The Miz Reveals What Inspired His Famous Talking Smack Promo, How People in WWE Reacted, Why The Rock Is a ‘Reality Star’

The newest member of the WWE Smackdown roster, The Miz, recently spoke with Complex, and below are some interview highlights.

On his famous “Talking Smack” “shoot” promo on Daniel Bryan, which took place back in August 2016:

“I was told that I wouldn’t be on [Smackdown that day] with the Intercontinental title,” Mizanin recalls. “And I was really angry about that—that they couldn’t make time for the Intercontinental Champion. And I kind of took that out on our Smackdown general manager Daniel Bryan.”

“People backstage were packing their bags and leaving, and suddenly, everyone just stopped,” Mizanin recalls. “I only remember parts of that moment afterwards, because I was so angry. But I was just pacing. I didn’t know what to do with myself.”

On the stigma of him being a reality star in WWE:

“I think that [the reality show stigma]has passed,” Mizanin says. “Everyone is a reality star these days. If you go on Instagram, you can see everything that The Rock is doing. But back in my day, if you were a reality star, you could only be a star on that show.”

“I think all [the different Miz characters]are sides of me,” Mizanin says. “There’s the WWE Miz. There’s The Challenge host Miz, who stirs the pot and gets the contestants going, because I’ve won this game; I think that’s why they wanted me back.”