14. The Miz vs. Jerry Lawler (Monday Night Raw November 29, 2010)
It would be a shame if the fact that The Miz hit it big during an era where fans are so intent on "what have you done for me lately" that they forget just how good Mike Mizanin's alter ego was from 2009-2011. No heel in modern history was able to get under your skin quite like him. Nobody wanted to see him succeed, fans and many peers alike, and he let that work to his advantage, crafting a character that was equal parts snobby and annoying. The concept of the Money in the Bank cash-in was perfect for him. If WWE wanted a cheap, smarmy heel to win the title to groan-inducing jeers from the fans, then they found it in Miz. He was like the rich guy's son who got the starring spot on youth sports teams because of who his daddy was. His promos perfectly reflected his persona. Miz really was awesome in that role. Why did they ever turn him babyface? Some questioned the decision to put him against Jerry Lawler for an extended feud, but could there have been a better way to accentuate the mindset that Miz was an opportunistic little punk than to have him barely be able to defeat an old codger with a crown?
"The Doc" Chad Matthews has written wrestling columns for over a decade. A physician by trade, Matthews began writing about wrestling as a hobby, but it became a passion. After 30 years as a wrestling fan, "The Doc" gives an unmatched analytical perspective on pro wrestling in the modern era. He is a long-time columnist for Lordsofpain.net and hosts a weekly podcast on the LOP Radio Network called "The Doc Says." His first book - The WrestleMania Era: The Book of Sports Entertainment - ranks the Top 90 wrestlers from 1983 to present day, was originally published in December 2013, and is now in its third edition.
Matthews lives in North Carolina with his wife, two kids, and two dogs.
