The Miz might be a superstar in the WWE but the eight-time Intercontinental Champion began his TV career on reality shows like The Real World: Back to New York and The Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Gauntlet. Although he returned to his MTV roots as the current host of MTV’s The Challenge, The Miz — whose real name is Mike Mizanin — says he doesn’t re-watch his old Real World tapes.
“No. I do not go back and watch the old Real World,” Mizanin tells TV Guide. But while he might not be keen on revisiting his time on the MTV reality series, he does credit the show for helping him get to where he is today.
“The Real World is the reason that I became a WWE superstar. If it wasn’t for The Real World, I’d probably be working at my dad’s Mr. Hero flipping burgers and dropping fries,” he explained. “It made me realize I could do anything that I wanted. I said, ‘What do I wanna do? I wanna be a WWE superstar.’ Everyone laughed at me.”
The Real World was the training ground for Mizanin’s “Miz” alter ego and he was often seen cutting impromptu promos, much to the chagrin of his poor housemates. He eventually went on to not only sign with the WWE but become one of its top superstars, even winning the WWE Championship and headlining WrestleMania XXVII.
Despite Mizanin’s notable time on reality television, his wife Maryse admits she hasn’t seen many of his appearances, although she did watch his meltdown on Real World/Road Rules Challenge Battle of the Seasons — a moment Mizanin would probably like to forget.
“[If] social media was out there, they probably would have blasted me,” he said of the heated exchange. “It’s a very embarrassing time for me.”
