10 Wrestlers Who Cracked WWE's Secret Code

9. The Miz

Initially rejected as a reality television tourist by pro wrestling traditionalists whose obsessions with "paying dues" borders on psychotic at times, The Miz has worked incredibly hard to get to where he is today. The idea of him as anything other than a well-liked, respected member of a locker room he was infamously kicked out of in 2006 sounds ridiculous today, but as archaic and toxic as the concept of "Wrestler's Court" is, Miz had to earn that right.

But there's more to Miz's longevity than that. He had not spent his first few years in the sport evolving into a textbook WWE-style sports entertainer between the ropes, closing the gap between his personality and technique, he wouldn't have lasted 16 years as a two-time WWE Champion, still playing a prominent role on the card.

Miz's goal is to appease WWE's base and those writing his cheques with sound, complementary work. He is 100% secure in his position on the card and losses nothing in his primary role as a jobber to the stars. Nobody expects him to rip a ****½ pay-per-view match - and he isn't trying to either. Miz found his spot as a loud, brash, and colourful television character a long time ago and continues to thrive because of it.