The Miz
A reality TV graduate who willed himself into becoming a WWE mainstay, mastering the art of the obnoxious villain to win world championships.
Born 1980 (age 46)·American wrestler and media personality·Birthday: October 8·Generation X
Biography
The Miz’s origin story is central to his character: a guy from 'The Real World' who wanted to be a WWE Superstar so badly that he willed it into existence. Initially dismissed by purists, he used that outsider status as fuel, honing his skills in the developmental system and perfecting a persona of arrogant, Hollywood-adjacent entitlement. His breakthrough came not just in the ring, but on the microphone, where he became one of the company's most reliable and detestable talkers. That verbal prowess carried him to the top, headlining WrestleMania and capturing the WWE Championship. The Miz’s longevity is a lesson in reinvention, seamlessly moving between wrestling, acting, and hosting duties, all while maintaining his core identity as the A-lister you love to hate.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
The was born in 1980, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When The Was Born
The biggest hits of 1980
#1 Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
Best Picture
Ordinary People
#1 TV Show
Dallas
The's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1980Born
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1985Started school
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1993Became a teenager
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Could drive
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1998Could vote
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Turned 21
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2010Turned 30
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 40
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 46 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Headlined WrestleMania XXVII in 2011, defeating John Cena to retain the WWE Championship.
- Is a two-time WWE Champion and an eight-time Intercontinental Champion, tying a historic record.
- Won the 2010 Money in the Bank ladder match, guaranteeing his first WWE Championship opportunity.
- Achieved the WWE Grand Slam, having held every major active male championship in the company.
- Starred in multiple films, including the 'Marine' franchise sequels as the lead character.
Did You Know?
He and his wife, fellow WWE star Maryse, have their own reality series, 'Miz & Mrs.' on USA Network.
Mizanin was a communications major at Miami University in Ohio.
He was an intern for the late Senator George Voinovich in Washington, D.C.
His first WWE tryout was in 2003 after winning the WWE Tough Enough competition.
He is an avid fan of the Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Guardians.
“"I’m The Miz, and I’m awesome!"”
