The Miz Would Like An Oscar
And he’s already got his speech prepared. The WWE wrestler and Marine 3 star also answers the same 10 questions we always ask everyone!
And he’s already got his speech prepared. The WWE wrestler and Marine 3: Homefront star also answers the same 10 questions we always ask everyone!
Photo by Moses Robinson/Getty
How’s it going?
I’m doing fantastic, bro.
Huh. Kind of expected you to say “awesome” there, to be honest.
Yeah, I try to mix it up a little bit, especially when I’m on interviews because I feel like I say “awesome” every single second of every day and I didn’t want to annoy you right off the bat. But life couldn’t be better – I just got engaged about a week ago. The movie came out, The Marine 3: Homefront. I got WrestleMania coming April 7. It’s incredible, this is a great time to be The Miz.
Nice! You mentioned The Marine 3 – what kind of training did you have to go through to portray a marine?
I actually had training with a couple of marines up in Vancouver before we started filming. A lot of fight scenes in action films, they look almost cheesy, a lot of martial arts and roundhouse kicks. I wanted it to be raw and gritty and real. They would be saying, “Listen, if you’re a marine, in our world, it’s kill or be killed, so we fight for our lives.” So you’re using every possible thing that you can, whether it’s a weapon or your fists or your kicks, you basically are in self-defense mode.
Did you learn any moves that would look cool in the ring?
I definitely want to use one of the weapons I used in the movie – it was this huge wrench. It doesn’t sound that great, but when you see it, it’s pretty sweet.
So the marines weren’t schooled in chair shots, then?
No they weren’t, or kendo sticks, or going through tables.
Seems like it would be useful stuff to know.
Yeah, trust me!
As a WWE wrestler, you must already have a few fans in the military?
Yeah, with WWE, we have a tribute to the troops, where every year we do a show for our armed forces. I’ve been to Iraq, I’ve been to Afghanistan, I’ve been to Bahrain, and it really helped me prepare because I got to see them preparing for battle. I got to hear their stories, and so many times, you’d hear that when they go home, some of them have trouble adapting to the normalcy of just being back. They’ve been gone for so long. And that’s kind of the story of The Marine 3: Homefront.
What’s it like wrestling a match on a military base?
It’s incredible! Whenever we do those tribute to the troops shows, it’s amazing seeing all those armed forces with their families and their friends. It makes me really happy to see these guys with their families, smiling with each other, because they’re putting their lives on the line to keep my family free.
You’re really the only former reality TV star to become a successful wrestler – how hard was it to get your wrestling persona across with that background?
Oh my goodness, are you kidding me? It’s like a fraternity where the WWE universe, our fans, are part of the fraternity. And let’s face it, when you’re on a reality show, you’re not part of a WWE fraternity. In the locker room they didn’t like me, the WWE fans didn’t like me, but I’m the type of person that says, “I’m going to work hard and I’ll win you over.” I think that’s what’s happening right now. It took me a long time, but through hard work and dedication, it just shows that you can win anyone over.
So did you get hazed worse than the other new guys?
Of course! I was on a reality show, we’re not supposed to have talent. We’re only supposed to live our lives on TV and that’s it.
What do you think is the coolest pro wrestling finishing move of all time?
The figure four leg lock! The same one that I’m using right now, because Ric Flair, my mentor and my friend, has kind of passed it on to me, which is such an honor. I still cannot believe that I’ve had woo-offs and strutted with Ric Flair!
How do you feel your “Woo!” compares to Ric Flair’s?
Nobody woo’s like the Nature Boy. Nobody does anything like the Nature Boy. He’s an original, he’s a pioneer, and he’s still the best.
AND NOW: THE SAME 10 QUESTIONS WE ALWAYS ASK EVERYONE!
What was the last thing you had to apologize for?
That’s a tough one, because I don’t like saying I’m sorry. I usually just let it go and I think of a lie that makes it so I don’t have to apologize. The Miz doesn’t apologize for anything!
What’s your favorite curse word?
