Hello there loyal readers. It’s been awhile since we’ve talked. Since we last spoke, the hype machine has gone into overdrive for WrestleMania 27. With the return of The Rock, Undertaker vs. Triple H, this WrestleMania is shaping up to be huge. Add in a fresh face like Alberto Del Rio challenging for the World Title and things look good for the WWE. But one thing still bothers me, one thing still doesn’t seem right, and that’s The Miz as WWE champion.
When Miz first won the belt I thought it would be a refreshing change from the same old faces at the top of the roster. I was more than willing to give him a chance. But as the weeks turned into months, I began to lose interest. When was this guy going to prove himself? When was he going to do something worthy of a world champion? It turns out the answer was never. Since the beginning of his reign he has been a complete waste as a champion. He has done nothing to elevate the title or make it seem more desirable. Name one feud he’s had that didn’t end in outside interference. Name one opponent who he dominated. And by the way, if that’s his angle, to be weak, then that makes a lousy champion in my opinion. Nowhere was this more evident than in his recent feud with Jerry Lawler.
[adinserter block=”2″]The mere fact that the WWE could credibly pull off a feud between its world champion and an aging out of shape announcer speaks volumes about The Miz as a champion. Could Lawler have challenged Stone Cold, The Rock, Undertaker, Triple H, Batista, or John Cena? If he lasted more than two minutes it would have seemed like a joke. But not only does Lawler hang in there, he dominates most of their matchups, only losing by outside interference. He shouldn’t be able to hold the WWE champions jock, let alone handle him in a match. And don’t tell me that Lawler has a wrestling pedigree, that was 25 years ago.
In the past twenty years I can only think of three men who won the WWE championship who were “unworthy” in my opinion, and they all won because of outside interference. In 1991, an old out of shape Sgt. Slaughter beat the Ultimate Warrior at the Royal Rumble. However, he scored the win only after “Macho King” Randy Savage ran in and hit Warrior over the head with his scepter. In 1994, Bob Backlund defeated Bret Hart at Survivor Series in a “Throw in the Towel” match only after Owen Hart tricked his mother Helen Hart into throwing in the towel. And in 1999, Mr. McMahon defeated Triple H on SmackDown courtesy of Stone Cold Steve Austin and a Stone Cold Stunner.
Yet here was 61 year old Jerry Lawler mere inches from the top of a ladder and the WWE Title. Here was a card carrying AARP member a two count from the belt. He wasn’t about to win the title because of interference, he was about to win in the face of it. When I heard the reactions from people after the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view I knew it was over for Miz. People actually thought that Lawler was going to win. While it would be a nice sentimental choice, it totally devalues the champion and the championship. How could you take Miz seriously after he loses to “The King”? And loses despite the odds being in his favor! That’s something WCW would have done back in the day.
[adinserter block=”1″]The final straw for me was when I read a recap of the match and it said that “In the end, The Miz went over Lawler cleanly, just like he should have”. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!? We are now congratulating The Miz for cleanly pinning a man that he should have destroyed in less than 120 seconds. Stone Cold would have spent more time drinking than actually wrestling. The Rock’s promo would have taken longer than the match. Undertaker would have taken twice as long to get to the ring, and probably used the same amount of energy, as would have to dispose of Lawler. And yet, we are supposed to revel in The Miz’s glorious WWE title reign. Way to go Miz, you barely beat a man as old as my father, you truly are awesome.
Vince DeHoratus lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two kids. He has been a life long wrestling fan and he has passed that love onto his son. Though not quite yet “middle aged and crazy”, he is fast approaching it.
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