The Miz has always wanted to be a WWE superstar. Dating back to his time on The Real World and The Challenge on MTV, The Miz was always cutting promos and working on his character while on reality television.
Unfortunately, his stint on reality television may have slowed the progress of finally making it to the WWE.
Speaking to Rich Eisen on Just Getting Started, The Miz discussed his journey to WWE.
"Three and a half years of training and being on reality shows and telling everybody that I could possibly tell that I wanted to be a WWE superstar, finally I got a call from Tough Enough who said, 'Do you want to try out?' I tried out and they wouldn't let me (on the show) because Tough Enough used to be on MTV and Real World and The Challenge were on MTV. Back then, you couldn't intermix those things. Back then, it was a whole different world. Nowadays, everything is a reality show. It's interesting how things progress. When I was on a reality show, that wasn't the case. You weren't applauded and loved and liked in Hollywood. I couldn't get into a room to audition because they didn't want you. You were a no good, nothing, hack of a talent that can just be on TV and have a camera pointed at you and be entertaining. WWE wasn't calling and I wasn't allowed to do Tough Enough. When Tough Enough went to CW, I could try out. I tried out, made the top eight, and was runner up. It was by audience reaction and I've always been a very good person to hate. I looked at it as a blessing in disguise. In the WWE 24 doc, they showed an interview that I had never seen before (where) I said, 'It'd be great to have a WWE contract and the bonus to win a million dollars.' In my head I'm like, 'A million dollars? You could've won a million dollars and all you're talking about is a contract?' Even back then, my mindset wasn't about the money, I saw the career. That's what you need to find when you look for a job. I love being a WWE superstar," said The Miz.
New episode of “Just Getting Started” is up!@richeisen’s guest is the man who is relentless in everything he does, otherwise how else does a dream of being a @WWE Superstar come true?
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) May 6, 2021
Download the beyond inspiring origin story of @MikeTheMiz here: https://t.co/AuDQUlabpR pic.twitter.com/0V5DQYM4Cw
The Miz' mindset paid off as he's become one of the most successful wrestlers in WWE history, both in the ring and out of the ring as he's parlayed his reality TV past into a successful series with his wife Maryse.
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