Fuck is always used, I feel like it’s used too much. And shit just makes me think of a toilet, and I don’t want to be known as the person that says shit all the time. But if you go with motherfucker, that’s even more than a fuck, so you can really go into it and say, “you motherfucker.” I like how many syllables it has, because you can really draw it out, so I’m going to have to go with mo–ther–fuck–er.
What would happen if you used that word at a live WWE show?
Vince McMahon would actually come from the gorilla position, onto the stage and beat you up, or embarrass you so much in front of the audience that you would either quit or he would say, “You’re fiiiired!”
What’s the worst hangover you’ve ever had?
Oh my God. You know, you’re talking to the guy who used to be on the Real World and get paid to go to Spring Break. At one point I think I had a month of being hungover in Cancun – literally every night I would get blitzed. It was my job! I was like 22 years old. I was getting paid to go out there and have fun, and I thought that they were going to give me the key to the city. So, my worst hangover was the month I stayed in Cancun.
What was your first car?
My first car was a 1988 Pontiac Firebird that I bought with my own money. I flipped burgers and dropped fries for an entire summer, working 40+ hours a week so I could afford my 1988 Pontiac Firebird, which, by the way, broke down in the middle of a one-lane highway. There was construction going on and I basically caused chaos and traffic for about three hours because of that. So, that car was a piece of junk, but I loved it!
Do you still have it?
No, of course not! It broke down in the middle of a highway! What do you want me to do with it? Keep it in a garage? No, I threw it away.
Do you have a scar that tells a story?
Yeah, I have one on my forehead that I recently got from [fellow WWE wrestler] Kofi Kingston. I don’t even remember it because he kicked me so hard. It’s in the middle of my forehead. The worst part is, usually when you get scars, it looks cool and you look tough, but mine looks like a pimple. It’s kind of annoying that whenever I see it on TV it looks like a freaking huge pimple, and I’m not happy about it.
Do you have a party trick?
I learned this from The Game. It taught me this stupid trick and it is the most ridiculous thing. All you do is get a napkin and wrap it around two fingers, then you start twisting the bottom of it, and guess what? Low and behold, there’s a rose! You can give it to any girl at any time and I’m telling you, they melt over it. You can pick up any chick you could possibly want, it’s the easiest pick up line in the world.
What’s the biggest thing you’ve ever put in your mouth?
Damn. You should ask that to a girl, haha!
That’s wonderful! I guess for me, it was Kofi Kingston’s foot.
What’s the one thing to remember in a fist fight?
Always be on defense, because the guy will usually throw a punch and he’ll open himself up. Always let him swing first, especially because then you have a reason and he can’t sue you.
Who was the last person to see you naked?
My fiancé, and I looked good! At least that’s what she said, she said I looked “ripped”, and you can write that, too. That’s a quote from her. “Did you get bigger? Man, you’re huge! Every time I see you you’re bigger and bigger. Better and better looking!”
We’ll have to fact-check this with your fiancé, you know. Last question – finish this sentence: If I ruled the world for a day, I would…
I would end taxes, because tax season is coming up and this is the most miserable time of the year. Then I would put The Marine 3: Homefront on everybody’s doorstep and make everyone watch it at the same time, then praise me on how good of an actor I am. And then I would make them all give me an Oscar and all the greatest actors would praise me and give me a standing ovation. And then Daniel Day Lewis would ask me for advice on how to become a better actor.
Do you have an Oscar acceptance speech prepared?
Yes! “I would like to thank one person and one person only. I know people come up here and thank all these people, but this man is a pure genius. He is one of those people that every time he talks, whoever is listening should be taking notes, because he is arguably the smartest man alive. He is absolutely breathtakingly good looking and without him all of the success I’ve had would not be possible. I would love to thank you, Mike Mizanin. You are truly awesome.” How’s that? I’ve never heard that as an acceptance speech. Giving yourself a little a little pat on the back. How about that?
That sounded terrifyingly well rehearsed.
I’m very well prepared and can’t wait to do it! I can imagine so many people being so aggravated with it. Could you imagine that speech at an award show, and all the awed faces, like, “Look at this cocky jerk”?
Especially if you cried at the end.
I know! I definitely would shed a tear! I’m that good of an actor!
The Marine 3: Homefront is out now.
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