WWE Money in the Bank 2018 Profile: The Miz is a Leading Man Worthy of the Briefcase

Really? You have to ask why The Miz is a front-runner to win the Money in the Bank Ladder Match?

We’re just a couple of days away from WWE Money in the Bank 2018 in Chicago. Eight superstars — four from Raw, four from SmackDown Live — will try to be the first to climb the ladder in the Men’s MITB Ladder Match. It’s a pretty even contest, but there’s one superstar with an edge above the rest. And that’s The Miz.

Upon his WWE debut, The Miz was a unique individual. He had made his name as a reality television star, most notably on The Real World in 2001. From those humble beginnings, “Mike” displayed the kind of personality that succeeds in the world of pro wrestling. Miz tried going the Tough Enough route, finishing as runner-up to Daniel Puder in 2004.

But The Miz was one thing, and that was determined. His performance on Tough Enough led to a developmental contract, and eventually debuted permanently in 2006 on the main roster. Things were rough early on, since the veteran superstars didn’t take too kindly to a reality star “playing wrestler” in their yard. Again, though, Miz was determined and survived those rocky first few years and saw his career take off.

Success in the ring first came to Miz when he teamed with John Morrison. The former rivals became Tag Team Champions on two occasions, but the most enduring legacy of their team was “The Dirt Sheet.” Miz and Morrison were two terrific promos, and their website-exclusive segments showed off those skills. Today, we know how great a motivated Miz can be on the mic. But the start of it all came from his partnership with Morrison.

When the team was split up via the draft, Miz went on to a singles career and immediately feuded with John Cena. Nothing like going straight to the top, right? Before too long, Miz was the United States Champion, and then he teamed with the Big Show to win the unified Tag Team Championships. Believe it or not, Miz was the first superstar in WWE history to hold three titles at the same time (since the unified Tag Titles were still considered separate championships).

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In 2010, Miz won the Money in the Bank Ladder Match, toting around the briefcase and waiting for the perfect moment to strike. A few months later, Miz cashed in successfully on WWE Champion Randy Orton, becoming the first contestant from Tough Enough to win WWE’s top prize. At WrestleMania XXVII, Miz successfully defended the WWE Championship in the main event against old rival John Cena.

After losing the WWE Championship at Extreme Rules in 2011, Miz turned his attention to the Intercontinental Championship. And for the past several years, he’s restored the title to its former glory. At present, Miz has the second most reigns as Intercontinental Champion with eight (Chris Jericho has nine). Additionally, only Hall of Famer Pedro Morales has held the Intercontinental Championship for more days in his combined reigns than Miz — 619 days to 599.

On top of all that, the Miz has been a presence on Total Divas with wife Maryse. And he’s expanded his acting skills to include films — how many times has he informed us he’s the Hollywood A-Lister? Starring roles in films like The Marine 4 and Santa’s Little Helper may seem like no big deal, but to be fair Miz is a decent actor. The movies themselves may be awful, but at least he’s trying hard?

With a new baby to make proud, and a new reality show — Miz and Mrs. — set to debut, the time is right for The Miz to leap back into the main event. A victory at Money in the Bank would set up a second run as WWE Champion for a surefire future Hall of Fame superstar. And just think of Miz running the show on SmackDown Live. It’s simply… AWESOME.

Next: MITB Profile: Samoa Joe

What do you think Miz’s chances are at Money in the Bank?

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