The Miz says he gets no respect– and it’s all The Real World‘s fault!
The Miz (whose real name is Mike Mizanin) recently spoke to UK’s The Mirror about how his reality TV past has negatively affected his career as a WWE wrestler. Mike, who now stars on USA’s Miz & Mrs. with his wife Maryse Ouellet, said that, in the eyes of many fans and peers, he will always be the goofy guy fans met in 2001 on ‘The Real World’s “Back to New York” season.
“I will never get the respect I deserve, because I was on a reality show,” Mike told The Mirror. “Whenever you’re on a reality show, [people think] you’re the scum of the earth. You have no talent, you’re a nothing and you deserve nothing.”
Despite this, Mike– who has also appeared on The Challenge, Fear Factor and other reality TV shows– says he doesn’t necessarily regret his decision to start on reality TV.
“I thank my lucky stars I was on a show like ‘The Real World’ on MTV and I thank them for putting me on that show because it gave me the ability to say ‘I can do anything I want with my life,'” Mike said.
The Miz said he decided to sign on for ‘Miz & Mrs.’ because it was very different from the other shows he has done. Still, it’s caused him to catch a lot of flak in the wrestling world.
“I really don’t like to call it a reality show,” he said. “I like to call it a docu-series because it documents when it’s like to be first-time parents in the entertainment industry. I like to think it’s a different type of show, but now that I have that, it puts even more ammo against me. But, maybe now, people will look at me and say ‘this guy can lead a show.'”
Still, Mike says, there are some in the entertainment industry who will never give him a chance because of his ‘Real World’ roots.
“So I have always had that chip on my shoulder and always will,” he admitted. “Do I think I’ll ever get the respect I deserve? No.”
(Photos: Christopher Polk/Getty Images; Peter Kramer/Getty Images; Instagram)
15 Responses
Nope..Mike..You’re Just mediocre..Pointblank.
Im a huge wrestling fan. I didn’t like The Miz for the longest because of his time on the Real World. I’ve just started to like him after his most recent IC title run. Also, Miz and Mrs. is way better than Total Divas and Total Bellas.
No…it’s because he’s a douche bag.
Ummmm… dude, I’m pretty sure no one takes you seriously because 1.) You go by “the Miz” 2.) You’re a “professional wrestler” 3.) You talk in a ridiculous voice using abnormal voice inflections like you’re introducing a high school basketball team
Spot on.. his voice is the WORST! Oh and no one takes you seriously because you stared on a reality show… but stars on current reality show… :/
It’s not like he’s trying to be a neurosurgeon…he’s a wrestler. He traded one goofy show for another goofy show. Embrace it. Although, I’m 99% sure he does embrace it and this is just a ploy to stay relevant.
If it weren’t for The Real World, I don’t think the “Miz” would even exist…he was just super corny on the show, that’s why he’s not really taken seriously.
Cameron Eubanks, Jamie Chung, that Kyle guy from the Chicago season that made up that “kidney stones” song about Tonya with that Keri girl, he’s on the NFL Network now…was working for CBS, Karamo is on Queer Eye…they all seem to be taken seriously…so it’s not the fact that he was on the Real World that caused him to not be respected…it’s more of how he was acting on the Real World…he came off as the corniest goofball ever, that would always let Coral yell at him.
Humble yourself buddy – the only reason why people even know who you are is because of that show.
He was one of my favorites on the RW because he came into the house as a completely dumb racist and his housemates really helped broaden his horizons. I remember him stating as fact “my uncle has a company and he says it’s true, black people are just lazier than white people.”
Kudos to him for pretending to be a wrestler all of those years ago and actually turning it into a career.
Ummmmm since when do people respect wrestlers?!
He always seemed like a good guy but if this is a problem worth whining about, wipe your tears with all your MTV money, honey.
C-town in the house!!!! My dad dated his mom way back in the real world days. Unfortunately I don’t know the tea because my dad passed away right after his season was airing or filming but I do know he’s a good genuine person.
Cry me a river…get over yourself and move on from reality TV then if it’s so hard. No sympathy
I loved him on the real world – Miz and Coral were hilarious together! 🙂 #goodolddaysofmtv
Ditto, I would have never known who he was via wrestling if it hadn’t been for his MTV debate. I’m beyond disappointed he’s being an ungrateful whiner.
I loved him on the Real World! Miz hanging out w Coral was hilarious.