Wrestling's GREATEST Heel.

Summary

In this video, the creator passionately argues that The Miz is the greatest heel in WWE history, particularly during the PG era. Highlighting his early transformation from a tag team star to a singles competitor, the video traces his evolution into ‘The Miz’ persona, his rise through the ranks, and memorable feuds—most notably with John Cena. The creator defends The Miz’s character work, claiming that his heel persona, unmatched in its era, made him a unique and effective champion, even if his title run was short-lived. The video emphasizes Miz’s influence on modern wrestling heels and his lasting impact on the business.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Miz is considered the greatest heel in WWE history by the speaker, especially for his work during the PG era, where he excelled without relying on profanity or shock value.
• 😀 The Miz’s evolution into a top-tier heel began in 2009, starting with his transition from a tag team wrestler with John Morrison to a singles competitor.
• 😀 The Miz’s famous catchphrase, 'I’m The Miz and I’m awesome,' was a defining part of his character transformation, making him one of the most recognized heels in WWE.
• 😀 The Miz’s first significant feud as a singles competitor was with John Cena, helping establish him as a legitimate main-event talent despite the loss.
• 😀 The Miz's rise to prominence included a strong push as the United States Champion, with memorable moments like his defense against MVP at the Royal Rumble.
• 😀 His iconic theme song 'I Came to Play' played a pivotal role in cementing his persona, amplifying his aura as a top heel in the company.
• 😀 The Miz’s 2010 Money in the Bank contract win and subsequent cash-in on Randy Orton to become WWE Champion was a career-defining moment.
• 😀 Despite criticism for the short length of his WWE Championship reign, the Miz’s role was to be a transitional heel, a role he executed flawlessly.
• 😀 The Miz’s title run was a masterclass in being the 'chicken heel'—a character that everyone loves to hate, which was perfect for his character.
• 😀 The Miz’s win over John Cena at WrestleMania 27, though controversial, helped solidify him as a top heel in WWE and one of the most effective villains in wrestling history.
• 😀 The speaker believes that The Miz’s character work during his WWE Championship reign was excellent, even if his reign was brief, and credits him for his contribution to elevating WWE's heel division.

Q & A

Why does the creator think The Miz is the greatest heel in WWE history?

The creator believes The Miz is the greatest heel because of his ability to generate heat in a PG era where WWE's content was highly restricted. He argues that The Miz didn't rely on cheap gimmicks or explicit language to get over as a heel—his personality and backstory were enough to make him one of the most despised characters in WWE history.

What makes The Miz’s character different from MJF, according to the video?

While the creator acknowledges MJF as a great heel, they argue that The Miz was doing his heel work in a much tougher environment—the PG era of WWE. The Miz had to work around restrictions that didn't allow for strong language or explicit content, yet still managed to generate massive heat, which the creator feels MJF's current style of more explicit trash talk doesn't compare to.

What significant event in 2009 marked The Miz’s transition into a major heel?

In 2009, The Miz turned on his tag team partner, John Morrison, in a dramatic fashion, officially establishing himself as a heel. This event marked the beginning of his solo career and set the stage for his rise as a top antagonist in WWE.

How did The Miz's first feud with John Cena help establish his character?

The Miz's feud with John Cena, though short, showcased his potential as a top heel. It was during this feud that he developed his iconic catchphrase, 'I’m the Miz and I’m awesome,' and debuted his signature finisher, the Skull Crushing Finale, solidifying his heel persona and signaling the start of his rise to prominence in WWE.

Why is The Miz's reign as United States Champion considered important?

The Miz's reign as United States Champion is seen as significant because he elevated the title with his character work. His entrance and aura, especially paired with his theme song 'I Came to Play,' made the title feel important, much like a world championship belt. This reign helped cement him as a top-tier talent in WWE.

What role did The Miz’s theme song 'I Came to Play' play in his character development?

The theme song 'I Came to Play' played a crucial role in The Miz's character development by enhancing his persona. It gave him an even stronger identity as a heel, perfectly aligning with his cocky, arrogant character and helping to solidify his status as a top-tier wrestler.

What was the significance of The Miz's rivalry with MVP?

The rivalry between The Miz and MVP helped further establish Miz's credibility as a champion. The Miz defeated MVP to retain the United States Championship at the Royal Rumble, which was particularly notable because MVP was the longest-reigning U.S. Champion at the time, adding credibility to The Miz's victory.

How did the loss to Bret Hart in 2010 impact The Miz’s career?

The Miz's loss to Bret Hart in 2010 for the United States Championship is seen as a major setback. The match was criticized for being poorly executed, with the image of Miz tapping out to the Sharpshooter viewed as a low point in his career. The loss was especially frustrating because Miz had just won the title back shortly after, and the short reign by Bret Hart didn't make sense from a booking perspective.

What makes The Miz’s WWE Championship win in 2010 stand out?

The Miz’s WWE Championship win in 2010 stands out because it came after he cashed in his Money in the Bank contract, a moment that marked him as a legitimate top heel. Though his reign was met with criticism, the creator defends it as a perfect example of a transitional heel run that built heat for a larger babyface, John Cena, to eventually overcome him.

How does the creator feel about the short length of The Miz’s WWE Championship run?

The creator feels that The Miz's short WWE Championship reign was exactly what it needed to be—a transitional reign. Miz's role was to generate heat, and his loss to John Cena at WrestleMania 27 solidified Cena as the top babyface. The creator argues that The Miz did his job exceptionally well, even though his run was brief.