Back in 2010, using the Money within the Bank briefcase, The Miz toppled Randy Orton to kick off his first WWE Championship reign. His title run ended up lasting nearly half a yr, but speaking on “Insight with Chris Van Vliet,” The Miz honed in on that first day, including how he learned he’d be winning.
“I didn’t walk in knowing; that was a day-of situation,” Miz explained. “It was Orlando. I walk into the sector and I got in a gathering with Vince [McMahon], and frequently I did not have a gathering with Vince, but today, they were like, ‘Hey, you’ve got got to satisfy with Vince.’ … Truthfully, I used to be beginning to imagine I used to be going to lose [the cash-in match].”
Looking back, The Miz now sees the situation in a different way, because it’s clear to him that McMahon was giving him a heavy push on TV, with multiple different title reigns around that point. On the time, though, Miz didn’t yet feel as if he’d earned respect from other members of the locker room. That is why it got here as a surprise to him to listen to McMahon say they were putting the world title on him that night.
“I’m going, ‘Okay. I’ll do my best to make sure that that that is the most important thing ever. I’ll do whatever it takes,'” Miz continued. “He’s like, ‘I do know you’ll. You have worked hard for this.'”
Upon leaving McMahon’s office, The Miz didn’t let anyone know that the plan was for him to successfully money in on Orton. Ahead of his title win, he recalled attending a promo class that day, during which he learned a lesson that has stuck with him all these years.
The Miz has a vision during promo class
“The promo class was about being animalistic, and I believe I remember – I believe it was Wade [Barrett] and Sheamus had a promo battle where they were barking like dogs,” Miz said. “As silly because it sounds, the lesson is: sometimes you do not need words to translate exactly what’s happening in a match, and you would like that raw, primal [feeling]. So I envisioned myself as a wolf, attacking.”
The wrestler imagined a wolf locking in on his prey’s injury and being driven by the sight of blood. That night, as he approached Orton within the ring, The Miz kept that feeling in his head, using it to his advantage.
“I could feel my mouth just watering for it, almost foaming for that, because I knew I used to be getting that title,” Miz recalled.
After landing his finisher on Orton and pinning the champion, The Miz was hit with a sense of euphoria that has stuck with him. He was hit with a flood of memories, from his childhood through his struggles to make it in WWE. Following his win, he was greeted by a crowd backstage.
“Nowadays, nobody stays after the show. Back then, everyone stayed after the show – it was mandatory,” the wrestler said. “And everybody was there, and everybody was clapping.”
If you happen to use any of the quotes in this text, please credit “Insight” and supply a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.