The Miz: 'To Be Honest, My Character Doesn’t Fit the Babyface Role'
In a bold statement that challenges a widely accepted belief in the wrestling community, The Miz recently voiced his strong opinion on the significance of wins and losses in professional wrestling. During a candid conversation on the latest episode of Insight with Chris Van Vliet, the accomplished multi-time champion made it clear that he believes victories are crucial, especially for babyfaces—the good guys in wrestling narratives. He explained that while he can recover from defeats as a heel (a character that embodies the villain), fans tend to lose interest in a hero who frequently comes up short.
The "A-Lister" openly acknowledged that his character is not ideally suited for a babyface role, noting that this persona requires regular wins to keep the crowd engaged and cheering. He contrasted this with his experiences as a heel, where a loss can be quickly overshadowed by a compelling promo that rekindles the audience's faith in him.
He stated, "Honestly, my character doesn’t really thrive as a babyface. A babyface can’t afford to lose too often, because if they do, their appeal diminishes. People often claim that winning isn’t important in wrestling, but I strongly disagree; it truly matters. This is particularly true for babyfaces. I mean, think about it—if I’m a kid watching my favorite wrestler, I want to hear, ‘Did you win? Did you win?’ And when I have to say, ‘No, Daddy didn’t win this week,’ it gets discouraging. Kids want to rally behind a winner, someone who finishes first, not second or third. If their hero keeps losing, that excitement fades.
Thus, I excel at losing and making you forget that defeat, only to convince you the next day that I can take on the biggest superstar out there. I could lose to anyone, even an up-and-comer like Je’Von Evans, but the very next day, I could headline a match against John Cena—or whoever the top star is—and make you believe that I can win that match. It’s just tougher to achieve that same level of belief as a babyface. It's been a peculiar couple of years, and I’d say the last year has felt particularly strange.
Looking ahead, The Miz is gearing up for an exciting matchup this Friday on SmackDown, where he will face Randy Orton in a qualifying bout. The winner of this encounter will advance to a fatal four-way number one contender’s match set for January 24 during Saturday Night’s Main Event. The ultimate victor of that four-way clash will then earn the chance to challenge Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship at the highly anticipated Royal Rumble.
For any quotes taken from this article, please acknowledge Insight with Chris Van Vliet, with a hat tip to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription. You can catch the full interview on Chris Van Vliet’s YouTube channel or via his podcast feed.
Andrew Ravens is a dedicated reporter for WrestlingNews.co, focusing on the latest developments in the world of professional wrestling. Based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, his primary concentration is on daily wrestling news, particularly concerning WWE and AEW. Since 2013, Andrew has cultivated a deep understanding of the wrestling industry, going beyond mere news updates to provide comprehensive coverage of wrestling companies and their storylines. His expertise includes detailed play-by-play accounts of major events, ensuring that fans who cannot watch live still feel connected to the action. Additionally, he undertakes transcription duties, accurately converting interviews and media scrums into readable formats. A committed journalist, Andrew frequently attends significant wrestling events in person, including WWE's Monday Night Raw and SmackDown, along with AEW Dynamite, offering live coverage. If you have news tips or wish to reach out, you can contact Andrew via email at ravenstarmedia21@gmail.com.
