So you wanna know: What is the Miz? Well, he's a hero. He's a villain. He's Mike Mizanin, a 29-year-old former frat boy turned reality TV star turned pro wrestler.
Or, the way he puts it: "What isn't the Miz? I like to say that the Miz is the grand Miz-ard of lust, demon of desire, personification of perfection, emperor of excellence, superhuman chick magnet, the greatest WWE Superstar to ever enter the ring. Is that enough?"
Indeed. It suffices to say that dude's immune to crises of confidence. Yesterday New Times spoke with the egomaniacal Lothario about all-natural sex appeal, TV addiction, and WWE Monday Night Raw's June 7 stop in Miami.
New Times: What's the secret to being so sexy? Synthetic pheromones? Acqua di Gio?
Mike Mizanin: Life is hard for a chick magnet. You know that Axe commercial where the guy puts stuff in his hair and the girls just swarm him? That's my day-to-day life, except I don't need hair stuff. It's totally natural. Some people have it, and some people don't.
When you first showed up on TV for the Real World, were you already planning a career in pro wrestling?
No. When I got on the Real World, I really didn't know what I wanted to do with my life. I kinda had that mentality where you finish high school, then you go on to college, you go back to where you grew up, you get a family, you get a job. That's your life. That's what's gonna happen. But then I realized I could do anything I wanted with my life. And I said, "I wanna be a WWE Superstar."
What was the next step?
Well, I moved to Los Angeles and I enrolled in an independent wrestling school called UPW. Everyone thinks I just went from a reality show to the WWE contract. That wasn't the case. I had to earn my stripes for three years on the independent circuit. Finally, I got on a show called Tough Enough, which offered a WWE contract to the winner. I didn't win, but I impressed the execs enough that they gave me a developmental contract. It was actually a blessing in diguise 'cause the winner of Tough Enough is no longer with the WWE and I sit here as a former Unified WWE tag team champion.
The viewers don't really see the injuries, but pro wrestling can be pretty brutal. Have you ever broken someone's leg or had some part of your own body snapped in half?
Well, I tend to break bones 'cause I'm an awesome WWE Superstar. But I actually had my ankle broken in the first month I was wrestling with ECW. That's why we always say, "Don't try this at home." It's really brutal on our bodies. There's a reason UFC heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar left the WWE to become a mixed martial arts fighter. Our schedule is so grueling. You're tired all the time. You're hurt. And I'm not saying you're injured, but you're hurt. Your body's always aching, but you just keep going. You do it for the audience.
Were you a big wrestling fan as a kid?
I was a huge wrestling fan as a kid. I loved tag-team wrestlers like the Rockers, Demolition, Legion of Doom, and the Bushwhackers.
How about wrestlers you hated?
I didn't like the Iron Sheik. No one liked the Sheik.
So if given the opportunity, you'd take him on today?
Absolutely. I don't know if I'd want to fight a 60-year-old man. I'd feel kinda bad. But if it was the 1980s and I wasn't 6 years old, I'd definitely throw down with the Iron Sheik.
It's rumored you're a serious TV junkie. What are some of the shows keeping you from sleeping and taking showers?
I was a huge fan of Lost. I also love It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Dexter is amazing. I can't wait for Last Comic Standing. I thought they got rid of that show. But they didn't! Then there's The Office, Saturday Night Live, and Grey's Anatomy.
What? Grey's Anatomy?
Ooohhh, I knew you were gonna go after that one. "Grey's Anatomy? That's chicks' stuff." Dude, that's a great show! I don't care what anybody says... I am a WWE Superstar and I am proud to say that I'm obsessed with Grey's Anatomy!
OK, next question: If you could drag any civilian, celebrity, or whatever into the ring and give him or her a beatdown, who would it be?
I don't know. Who's the most popular person in the world today?
Umm, Lady Gaga?
OK. I'll take out Lady Gaga in the ring. Then, when I beat her, I'll be the most popular person in the entire world, and that's what I set out to be. But I want her to wear a crazy costume too.
Yeah. She could dress exactly like you. I can see it right now: The Miz vs. Lady Gaga as the Mini-She-Miz.
Man, you're busting me for Grey's Anatomy and you come up with Lady Gaga? [Condescending laughter] See ya.
WWE Monday Night Raw: Monday, June 7. American Airlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd., Miami. The scissor holds start at 7:30 p.m., and tickets cost $23 to $73. Call 800-745-3000 or visit ticketmaster.com.
