10 Reasons Why You Need To Respect The Miz
9. The NXT 'Pro'
A two-time mentor in the twisted original incarnation of NXT, The Miz stole both seasons he was a part of.
Enjoyable as a smug and enthusiastic bigger brother for stereotypical high school jock Alex Riley in Season Two, Miz especially shined in his toxic odd couple pairing with WWE newcomer Daniel Bryan in the inaugural NXT run.
The stark polarity between the two was immediately visible, with Miz the perma-tanned reality TV star-turned WWE template having to find common ground with the short-stacked darling of the independent scene who really only wanted to proffer 'great wrestler' in his personal sales pitch.
Their chemistry was fabulous, and remained the only high point from the useless experimental show apparently designed to elevate their hottest developmental prospects.
The former 'American Dragon' was booked to lose every match he worked, despite routinely stealing the show and obviously appearing head and shoulders above his contemporaries.
However, with Miz breathing down his neck over his apparent failures, a gradually more enraged Bryan would eventually snap on his 'Pro' after his early elimination from the process, planting the seed for their eventual rivalry, and Bryan's replacement of Miz in the all-star WWE team facing 'The Nexus' stable at Summerslam 2010.