The Miz’s WWE Debut Was A Shocking Start To His Career

Hamish Woodward

The Miz WWE Debut

Did you know who The Miz wrestled in his first WWE match?

Upon his WWE debut few people thought that The Miz would become a huge superstar. The skinny, loud and annoying kid had made his name on MTV’s The Real World, but the transition to pro wrestling seemed an impossible and laughable one.

For someone doing a bad impression of The Rock to become a WWE Champion (twice!) seemed an impossible feat, but the hard work and tenacity of Mike “The Miz” Mizanin brought him right to the top of the WWE. Due to his incredible work ethic, he managed to wrestle in the main event of Wrestlemania and battle some of the top WWE stars of all time, like John Cena, The Rock and The Undertaker.

He signed for the WWE after appearing in the 2004 reality show Tough Enough. The contest saw hopeful WWE superstars battle in different physical challenges, with the winner being awarded a million dollar WWE contract. While the show was eventually won by Daniel Puder, but The Miz showed enough in the competition to impress coach Al Snow and earn himself a developmental contract with WWE.

He eventually made it through developmental and onto the main roster, where his career was as varied and as entertaining as anyone else in WWE history.

From his beginnings in WWE as the host of the Diva Search all the way to his 2021 WWE Championship victory, his journey has been an inspirational one. But it all started from one simple match on Smackdown in 2006

The Miz’s First WWE Match

The Miz’s WWE debut was against Tatanka on Smackdown on August 29 2006. He was introduced as a former reality star and aspiring WWE superstar but immediately rubbed people the wrong way. He was forced to change in his own locker room after being kicked out of the communal one by Chris Benoit.

His debut match came against WWE legend Tatanka. This was during the Native American’s brief return to the company in 2006, although he failed to have any memorable matches during this run, aside of a tag team run with Matt Hardy.

The Miz’s first match ended in victory when he cheated to win. He performed a backslide-pin on Tatanka and placed his feet on the ropes for extra leverage, an illegal move in pro-wrestling. However, the referee did not see the indiscretion and counted the pin to give him his first victory in his WWE debut.

He would go on to team with John Morrison and win the WWE Tag Team Championship. He would also go out on his own as a singles star, winning the Money in the Bank contract in 2010 and 2021, both times cashing in for the WWE Championship (on Randy Orton and Bobby Lashley, respectively).

He would main event Wrestlemania 27, defending his WWE Championship against John Cena. The match was interupted by The Rock, who attached Cena to help The Miz win and retain his championship. However, The Miz was concussed during the match and has revealed he “can’t remember” the match at all.

What did you think of The Miz’s first match? Let us know in the comments or click below to read about Rey Mysterio in Rehab!

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