Vince McMahon Helped The Miz Bring Out His Inner Animal
By Craig Ballantyne on 24 September 2025
The Miz has recalled Vince McMahon helping him bring out his inner animal ahead of cashing in his Money in the Bank contract in 2010.
In November 2010, The Miz used his Money in the Bank contract to cash in on Randy Orton on an episode of Raw, capturing the WWE Championship for the first time. The Viper had just gone through a title defence against Wade Barrett that saw him injure his knee. Miz went straight for the vulnerable leg with multiple attacks before wrapping it around the ringpost.
While Orton made a comeback, the fresher Miz was able to overcome him and hit Skull Crushing Finale for the win.
During an appearance on No-Contest Wrestling, Miz revealed that earlier in the night, he had taken part in a promo class run by Vince McMahon. There, the former WWE Chairman encouraged stars to let their inner animal out.
“By the way, previous to this, we were having promo classes, and during that promo class with Vince McMahon, that day, he wanted us to get our inner animal out. So we’d had to cut promos like dogs. I watched Sheamus and Wade Barrett cut a promo as dogs. (Barks) I’m telling you, like, that was promo class that day.”
The Miz Credits Vince McMahon For His Mindset During Money In The Bank Cash-In
For Miz, the effect lasted the rest of the night and even helped with his cash-in on Orton.
“But honestly… when I got in that match, and if you watch that match back, you can see, I am literally channeling an inner animal. I am seeing the injury, and when an animal sees an injury, that’s your target, that’s where you go. When a shark smells blood in the water, they target that, right? So that’s what my mindset was, so it helped, that promo class helped me get into that, lock into that mode.”
The Miz went on to hold on to the title for 160 days, even defeating John Cena at WrestleMania 27 (with a little help from The Rock). The following month, he lost the title to Cena in a Triple Threat Steel Cage match that also featured John Morrison.
It would be ten years until The Miz held the title again, once again capturing the gold by cashing in Money in the Bank, this time against Drew McIntyre at Elimination Chamber in 2021.
Do you think The Miz deserved the WWE Championship in 2010? Would you like to see him hold the gold again? Let us know your thoughts below!
H/T to Fightful for the above transcription.