The Miz

Mike Mizanin
File:Themiz.jpg
Born	October 8, 1980 Parma, Ohio
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	Mike Mizanin, Mike The Miz, The Miz
Billed height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Billed weight	210 lb (95 kg)
Trained by	Ultimate Pro Wrestling, Al Snow, Bill DeMott
Debut	2003

Mike "The Miz" Mizanin (born October 8, 1980 in Parma, Ohio) is an American professional wrestler, currently employed by World Wrestling Entertainment and training in Ohio Valley Wrestling, in Louisville, Kentucky.

Television career

Mizanin attended Miami University, where he was a member of the Theta Chi Fraternity, and studied business at the Richard T. Farmer School of Business. He remained at Miami University for eighteen months before dropping out in order to appear on the tenth series of MTV's reality television program The Real World in 2001. He went on to appear in multiple spin-offs, including several seasons of The Real World/Road Rules Challenge with contestants from MTV's Road Rules. He appeared on the Challenge seasons "Battle of the Seasons", "The Gauntlet," "The Inferno," "Battle of the Sexes 2," and "The Inferno 2." He was known for doing well on the challenges and made it to the end except on "Battle of the Sexes 2." He won on "Battle of the Seasons" and "The Inferno 2." On one episode of The Real World, Mizanin first displayed an alter ego known as The Miz. In contrast to Mizanin's usually placid demeanour, The Miz was angry, confrontational and headstrong. Mizanin later realised that "The Miz" would make an excellent professional wrestling gimmick. In 2005, he appeared on the Bravo reality show Battle of the Network Reality Stars where his team finished in second. On "The Real World" and on the challenges, he is also known for his roller coaster relationship with Coral Smith.

During one Challenge season, "The Gauntlet" he dated Trishelle Cannatella of Real World Las Vegas. On the challenge season "The Inferno" he had a brief relationship with Kendal Shephard of "Road Rules (Campus Crawl)." On the challenge season "Battle of the Seasons" he had another brief relationship with Tara of "Road Rules (Northern Trail)."

Mizanin later relocated to Southern California in order to attend acting classes. He also visited high schools and colleges, delivering motivational speeches.

Wrestling career

Pursuing the goal of becoming a professional wrestler which he had harbored from an early age, Mizanin joined Ultimate Pro Wrestling, where he trained in the Ultimate University. He made his in-ring debut in 2003.

Tough Enough and Deep South Wrestling

In October 2004, Mizanin entered the fourth season of Tough Enough, a televised competition which would award the winner a World Wrestling Entertainment contract and the sum of $1,000,000. Despite coming last in an arm wrestling tournament on November 25, Mizanin outlasted six other wrestlers. On December 12, 2004, at the WWE pay-per-view Armageddon 2004, Mizanin faced the other remaining entrant, Daniel Puder, in a three round "Dixie Dogfight" (boxing match). Neither man achieved a knockout, and the contest was awarded to Puder on the basis of crowd reaction. On the December 16 episode of SmackDown!, Puder was announced as the winner of Tough Enough by head trainer Al Snow.

Despite losing the contest, Mizanin had piqued the interest of WWE, and he was eventually offered a developmental contract. Mizanin was sent to Deep South Wrestling to train under Bill DeMott, relocating to McDonough, Georgia in the process, and in July 2005 he wrestled two dark matches for WWE, teaming with former Tough Enough champion Matt Cappotelli to face The Highlanders. On December 1, 2005, Mizanin defeated Mike Knox in the finals of a tournament to crown the first Deep South Heavyweight Champion.

He continued to tag with Matt Cappotelli throughout the second half of 2005 in WWE dark matches and house shows until Cappotelli, nominally of Ohio Valley Wrestling, was diagnosed with a brain tumor after an injury at a taping in December 2005.

Ohio Valley Wrestling

On January 3, 2006, it was reported that Mizanin was transferred to Ohio Valley Wrestling. On the January 18, 2006, OVW TV show, Mizanin made his debut as "The Miz", with a "Miz TV" segment, where he was shown talking backstage. He talked with Chris Cage, who was supposed to be his tag team partner in OVW, but Cage said he was quitting the business after someone had cut off Johnny Jeter's hair and wished Mizanin good luck with his wrestling career.

On the January 28, 2006, edition of the OVW TV show, The Miz wrestled his first match against Rene Dupree. Chet the Jet and Seth Skyfire came to ringside during the match and acted as a diversion to allow Rene Dupree to gain the upper hand on The Miz. As The Miz was about to finish Rene Dupree, Chris Cage came out and attacked Seth Skyfire. The Miz then left the ring to try to control Chris Cage, thus giving The Miz a count out.

At the February 8, 2006 TV taping, The Miz and Chris Cage captured the OVW Southern Tag Team Championship, defeating Chet the Jett and Seth Skyfire. In what was deemed a "disciplinary move," WWE released Chris Cage over the weekend of March 18, 2006 making it nessicary for Miz and Cage to drop the titles. On March 19 Deuce Shade defeated The Miz in a singles contest to win the titles for his team The Untouchables (Deuce Shade & Domino).

SmackDown!

On March 8, 2006, WWE.com uploaded a video of The Miz stating that he is headed to WWE Friday Night SmackDown! and during April, SmackDown! would air video packages hyping the debut of the Miz.

The Miz finally attempted to make his actual WWE SmackDown! debut on April 21, 2006. However, before he could enter the arena, he was informed by network executive Palmer Cannon that he had been "cancelled" and was then escorted from the building by security. The two were heading for a feud, but before it could reach the next step Palmer Cannon suddenly quit WWE.

Back on OVW

For the moment, Mizanin is back on OVW and it is uncertain as to when he will come back to the main roster. It appears it could be soon as WWE did put a lot of effort into promoting him.

Wrestling facts

Finishing and signature moves

• Neckbreaker
• The Mizard of Oz (Swinging reverse DDT)
• Discus punch
• Springboard bulldog

Quotes

• "Live life to the fullest"
• "This is the TRUE story..."
• "Be Good. Be Bad. BE MIZ!"
• "Hoorah baby! Step into my reality!"
• "It's Time For A Reality Check!"
• "Hoorah!"

Championships and accomplishments

• Ohio Valley Wrestling

• 1-time OVW Southern Tag Team Champion

• Deep South Wrestling

• 1-time Deep South Heavyweight Champion (first)

References

• Mike Mizanin at OWW.com

External links

• The official website of Mike "The Miz" Mizanin
• Mike Mizanin at IMDb
• UPW profile