The Miz told skysports.com about his wrestling heroes and what it takes to be a WWE Superstar.
The Miz talks wrestling heroes and what it takes to be a WWE Superstar
WrestleMania XXVIII is getting ever closer - but The Miz still has fond memories of last year's big event.
The Ohio-born grappler successfully defend the WWE Championship against John Cena inside Atlanta's Georgia Dome and he told skysports.com all about that unforgettable night.
The Awesome One also revealed his favourite 'Mania moments of all time, his views on the imminent clash between Cena and the Rock and which Superstars influenced him growing up.
Plus, he also spoke candidly about proving his critics wrong and why it takes more than just athletic prowess to make an impact in the WWE...
You main evented last year's WrestleMania against John Cena. How did that make you feel?
THE MIZ: Being involved in the biggest match of 2011 was pretty incredible. To main event WrestleMania was a dream come true and something every kid who is a WWE fan has thought about growing up. Not only did I do that but I retained my WWE Championship, not once but twice. I always set out to be the first person to do something and that's what I did at WrestleMania.
Did you think you were overlooked in the build-up to the match and that too much attention was paid to Cena's issues with The Rock?
THE MIZ: I was almost feeling like I was lost in the battle of The Rock and John Cena, but towards the end I really started picking up my pace. By the end of it, I truly believed that people weren't just talking about The Rock and John Cena, they were talking about The Miz. And now people are talking about The Miz more and more as a top-tier talent rather than a person who's trying to get to that level.
The Rock and John Cena will face each other at WrestleMania XXVIII in April. What are your views on that match?
THE MIZ: The Rock v John Cena will be a huge match; a real icon v icon clash. John Cena has proved himself to be one of the biggest names in sports entertainment, while The Rock has become an A-List movie star. I think everyone's going to be entertained and will be talking a lot about the match - but they will be talking about The Miz once WrestleMania is over.
What are you favourite 'Mania moments of all time?
THE MIZ: I think everyone remembers Hulk Hogan picking up Andre the Giant and body-slamming him at WrestleMania III; that was an incredible moment. But I also loved all those Rock-Stone Cold Steve Austin matches at WrestleManias 15, 17 and 19, because I was a huge Rock fan and my friends were always the Steve Austin fans. Watching those and having The Rock almost always lose was fun for all my friends!
Who were your wrestling heroes growing up?
THE MIZ: When I was a kid growing up in the '80s, I wanted to be the Ultimate Warrior. I would put the streamers on my arms, paint my face and cut promos like him. I also loved the Rockers tag team of Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty. When I teamed with John Morrison we always said we were like a new-age Rockers because we were fast and exciting. Unfortunately for Morrison, he became the Jannetty and I became the Michaels! Going into the Attitude Era, I liked D-Generation X because they were doing stuff that had never been done, while The Rock and Stone Cold were also exciting.
You were a reality-TV star before you made it to the WWE. Do you think people have
