During a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, WWE Superstar The Miz discussed his underdog story, going from being thrown out of the WWE locker room to where he is now, feuding with Darren Young and more. Here are some highlights:
On being thrown out of the WWE locker-room when he first arrived: “Ten years later, I’m still here in a WWE ring. You need to be a shark in this business, or you’re going to be eaten up, swallowed, and spit out. I’ve been one of those people who’ve been eaten up, but I stuck with it, survived, and I’m still here today. I remember the first time I stepped into a WWE ring, and I got critiqued and I was told I’d be gone in three months. Here I sit ten years later, and I’m the Intercontinental champion.”
On his underdog story vs. Daniel Bryan’s underdog story: “Daniel Bryan’s underdog story was able to be told on TV. Mine was never told on TV. My story was that I was egotistical, arrogant, and an absolute jerk to everyone who brags about everything—and I will—but I’ve been very fortunate to take everything and learn from it. I’ve learned from all my mistakes, worked hard, and sacrificed blood, sweat, and tears to get to where I am today. My underdog story really hasn’t been told.”
On his feud with Darren Young: “When you have the Intercontinental championship, and someone is coming to take it from you—and you feel like they could actually threaten your title—that is a huge, real moment. Darren Young is definitely someone to be reckoned with, and I could lose the Intercontinental championship to him, but I’m not planning on it. I don’t plan to lose, I plan to win. People are like, ‘What if you lose?’ I’m not looking at losing. I am a winner, and I always look to win.”
On working with his real-life wife Maryse: “I love having my wife with me. It’s one thing to be able to talk to your wife on FaceTime or over the phone, but touching her, hugging her, and holding her is a whole other feeling. When you’re able to have your wife in your corner, you kind of want to show off for her. You don’t want to lose. I never want her to say, ‘Sorry babe,’ I want her to say, ‘That’s my man.’ You want your wife to be married to a winner, not a loser.”
