Tonight at 8/7 C on SmackDown LIVE, John Cena is scheduled to be a guest on “Miz TV.” Although there is already a long-standing history between the two Superstars, this appearance in particular has the potential to turn extremely volatile. In addition to the animosity that has already built up from when the two battled as part of the WWE Championship Elimination Chamber Match several weeks ago, this past week on the blue brand, Cena eliminated The Miz from the 10-Man WWE Title No. 1 Contender’s Battle Royal. The A-Lister then snuck back in the ring and returned the favor by eliminating The Leader of the Cenation.
Even their significant others have gotten into the controversy as, on the same night, Miz’s wife Maryse attacked Nikki Bella with pipe during the Fearless Superstar’s Falls Count Anywhere Match against Natalya.
As Cena prepares to step into “The Most Must-See Talk Show in WWE History,” it would be easy for him to take the situation lightly. After all, SmackDown LIVE’s General Manager Daniel Bryan has made several comments that suggest Miz is afraid to get hit. Moreover, Miz likes to talk, a quality that can sometimes be perceived at less than to those perceived as “men of action.” As a man who has built his career on never backing away from any confrontation, Cena would certainly be counted in the latter category.
Nevertheless, the 16-time World Champion should take any threat from The Miz seriously, and here’s why …
The Miz will do whatever it takes to come out on top
Like him or hate him, The Miz is extremely good at what he does. He is a former WWE Champion, a six-time Intercontinental Champion, a two-time United States Champion, a Money in the Bank Ladder Match winner, a Slammy Award winner as well as a former WWE Tag Team, World Tag Team and Unified Tag Team Champion. Not to mention the fact that he has managed to keep “Miz TV” in prominence since 2012.
In other words, while you might not realize it, The Miz knows how to come out on top of any situation by any means necessary.
The Miz is not afraid of John Cena
John Cena is the true face of WWE. It is therefore completely understandable that anyone who steps into a ring with John Cena could become intimidated. Despite claims from Daniel Bryan and others that Miz may be hindered by fear, however, he has clearly never been afraid of the larger-than-life Superstar.
Miz has stood toe-to-toe with The Cenation Leader time and time again, whether on the mic or in both in singles and tag team showdowns. In fact, the A-Lister will be the first to tell you, he holds a WWE Championship main event victory over Mr. “Hustle, Loyalty and Respect” on The Grandest Stage of Them All, WrestleMania.
The Maryse factor
In any situation that involves The Miz, the WWE Universe has had to ask themselves “what is Maryse going do?” The former Divas Champion has proven herself capable of influencing many of her husband’s matches. Though Cena has an extremely effective counterpart in Nikki Bella, they tend to forge their own paths with regard to in-ring matters.
When you consider her deviously crafty nature, Maryse truly makes Miz a much more dangerous threat in any situation.
John Cena’s “hero” mentality leaves him open to attack
Over the years, John Cena has become more than a Superstar. He is a man of principle who many fans around the world look up to — particularly children. When you consider that, it is doubtful Cena would choose to do anything overtly questionable just to get the best of an adversary.
Miz, on the other hand, is in no way restricted by such scruples. He would have no problem attacking Cena from behind, using any number of foreign objects against him or even popping him over the head with his signature microphone.
When you’re on “Miz TV,” you’re playing by the A-Lister’s rules
Anybody who follows sports will tell you, home field advantage is key. How the fans act, one’s lack of familiarity of the playing space, even the unusual smells of the surroundings can be a distraction to the opposition.
When a Superstar like John Cena enters any arena, he is already fighting the dynamic of a divided crowd, armed with the polarizing chant of “let’s go Cena … Cena sucks.” But in this particular circumstance, he also faces the added disadvantage of walking right into Miz’s place of business: “Miz TV.”
Before things even begin, Miz will know that Cena will be angry with him and, if things go south, he will probably know how Cena is going to come at him. But because it is his show, Miz will have the ability to steer the car exactly where he wants it to go from the start. So if he plays his cards right, he could get Cena to walk right into whatever plan the calculated Superstar has thought up.