The Miz: From Nobody To Awesome: The Greatest Turn Around In Wrestling History?

"My name is Mike Mizanin, and I've no right to be here."

The Miz greeted us with this message on last night's Monday Night RAW, echoing the words and comments of the wrestling community and more importantly his peers from just a few short years ago. It was true, I think the reason Miz was so hated was because he more annoying than a good heel.

When he made his WWE debut in late 2004 as a participant on the $1,000,000 Tough Enough, fans were relieved when he lost in the final to Daniel Puder. Can you imagine that? Wrestling fans wanted Daniel Puder over Mizanin? Can you even remember what Puder looks like now?

Mizanin made it back onto ours screens in May 2006, in the meantime Puder had been released from his million dollar contract. However, it was as host of SmackDown, conducting backstage interviews and hosting Diva's bikini matches. It looked like Miz had followed another Tough Enough runner-up Josh Matthews in taking a job with the company but outside the ring, acting as hype-man trying to excite the crowd by announcing the match card before shows. A feat the likes of Shawn Michaels, The Rock or Stone Cole never had to do to get into the company, but then again these are some of the all time greats, he was just Mike Mizanin, a reality TV show reject, a nobody.

The Miz, was refused entry to locker rooms, had to change in the hall as the wrestlers didn't want him in there with him. In their eyes, he wasn't a wrestler, he was a reality TV show junkie trying to make a quick buck from WWE and bail.

The Miz kept waiting and was finally giving his in ring debut in WWE in September 2006, securing a pinfall victory over Tatanka. Not a bad start, but this led to a shameful "undefeated run" which just fed him to The Boogieman, who would end the "streak" and The Miz wouldn't be seen again for several months.

In June 2007, The Miz showed up on the ECW brand. ECW was pushing young stars like Johnny Nitro and CM Punk, and his annoying promo's, limited wrestling ability and all round ugly ring attire got him enough heat for the WWE Universe to vote The Miz to face CM Punk for the ECW Championship at the Cyber Sunday event. The Miz, of course, lost in evidently a forgettable encounter.

He was paired with Nitro (now going by the name John Morrison) as they attempted to relieve CM Punk of the ECW Championship, this alliance led to Miz & Morrison to capture the WWE Tag Team Champions when they defeated Matt Hardy & MVP in late 2007. The Miz got his first taste for gold in WWE, but ultimately the team revolved around Morrison, Miz just made up the numbers.

It was only when Morrison & Miz began their WWE.com show "The Dirt Sheet" that we saw that Miz could actually go on the mic, and the team flourished because of this, winning the World Tag Team Championships and having a mini feud with D-Generation X on RAW.

Miz & Morrison were the one last good Tag Team in the dying world of Tag Team wrestling, the latter of which was confirmed when just hours before one of the biggest events in wrestling history; WrestleMania 25, Miz & Morrison's scheduled Tag Team Title Unification Match against The Colóns was demoted to a pre-show dark match in favour of an extended Kid Rock performance.

The Miz & Morrison lost to The Colóns in what would be their last match together as a tag team. Just over a week later in the annual WWE Draft, The Miz lost a match to Kofi Kingston due to Morrison's inadvertent interference, costing ECW who were represented by The Miz a draft pick and awarding it to Kofi's RAW. The Monday Night brand's draft pick turned out to be The Miz, therefore splitting the two up and The Miz attacked his former partner and left him lying with The Reality Check.

Then came the moment in every Tag Team's demise where you nominate who will be the "Jannetty", referencing Marty Jannetty, most famous for being the less successful member of The Rockers with Shawn Michaels

There was no doubt in anybodies mind, including this writer, it was going to be The Miz, I mean you just had to look at Morrison, perfect wrestling look, in excellent shape and one of the best in ring talents the company had to offer, all that overshadowed and made people forget that he couldn't cut a promo to save his life. That's where The Miz was different, The Miz hadn't shown much spark in the ring and his look was terrible, so he picked up a microphone... and began challenging John Cena.

Cena, was at the time out due to injury, so The Miz would challenge Cena every week, knowing he wasn't there to show up and declare himself the victor due to forefit. The Miz stepped out of the shadows and began cutting the best promo's of his career, he would continue this feud on his own without Cena showing up and held it well. This led to The Miz losing to John Cena at the Great American Bash pay-per-view, but even in a loosing effort, The Miz had become a star.

He changed his look from the hats and baggy shorts to proper wrestling tights and boots and it was like a different character than the one we'd seen for years, it didn't go unnoticed either as Miz was rewarded the night after Hell In The Cell, when he pinned Kofi Kingston to win his first singles title in WWE, the United States Championship.

At Bragging Rights, there was a series of inter-promotional matches and Miz as the reigning US Champion squared off against the Intercontinental Champion, non other than John Morrison, The Miz would pin Morrison and be the only member of the RAW roster to be victorious over Smackdown that night.

Miz was competing at the top of his game at the top of WWE, on Monday Night RAW no less, the flagship program. The Miz would teamed up with the Big Show to capture the Unified Tag Team Championship after Miz himself pinned Shawn Michaels. Making Miz hold both Tag Titles and the United States titles at the same time. Literally covered in gold... and deserving it.

No longer was he the hated and despised reality TV star, he was a WWE Superstar, one of the best, he successfully carried John Cena through their midsummer 2009 feud. Carried the Big Show as his tag team partner and for the best part of the last 12 months has helf the WWE United States Championship. You think it couldn't get any better for the Miz? Fast forward to July 2010.

Randy Orton is standing on top of a ladder, mere inches away from the Money in The Bank briefcase. The crowd are on their feet, Orton was and is white hot with the crowd at the moment, many believe he is considered higher within the company than even John Cena, Orton reaches for the briefcase to get a guaranteed shot at the WWE Championship whenever he wants.

Enter The Miz.

The Miz knocked Orton off the top of the ladder and grabs the briefcase, he is not only the WWE United States Champion but next in line for a shot at the biggest prize not only in the company but in the entire wrestling business.

But I think he'll wait in line for some time. Remember he has until July 2011 to cash it in. Plenty of time yet. I think he'll have a good run in the Royal Rumble and then a big performance from him against a top competitor at WrestleMania XVII in Atlanta which will see his stock rise and ready for him to step up to the top.

I wouldn't be surprised if we kicked off the "wrestling year", the day after WrestleMania and saw the Miz cash in. Then he can have his moment to reflect and look each and every one of us in the eye and prove us wrong. It arguably the biggest "I told you so" in wrestling history Miz will tell us all that when he said he was going to be a star he knew he was right.

We all doubted him, we all thought following the draft he would later if not sooner be future endeavored. But he is dead certain to become a WWE Champion, to Main Event SummerSlams, Royal Rumbles... even WrestleMania's. Just like the likes of Shawn Michaels, The Rock and Stone Cold.

Because he's The Miz...

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