Week Miami and another at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America initiative introduced in Miami.

The Miz knows a little something about bullying. Entering the pro wrestling scene in 2004 via WWE “Tough Enough,” The Miz learned the hard way about pro wrestling protocol. When he joined WWE’s main roster, old school wrestlers were not impressed with someone acquiring opportunity in “their” world via the MTV marketplace. Even though he was not well-liked by a grouping of his peers, The Miz did not give up, and he, his improving talent and his ability to adapt persevered.

He also took time to meet a winner of a Be a STAR contest in Sunrise, near Fort Lauderdale. He spoke to him, signed autographs and posed for photos at that pre-show meet.

In WWE, it all started in 2006 on the main roster.

The Miz teamed with John Morrison to win the WWE Tag Team and World Tag Team championships. They had their own talk segment and even earned the 2008 Tag Team of the Year Slammy Award.

After being drafted to Raw in 2009, The Miz won the United States Championship twice; tag team titles with John Cena, Damien Mizdow, and twice with Big Show; as well as the 2010 Raw Money in the Bank ladder match. He cashed in his briefcase to win the WWE Championship in November 2010. For that year, he was ranked No. 1 on Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s annual PWI 500 list.

PWI also pegged him Most Hated Wrestler of the Year 2011 and Most Improved Wrestler of the Year 2016. He had an incredible series of matches with Cleveland-area brethren (and real-life friend) Dolph Ziggler in 2016, including some stellar house show steel cage matches like one I witnessed in Miami at the AmericanAirlines Arena.

As WWE champion, The Miz headlined WrestleMania 27 in 2011 against John Cena in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, before 71,000-plus fans. He won the Intercontinental Championship seven times, which made him the 25th Triple Crown Champion in company history and the 14th Grand Slam Champion.

This is one of my favorite shows about The Miz. His interaction with his parents — especially his father George — awesome.

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Speaking of dads, The Miz will soon be partaking in one of his biggest roles to date. Maryse and he are expecting their first child.

He’s starred in movies like “Christmas Bounty,” “Santa’s Little Helper” and “The Marine.,” which he is preparing for another installment of that film series. He’s guest starred on TV shows “Psych,” “Pair of Kings,” “Sirens” and “Supernatural.” He’s been featured on WWE “Total Divas” on E! as his wife, Maryse, co-stars on the entertaining weekly reality show, and he has his own spot on WWE TV, hosting “Miz TV.”

The Miz is a future WWE Hall of Famer, no doubt.