Who Is 'The Miz'? Breaking Down The WWE Superstar And Reality Juggernaut's Career

Michael Mizanin, aka The Miz, has been bruising egos and blowing minds for nearly 20 years in the ring. In Season 3 of USA Network’s hit series “Miz & Mrs,” reality TV and WWE fans alike will see Miz take on his greatest challenge yet: raising daughters Monroe and Madison as he balances his marriage to fellow WWE Superstar Maryse, his own wrestling career, and a stint on “Dancing with the Stars.” 

He’s a man of many talents and many opinions — all of which he’s always been more than willing to remind others of over the years. But who is The Miz, and what’s made him such a legend in and out of the ring?

Mike Mizanin was born in Parma, Ohio, where he grew up playing a multitude of sports (basketball, cross country, and more) that helped hone his competitive edge. However, his star really began to rise when he was cast in MTV’s “The Real World: Back to New York” in 2001. Early on, Mike realized his proclivity for … irritating his castmates, which put him directly in the spotlight. Whereas Mike was a regular dude, his wrestler alter ego “The Miz” — which he invented for himself while on the show — was braggadocious, quick to anger, and in-your-face. 

However, it wasn’t until 2003 that The Miz made his in-ring debut ​​after joining Ultimate Pro Wrestling. The next year, he would compete in “Tough Enough,” a competition series that awarded the winner a World Wrestling Entertainment contract and $1 million. While Miz came in second to Daniel Puder, the big dogs at WWE were impressed enough with his performance to offer him a developmental contract, and he’s been making his way to the center of the ring ever since.

“Everyone goes through those hard times, but it’s your job to find the tools that will get you to where you need to be,” he told “Yahoo Entertainment” in 2021 ahead of the release of “WWE 24: The Miz” (available to stream on Peacock). “Make sure that when an opportunity comes, that you are well-prepared and ready for that opportunity. It takes a lot of work and it’s not easy to be great. I don’t consider myself great, but to be considered great, you need to work.” 

And work he has. Since 2003, The Miz has taken on the biggest names in wrestling — he’s won, he’s lost, and he’s done it all with a smirk on his face and prepared to launch an insult at every turn. The popularity of his talk show, “Miz TV,” which is billed as “the most must-see talk show in WWE history,” per WWE.com, is unmatched as well, and provides even more Miz-ified entertainment for the masses from week to week.

The Miz’s status as a multi-Intercontinental Champion and a two-time WWE Champion helped pave the way for him and his wife, Maryse, to land their own reality show on USA Network, “Miz & Mrs.” Married since 2014, the pair are a WWE staple, and the reality series shows their in-ring exploits as well as their at-home challenges as they raise their two daughters, Monroe and Madison.

At the end of the day, wrestling fans love to hate The Miz. And more than anything, he loves the attention. So tune in when “Miz & Mrs” Season 3 premieres on USA Network on June 6 to get your fill of The Miz and his family.