The 10 Moments That Led To the Rise of The Miz

Last Monday, Mike "The Miz" Mizanin cashed in his Money in the Bank contract to become WWE Champion for the first time ever. It was a rise that took a long time and saw him in a variety of different capacities in the WWE product. This slide show will attempt to look at the ten defining moments that led to the Miz going from unknown reality television star to the "top dog" in World Wrestling Entertainment.

10) Competing on Tough Enough

In 2004, Mike Mizanin traded in his Independent wrestling career for an opportunity to compete in the $1,000,000 Tough Enough. During his time in the competition, Mizanin participated in a variety of different competitions and eventually made it to the finals against fellow contestant Daniel Puder. Despite his efforts, Mizanin did not win the $1,000,000 and the WWE contract that came with the prize, but it would not be the last we would hear from him.

9) Becoming Deep South Wrestling's First Heavyweight Champion

On December 1, 2005, Mike "The Miz" Mizanin earned his first unofficial accolade with World Wrestling Entertainment. After joining on to WWE's developmental territory, Deep South Wrestling, he competed in a tournament to crown crown Deep South's first Heavyweight Champion. He would defeat Mike Knox in the finals of the tournament to earn the honor. It gave "The Miz" his first taste of single's gold in professional wrestling. It would be a sign of things to come in the future.

8) Capturing the Tag Team Championship

After his rise to the main roster and an array of different gimmicks, including becoming the host of Smackdown and a feud with the Boogeyman that ended his undefeated streak, the Miz was sent to ECW in the 2007 Supplemental Draft. It gave the Miz a new start and an opportunity to grow. He would develop his "Chick Magnet" gimmick and had the trio of Kelly Kelly, Layla, and Brooke Adams, also known as Extreme Expose, manage him at the time. However, his biggest moment came on November 16, 2007, when he and partner John Morrison won the WWE Tag Team Championships against Matt Hardy and MVP. This was the first of many titles to come for the Miz in WWE.

7) Split with John Morrison

The partnership between John Morrison and the Miz would end on April 13, 2008. After interference by Morrison in the Miz's WWE Draft Pick match against Kofi Kingston, The Miz would be drafted to Raw and immediately attacked Morrison. It highlighted the fact that Miz had become his "own man" and was ready to step out as a singles competitor.

6) AWESOME!

On August 17, 2009, Miz dropped the ridiculous punk look that he had known for years and donned a brand new look. Wearing trunks for the first time in his career and making his intent known for Kofi Kingston's United States Championship, he declared that he was "Awesome!" It gave the Miz the catch phrase that he needed to match the new look.

5) Capturing the United States Championship

After a series of matches against United States champion Kofi Kingston that lasted for months, the Miz finally captured the prestigious title on the October 5, 2009 edition of Monday Night Raw. It was the first of two times that Miz held the championship belt and it finally gave him the singles title he much needed in his career.

4) Feud with John Morrison

While their split may have been infamous, their feud in 2009 was classic. Both had become successful singles champions on their respective brands and both were ready to prove their value. United States Champion Miz faced off against Intercontinental Champion John Morrison at the newly-created Bragging Rights pay per view and there was plenty at stake. The pre-pay per view segments had each wrestler trying to debate who was the Shawn Michaels of the former tag team and who was the Marty Jannetty, making a reference to the 1980's tag team "The Rockers". One man had success in the team, while the other fell to mediocrity. The back and forth banter between the two was classic and led to a great match that had the Miz come out on top. It was one stepping stone into proving that the Miz had finally broken through.

3) Feud With John Cena

Following his recent split with John Morrison after being drafted to RAW in 2009, the Miz made his intentions know that he was going to challenge the "top dog" in WWE and that was John Cena. For weeks and weeks, Miz claimed unofficial win after win over Cena, despite the fact that he was out due to injury. Finally, the constant disrespect of Cena by the Miz led to a match between the two at 2009's The Bash. Despite the Miz losing to Cena, it showed the fans and wrestlers that he could hang with the "big dogs" and that he had arrived as a talent.

2) Winning Money in the Bank

One can assume that they are the next project in the WWE once they are awarded the Money in the Bank contract. The Miz was labeled WWE's next "pet project" after capturing the briefcase at the brand new Money in the Bank pay per view. He would hold on to the case for four months before finally cashing it in.

1) Cashing In On Randy Orton

Despite rumors that the Miz might become the first man to unsuccessfully win upon a cash in of the brief case, the Miz became WWE Champion for the first time this past Monday by cashing in on a vulnerable Randy Orton. What the future holds for the Miz and his future success in the wrestling business is unknown. Many names have gone on the win the championship belt, only to fade into darkness in the waning months. For his sake, he should hope he could be the future of  heels in the WWE.