The Miz has long been one of the most polarizing characters in the WWE. If you were to ask him, that's part of the reason he's lasted so long.
Miz, a former WWE, United States and Tag Team Champion, in addition to the reigning Intercontinental champion told ESPN recently that the negativity surrounding his WWE career has helped fuel him. After a WrestleMania main event, 12 chamionship reigns and two Slammy awards, it's hard to disagree with him.
“Think about when I first came to WWE, Miz said. "Everybody said I’d be gone within the first three months, and then here I am 10 years later, still at the top of my game, performing at the top level. “People are always going to criticize you. They are always going to tell you that you’re horrible and you suck. But if you keep evolving and putting the work in, then someday, somehow, they will respect you and will learn that I’m not just a guy who can do commentary. My prime is still right now in that WWE ring."
Miz has witnessed a career resurgence in recent months with real-life wife and former WWE Divas Champion Maryse by his side. According to Miz, her coming on board reinvigorated him and said that it caused him to step up his game from where it was prior.
“As soon as she got hired, it gave me a whole new confidence in everything — in my ability to do promos, in my ability to be in the ring. When your wife is sitting there watching you ringside, you are kind of showing off, and you don’t want to look stupid — ever. I’m not in one of those relationships where I’m like, ‘Ugh, I’m with her all the time, and it sucks,'” The Miz said. “I’m like, ‘This is what I want.’ I want to be around her all the time because she’s my best friend, and we talk about everything. It brings a whole new light to my life. To be away from her kind of puts you in a down mood," Miz said.
Miz will defend his Intercontinental Championship at Summerslam against Apollo Crews on August 21 from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
