Why The Miz should win the Royal Rumble

The Royal Rumble is right around the corner (tonight, January 28th), and rumors are running wild. For the first time in a while, the over the top rope men’s match doesn’t have a clear winner. Considering that the event is in Philadelphia, with a passionate fanbase, all eyes will be on WWE. How they handle backlash from previous years will be an interesting sight to see. Will Vince McMahon stick to the plan he’s had for months and let Roman Reigns win the men’s match? Will Randy Orton or John Cena be a three-time winner of the event? Where does The Miz fit into all of this?

With the Roman rumors always in play, there have been reports of a SmackDown star winning the Rumble. It could open the door for Shinsuke Nakamura to win, and potentially face old rival AJ Styles (if he retains against Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn) at WrestleMania 34. Whoever the winner is, they will be holding the keys to the castle. It will be up to them to represent the company to hype up the show that will be in New Orleans on April 7th.

The Miz perfectly fits the requirement of a Royal Rumble winner. If WWE is all about creating moments, why not have an awesome (pun intended) Rumble winner, and the current Rolling Stone WWE Wrestler of the Year recipient?

If you think about it, besides John Cena, The Miz is the most well-known active wrestler in WWE today. He goes on media runs for the company, while also participating in a variety of reality shows. While his versions of The Marine don’t scream “blockbuster”, they help create a buzz in the entertainment industry. Depending on who you ask, him and his wife Maryse are considered the premiere stars of Total Divas, and they are currently planning on having their own show on the USA Network.

Inside the ring, The Miz is one of the hottest acts WWE has had in quite some time. Ever since his game-changing promo to Daniel Bryan on Talking Smack, nobody has been able to touch him on the mic. Yes, his in-ring skills aren’t as sexy as a guy like Cesaro, but it works for the WWE brand. Fans eat his schtick up, especially his “It Kicks”, a parody of Bryan’s “Yes” chant and kicks. Check out his Mixed Match Challenge match where he teamed up with Asuka against Carmella and Big E. They had the crowd in the palm of their hands.

As a multiple-time Intercontinental Champion, The Miz has made the title more relevant than ever. He truly cares about making that title number one. If you can think about it for a moment, there is some storytelling to put here. The Miztourage helps him win the match, and the gloating automatically begins. With the way he promotes his title, he can even say the IC Title is more important than what he is challenging for. So important, that he’s willing to put his title on the line at WrestleMania as well. He can cement a legacy he started years ago, and even threaten to eliminate the title he chooses to face.

What do I mean when I say any title? Some may have forgotten, but the Royal Rumble winner can choose to fight a champion from a different brand. With the Universal Championship seemingly booked, he could go back to where it all started, SmackDown. He would be able to feud with two people, the champion and Daniel Bryan. For the latter, he can brag that he won the Rumble while Bryan never could. It continues the personal rivalry that works even without violence involved. WWE reportedly has big plans for The Miz at WrestleMania, so why not make it a Rumble win?

While he probably wouldn’t win at WrestleMania, the thought that he would have a chance is enticing. Years ago, he main evented WrestleMania, and he was not ready. Now? It makes the most sense. If he were to win, imagine the post-Mania crowd cheering “You deserve it” at The Miz while Bryan is in the ring. Imagine what would happen if he lost and faced the crowd after. It further’s a character that has given WWE a lot over the years.

Anything can happen on the road to WrestleMania. It might be a long shot, but a vote for The Miz equals compelling storytelling and endless possibilities. Like the competitors in the Rumble, the WWE creative team is now on the clock.