WWE star The Miz recently appeared on the No-Contest Wrestling podcast to share details about a memorable promo class led by former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon in 2010. During this session, McMahon instructed wrestlers to deliver promos as if they were wild animals, a technique that left a lasting impression on The Miz and other talents.
Wild Animal Themes in the Promo Session
The Miz recalled,
“By the way, previous to this, we were having promo classes. And during that promo class with Vince McMahon, that day, he wanted us to get our inner animal out. So we’d had to cut promos like dogs.”
He described watching fellow wrestlers Sheamus and Wade Barrett perform promos embodying dogs, complete with barking sounds.
He continued,
“I watched Sheamus and Wade Barrett cut a promo as dogs. (Barks) I’m telling you, like, that was promo class that day. But honestly… when I got in that match, and if you watch that match back, you can see I am literally channeling an inner animal. I am seeing the injury, and when an animal sees an injury, ‘That’s your target, that’s where you go.’”
Applying the Animal Instinct to the Ring
The Miz further explained how the training influenced his in-ring mindset:
“When a shark smells blood in the water, they target that, right? So that’s what my mindset was, so it helped, that promo class helped me get into that, lock into that mode.”
This animalistic focus allowed him to zero in on opportunities during matches with heightened intensity.
Significance of the Promo Animal Class
This unconventional promo class demonstrated Vince McMahon’s innovative approach to developing wrestling personas, emphasizing raw emotion and instinct. The Miz’s experience highlights how such creative techniques can influence performance, making promos more vivid and matches more intense. Fans and wrestlers alike may find inspiration from these unique developmental methods, and it remains a notable example of WWE’s efforts to innovate promo work.
