4. Most Improved
From 2008 to 2010, The Miz underwent a totally unprecedented evolution that saw him change his look, improve his in-ring style, and become one of the most exciting wrestlers in the world. In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter's year-end awards, he was voted Most Improved in 2008 and 2009, and finished third in the voting in 2010. The man was getting better on a weekly basis, and his much-maligned haters were forced to take notice. The anti-Miz vitriol hit a high point in February of 2010, when he was announced as the "pro" (mentor) of indy darling Bryan Danielson (renamed Daniel Bryan) on the inaugural season of NXT. Sure, The Miz had improved, but what could he teach the best wrestler in the world? This was clearly WWE's attempt to outrage their internet fans, who were also among the most likely to watch NXT. Well, guess what? By the time the first season of NXT wrapped up in June, the idea of The Miz as a mentor to Daniel Bryan wasn't so outlandish. Sure, Bryan is, was, and always will be fantastic, but in just four months, Miz had turned from a talented midcarder with potential to a definite future world champion and in this sport, there's no one who can't afford to take advice from such a man.