During the early stages of his WWE career, The Miz encountered significant difficulties gaining acceptance in the WWE SmackDown locker room due to his background as a reality TV personality. He was reportedly removed from the locker room for reasons he described as trivial and remained barred for several months without clear communication on when access would be restored. This incident was recently shared by The Miz in detail during an interview with Chris Van Vliet on the INSIGHT podcast.
Speaking with Van Vliet, The Miz admitted he was unaware of when he could return to the locker room and did not specify who ordered his removal. He recalled,
“I had no idea. I knew the person that told me that, ‘hey, you’re kicked out of the locker room.’ He said, ‘you’re not coming in until I say so.’”
?The Miz, WWE Star
Waiting and Seeking Help From WWE Veterans
After the individual responsible for barring him left the company, The Miz still faced a waiting period of approximately three more months before reentering the locker room. During this time, he sought guidance from The Undertaker, a legendary figure in WWE, regarding how to regain access. The Miz recounted their conversation and his experience of being under intense scrutiny due to a minor incident involving chicken in the locker room.
“When that person went away, I was like, ‘oh boy, how am I gonna get back in the locker room?’ So I had to wait another three months. I asked ‘Taker. I was like, ‘Man, I’ve been out of the locker room for a long time.’ He goes, ‘Oh, you have?’ ‘Yeah, I’ve been out like six months.’ ‘What’d you do?’ I ate a piece of chicken in the locker room, and it got all over. I still believe it did not, but other people will tell you differently, and they can have their opinions. That is fine. I was under a microscope of, ‘let’s get this guy.’” ?The Miz, WWE Star
The Miz’s Decision To Avoid Confrontation for Career Growth
Despite feeling unfairly treated, The Miz chose not to confront the person who expelled him from the locker room. He explained that standing up to a respected locker room leader could have jeopardized his career, especially as a newcomer with a reality TV background striving to earn respect in professional wrestling. He emphasized his need to learn from the veterans rather than risk alienating them by challenging authority.
“It was so ridiculous. I’m a grown man, and people are always like, ‘Why don’t you fight them? Why don’t you stick up for yourself?’ Because back then, if I would have done something like that, I probably would have been fired, or I looked at it as if I stand up to this person who is a locker room leader and very respected, and the reality guy steps up and talks and mouths off at that person, they’re never going to teach me. I need them to teach me. I’m not going to learn this.” ?The Miz, WWE Star
The Broader Impact of This Experience on The Miz’s Career
These early struggles in the WWE locker room highlight the challenges faced by performers transitioning from other entertainment fields into professional wrestling. The Miz’s experience reveals the intense culture within WWE’s backstage environment, where gaining acceptance from established veterans is critical for career development.
Now recognized as one of professional wrestling’s most prominent figures and widely anticipated to be a future WWE Hall of Famer, The Miz’s story underscores the perseverance required to overcome initial setbacks in the highly competitive world of WWE. His willingness to endure exclusion without confrontation allowed him to learn from respected athletes and establish a successful career over time.
