The Miz, during a recent appearance on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, made it clear that wins and losses are a crucial aspect of his profession as a WWE superstar. Discussing the realities of his role and how the audience responds, The Miz explained that success in the ring directly impacts both fan support and character portrayal, especially when it comes to babyfaces.
A Heel Character’s Advantage and the Babyface Dilemma
The Miz shared insights on his approach to playing a heel and the stark contrast it has with being a babyface in WWE. While his current character is designed to quickly recover from losses through impactful promos, he emphasized how much tougher it is to connect with the crowd when positioned as a hero. According to Miz, fans expect their favorite wrestlers to be victorious, and consistent defeats can erode their support.
“My character doesn’t really work as a babyface, if I’m being honest,”
The Miz said. He elaborated that his own persona can absorb losses because he is able to move the narrative forward, making the audience forget about defeats through his mic skills.
Why Winning Is Essential for Fan Support
The importance of victory, The Miz argued, is especially pronounced for babyface wrestlers, who are generally cast as crowd favorites. He recounted his personal experience, highlighting how even his own children ask about his performance after matches and express disappointment when he doesn’t win. The expectations placed on babyfaces, he argued, leave little room for failure in the eyes of younger fans and the broader WWE audience.
“But with the babyface, babyfaces can’t really lose a lot. If a babyface loses too much — everyone always says, like, ‘Winning doesn’t matter. Winning doesn’t matter.’ It matters. It really does matter. Especially if you’re a babyface. Because in my opinion, if you’re a babyface and I’m a kid out there — my kids always ask me, ‘Did you win? Did you win? Did you win?’ And I always have to go, ‘Ahh, daddy didn’t win this week, but I’ll get them next week.’ You can only say that so many times to a kid where they’re just like, ‘I want a winner. I want a winner. I want to cheer a winner.’ People like winners. People like first place. They don’t like second place. They don’t like third place. They want the guy, their guy. They want their guy to win,”
The Miz explained.
Shifting Audience Reactions and Career Uncertainty
Reflecting on the past year, The Miz noted that he has noticed a change in how the audience perceives him. Traditional tactics designed to draw boos from the crowd are not having their usual effect, and yet fans are not fully cheering him either. This ambiguous reaction leaves Miz in a unique position, unsure of where he stands with fans but aware of the increased respect he has garnered. He believes, however, that being stuck in this middle ground can be risky for a wrestler’s momentum and career prospects.
Upcoming Career-Defining Match Against Randy Orton
This week, The Miz will compete in a high-stakes qualifying match against Randy Orton on SmackDown. The winner secures a place in the upcoming fatal four-way number one contender’s match at Saturday Night’s Main Event on January 24. Whoever prevails in that event will move on to the Royal Rumble, where they will have the opportunity to challenge WWE Champion Drew McIntyre for the title.
What the Future Holds for The Miz and WWE’s Fan Favorites
The Miz’s candid comments highlight the intense pressure facing WWE superstars, especially those cast as babyfaces expected to embody victory. As Miz prepares for a crucial bout—where the outcome could set him on a path toward a championship showdown—his perspective reminds fans and insiders alike why winning means so much in professional wrestling. The coming weeks will reveal whether he can live up to the expectations of both his own family and the broader WWE universe in this pivotal chapter of his career.
