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Student of the Month, July 2003 Mike Mizanin |
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by
Les Honig He’s come such a
long way from those childhood days playing with his Ultimate Warrior
and Hulk Hogan action figures; and a considerable distance even from
his fabulously successful run on “Real World 10” back in 2001.
For Mike “The Miz” Mizanin, his introduction to the
universe of squared-circle wrestling has been indeed an amazing one,
as his enrollment at Ultimate University a year ago has already
produced great results and a number of major UPW venue appearances;
all while he continues his intense training. Possessing an
outstandingly good look, great mic skills and above all, the
dedication that has also characterized the now elite group of standout
trainees who enrolled about the same time as he did, Mike rarely
misses a class and already has grown immensely in the eyes of his
teachers. (Currently he
is in one of those rare hiatus periods as he tapes the latest “Real
World/ Road Rules Challenge “with the debut set for this fall.
Please see Miz’s regular column now on the website for details of
all his recent activities). And as with many
others like him, Mike comes to UPW with a rich prior background that
enriches his education and provides him with many valuable skills.
Describing himself as your outgoing normal American kid growing
up in Cleveland suburb, Parma, Ohio, Mizanin excelled both
academically, in sports and in extra-curricular activities in school.
Captain of his high school baseball and cross country team as
well as a standout basketball player and swimmer, he also was
president of his student government and editor of the yearbook.
“I had a blast there”, he sums it all up in a nutshell. Beginning college at
Miami University of Ohio and majoring in business, Mike accidentally
heard about the “Real World 10” auditions while internet surfing
onto MTV’s website and it wasn’t long before he submitted a
videotape and was called back for seven grueling screening interviews,
finally being placed on the show. There he developed
his original Miz character, who he laughingly describes as his
“alter ego”; a heel wrestler that surfaced when he would get fed
up with his living situation and the inconsideration of some of his
female roommates. He recalls: “When I wasn’t getting along well
with the women there and didn’t know how to deal with it I’d bring
out this guy named the Miz who didn’t give a rat’s ass about
anyone. And I’d just start going off on them in my character. The
girls too then developed characters of their own and before long we
were having matches. It kind of made my interest in the sport of
wrestling really start to grow again.” What has been most
surprising of all, though, is just how much Mike has gone beyond that
cartoon cutout character to broaden his own understanding and
appreciation of sports entertainment. While many fans he encounters at
his numerous charity appearances still recognize him and ask for a
reprise of the Miz to entertain them, this squared circle student
extraordinaire has developed a much broader and richer ring
consciousness that is bound to serve him well as he moves on to hoped
for future pro wrestling stardom. For much of this mat
mind expansion he thanks his instructors, particularly the Ballards
and Keiji Sakoda, as well as the aforementioned group of student
standouts, particularly Nate Nickerson and Tony Stradland.
“What I really like about them and many others here is that
they are so dedicated; always looking for new ways to do things. They
are really innovative and know how to work a match and not only make
themselves look good but their opponents too.” Such an ability to
sell the match and your adversary in the ring is just one of the
things that Mike feels he has learned in this 12-month super UU
experience. “I realize that
it’s a lot harder than it looks. You have to tell a story and draw
the audience in and not let them figure out the outcome in advance.
Doing all that really makes the audience pop and that’s what
it’s really all about.” Mizanin divides his
time now between attending three or four regular weekly R1 Training Center
training sessions, making daily visits to the gym where he works out
and attempts to improve his look, (he reports that he is currently on
a 3000 calorie diet as well), and scheduling numerous charity and
college events ranging from talks to university students about how
they can cope with college life to fund-raising work for the Pediatric
Aids Foundation, Hollywood Knights and Junior Achievement. Still with all the
notoriety he has already achieved, our July Student of the Month,
seems to remain a largely humble and serious guy, who is admired and
liked by his classmates for his sense of humor, positive outlook,
determination and drive. And beyond his present studies, of course, lies his main goal, “to be a major star in WWE” someday. Yet, like many of his Ultimate University classmates, he has come to learn the value of humility; one of the most necessary tools in this very competitive business. “I’m not gonna think for a moment that I’ll there just because I did a show on MTV and deserve to have the chance handed to me,” Mike Mizanin says. “I am working my ass off right now and have for the past year just to become a good wrestler and a good worker and to gain the respect the other workers in this business. And when you come down to it, that’s what will make the most difference in the end.” |
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Previous Ultimate University Students of the Month: February 2003 - Nate Nickerson |
