The rise of The Miz happened in 2009-10 as he became an entertaining midcard heel that wasn't afraid to say anything to anybody. He was really annoying as a heel. It worked for him because it came natural. That doesn't mean he's a jerk in real life. It's just that when he was out there being a heel you actually believed he was that guy. It never seemed forced with him. Following his Money in the Bank cash-in for the WWE Title in late 2010, then the main event push in 2011, he continued as a top heel for most of that year. His heel momentum came to a screeching halt in 2012 and he needed to turn face. In early 2013, they did the previously mentioned mentoring by Ric Flair to try to get him over. It really didn't work that well. The big problem with babyface Miz is that he really didn't do a lot to change his act up. He was basically doing the same things as a face that he was doing as a heel. Just because the fans chant "awesome" or "really" along with him didn't make him a good face. It just meant he had popular words as catchphrases. Instead of looking like a natural face, it was painful to watch at times because his actions didn't appear to be genuine. When he turned heel again post WrestleMania 30 earlier this year, it was a welcome sight. Hopefully WWE realizes that he's not a good face. Keep him heel for the rest of his career because babyface Miz is something we all wish we could forget.
John wrote at WhatCulture from December 2013 to December 2015. It was fun, but it's over for now. Follow him on Twitter @johnreport. You can also send an email to mrjohncanton@gmail.com with any questions or comments as well.
