Ever since the brand split happened in the WWE this year, the general consensus has been that Raw has been more conservative and has lagged behind Smackdown’s 'fun factor.’ I would argue though that the driving forces behind the successes each side has had comes from 2 veterans. On the Raw side, Chris Jericho is doing some of the best character stuff in his career and despite being on a month-to-month contract is delivering the goods inside and outside the ring, with or without Kevin Owens. It wouldn’t surprise me if after this amazing run, he hangs up his boots and moves on. Nothing like going out on top after all.
Over on Team Blue, there can be no doubt that it is The Miz who has provided the entertainment value as the brand’s top heel. Mike ‘The Miz’ Mizanin has been a lot of things in his constant time in the limelight since 2001, evolving from brash reality show maven to world champion and beyond.
Thru longevity, career ebbs and hutzpah, The Miz is in a career renaissance in 2016
unlike anything he’s ever had before. After a brief stint as a baby face in the company after Money In the Bank 2012 (admittedly, my zealous cheering for him at that event probably emboldened him to make that poor choice), the arrogant Miz of old returned in 2014, the year the A-Lister was born.
By turning his straight-to-video success with “The Marine” movie series that he took over from John Cena and Ted DiBiase, Jr. into a head-swelling belief that he is in the same pool as Brad Pitt, The Miz became hissable again. With his new partner, Damien Mizdow in tow, the hissing became a shtick that everyone loved.
And that’s really the key to what makes The Miz great, his ability to play off people and help put them and in turn, himself, over as something the fans either hate or love. From John Morrison to The Big Show to now, his lovely wife and new valet Maryse, The Miz is always better with someone around to play off of. In the case of Smackdown Live lately, he’s had his pick of the litter.
His genuinely prickly relationship with Smackdown GM Daniel Bryan has led to an epic feud with Dolph Ziggler of all people. Wasn’t it just last year that these two were reduced to having a pumpkin match for laughs? Well times and fortunes have changed dramatically since then as these two have elevated this feud to a level rarely seen in WWE anymore.
By bringing real prestige back to the Intercontinental Title for the sixth time in his career, The Miz is riding a wave in 2016 that I bet few people would’ve expected. Can he keep it going and continue to make the ‘B Show’ must-see TV? Or is he a loss away from calling his agent to push for ‘Santa’s Little Helper 2: The Reckoning?’ Either way, 2017 will surely be a big year for Cleveland’s Original World Champion.
Just remember, NO AUTOGRAPHS, PLEASE!
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