KB’s Review: YES! He Should Be Champion

Often times in this column, I’ll spend some time setting up a premise and then get to the big idea later on. That’s not going to be the case this week as I’m going to get straight to the point: assuming it can be done, the Miz should defeat Daniel Bryan at “Wrestlemania XXXIII” and then move on to become Smackdown World Champion as soon as possible because he belongs on top of the roster.

Let’s get this out of the way right now. “MIZ SUCKS! HE ISN’T A WRESTLER!” Yeah I know. I’ve heard these same statements for years now and I’ll say the same thing I’ve said over and over: have you been watching him? If so, I really don’t know how you can still make the same claims about him because he’s been really good for a long time.

httpss://youtube.com/watch?v=_8yWYfckv6o

Miz was indeed a reality guy to start his career but he’s been in WWE for over ten years (longer than Austin or Rock) and has won the Grand Slam. He’s won fifteen titles and was Mr. Money in the Bank. Miz has won in the main event of Wrestlemania and is a regular in WWE Studios movies. No matter how you look at it, Miz is a big deal in WWE and has been for a long time. Not bad for someone who isn’t a wrestler right?

At the moment, it’s not like there are many people to surpass on the “Smackdown Live” roster. Really, ahead of Miz at the moment, you have Dean Ambrose and AJ Styles. John Cena isn’t active at the moment, Randy Orton is in a tag team with Bray Wyatt, and Wyatt himself is…..well he’s Wyatt. Do you really think he’s going to get into the World Title scene anytime soon?

httpss://youtube.com/watch?v=NgszcPFuQXY

Let’s take a look at what he’s done this year. The night after “Wrestlemania XXXII”, Miz won the Intercontinental Title for a fifth time time and held it for six months. Then he won it again on the 900th episode of “Smackdown Live” for his sixth reign (tied for the second most all time), which means he’s held the title for more combined days than Chris Jericho. He’s reached the point where the title doesn’t mean much for him, but there’s one more thing that he needs to accomplish.

That would be defeating Bryan and it’s not like they haven’t been teasing the heck out of the idea in recent weeks. Ever since their big promo battle on the debut of “Talking Smack” back in August, Miz and Bryan have been going back and forth on the mic. Miz has been using Bryan’s moves, mocking the YES finger point and doing everything short of challenging Bryan outright.

Bryan hasn’t been shying away from the idea either, talking on Sunday about how he hoped Dolph Ziggler won the Intercontinental Title back because he just liked Ziggler better. The two have a history dating all the way back to the original season of “NXT” and, while they’ve fought before, it was never on a big stage with Bryan at the height of his popularity.

httpss://youtube.com/watch?v=NBMjSaGMG8s

Can you imagine how amazing it would be if Bryan were to come back for one more match and face Miz in an Intercontinental Title match at “Wrestlemania XXXIII?” Some of Bryan’s greatest moments have come at the biggest show of the year and the idea of him making his big comeback to face Miz for the title he never lost is a story that writes itself. It would be amazing and there’s no other word for it. Now what should happen if this unlikely scenario happens? Bryan should lose, and he should lose huge.

Yeah of course he should. If Bryan can come back for one more match, why in the world would you have him win and then leave the ring again? Bryan is thirty five years old (actually younger than Miz) and one of the most injury prone wrestlers in years. Why in the world would you put him over someone who could be a top star in the company for the next few years?

I really don’t see why Bryan should be exempt from the same criticisms that other part timers get. Bryan certainly isn’t a full time wrestler anymore so why should it be ok to have him come back and get a big win if it’s not ok for Undertaker, Brock Lesnar, Goldberg or any other part timer? You know, the part timers that so many fans criticize for being put over the people who are around all the time? It’s the same thing CM Punk complained about and while it’s not as much of a problem as he made it out to be, he’s not entirely wrong with some of his criticisms.

The only possible option would be the fans losing their minds at the idea of one of their favorites losing on such a big stage. While it would be a risky move, it’s not like it hasn’t been done before. At “Wrestlemania XXX”, the Undertaker’s Streak was broken but about an hour later, the fans were losing their minds when Bryan came out for the main event. It can be done, although it’s a tricky move to pull off.

httpss://youtube.com/watch?v=7LwUID2gbKg

So anyway, after Miz defeats Bryan at “Wrestlemania XXXIII” (probably with the Skull Crushing Finale but extra points if it’s with the Figure Four), there’s only one place to go for him and that’s back to the main event. Miz hasn’t been a regular in the World Title picture in several years and I’m sure that’s not much of a surprise to most people.

Now I’m not going to pretend that Miz’s first World Title reign was anything great. He wasn’t the most in depth character and he was overshadowed by The Rock and John Cena’s huge feud. His role in the main event of “Wrestlemania XXVII” was really a background character while Rock and Cena did their thing. However, what people tend to forget, is that things have changed since then.

Miz has gone from one catchphrase to a much more fleshed out character. The A-Lister is a simple one on paper but Miz has nailed it so hard since the beginning and continues to do so every single week. He flat out defeated Dolph Ziggler in their feud and still has the gorgeous blonde on his arm to really sell the idea. I don’t remember the last time Miz didn’t entertain me in some way and that’s a huge step forward.

The other key thing to remember is that it’s not about Miz’s in ring abilities. Wrestling is about selling the character, not what happens from bell to bell. That’s where Miz shines as well as almost anyone else in the WWE at the moment. He’s someone people enjoy seeing lose because he’s just so easy to hate. Miz is a jerk who has let his fame go to his head and he has his beautiful wife with him while he talks about the movies he’s in. How do you not want to see him take a beating from your favorite superstar?

Miz has become one of the best performers in WWE and has been such for a very long time. I have no idea why he shouldn’t move up to the top of the “Smackdown Live” roster, especially if he gets to beat Bryan in a major match down the line. The roster is in need of fresh blood at the top of the show and Miz is as safe of an option as the company has at the moment. Don’t waste him like they’ve done so many times before and leave him with just a participation award.

Remember to check out my website at kbwrestlingreviews.com, follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book, KB’s Complete Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Volume V at Amazon for just $3.99 at:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MQKDV5O

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6