The Miz jumps to OVW

By Mike "The Miz" Mizanin

January 12, 2006



This has been a really busy 2006 for me. I just moved from McDonough, GA, (Home of Deep South Wrestling) to Louisville, KY, (Home of Ohio Valley Wrestling). That’s right Mizfits, The Miz can now be found at Ohio Valley Wrestling. I got relocated and so far it’s been a pretty hectic move. I forgot how time consuming moving is. First, I had to pack all my stuff (for me is a ton of junk), then switch all my bills, then drive eight hours in a Penske truck. Have you ever driven in a Penske truck? The seats are so uncomfortable it’s like your sitting straight up. Talk about back cramps. Since I didn’t know anything about Louisville, I had to apartment search, which is the worst because you have to talk to all these rental people. Normally I can tell in the first minute I walk into a place if I like it or not, but I feel bad telling the person that I hate the place so I let them talk my ear off for 15 minutes. Then they give me a card and I’m out. Then when I do find a place, the dreaded move in happens. I hate the move in because I’m so tired from the packing, driving, talking and everything else that I just want it all to be over. After five hours of moving in and setting everything up, you think you’d finally be done, right? Nope – still gotta call the cable and Internet guy, plus find a post office to have my mail switched, then find a bank (hopefully my bank is here, but with my luck I’ll have to switch again). Plus I have to find a good gym. Does all of that sound tiring to you? Just imagine what I feel like. Oh yeah, all of that moving was going on while going to my new practices at OVW.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first got to OVW. It was almost like the first day of school. What was everyone going to be like? What kind of training would we be doing? Would I be accepted? Would there be any hot girls in my class (just kidding, but that’s what I thought on my first day of school)? Most of all, would it be like Deep South? I really learned a lot and made some good friends at Deep South. We were like a fraternity – we always went out to eat after training, went to Double D’s (local bar), and all worked out at the same gym. It always seemed like anywhere I went I knew someone from Deep South would probably be there. So when I got the call that I had to move to OVW, my feelings were both sad and happy. Sad because I had a good thing going at Deep South. I was always on the TV show (pretty big deal). Plus I was the first Deep South Heavyweight Champion, which was truly an honor. I was in the main events where The Mizfits would rumble behind me in every match. The shows were a lot of fun. I got along with everyone. I was happy about the move because I enjoy moving to new locations and learning from different trainers and wrestling different talent. I always thought that the more trainers I learn from and the more wrestlers I go against the more diverse of a background I could get which would make me a better wrestler. That’s what the developmental territory is for – to make me a better wrestler. So I’m getting the best of both worlds (OVW and DSW).

When I first arrived at OVW, I realized that everything was different from DSW. From the training to the building to the talent. If you were to ask me to compare, I honestly couldn’t. They are too different to compare. Which is better? It’s your flavor of ice cream, really. I really can’t go too in-depth with OVW because I’ve only been here a week. As of right now, I already know I will learn a lot from Al Snow (the head trainer for OVW). He tries to make you think outside of the box, so my mind is racing at all times with ideas. The guys are really laid back and even though I’m “Deep South” (as they say), they still have accepted me. Yeah, I guess you could say there’s a little rivalry between DSW and OVW on which developmental territory is better. I would have to say the training and talent is amazing at both.

I really am going to miss Deep South. There’s so many fun, happy, sad, hard, ect... memories I have from there. I will never forget my going away present. Talk about funny. But it’s an inside joke, so you all wouldn’t get it. I want to say thanks to Bill DeMott for always pushing me to my limits even when I didn’t think I could go any longer. Thank you to Joe Hamilton for the knowledge you’ve given to me. To all the talent at DSW, you all made it so much fun “Take me with you because I want the ball.” I will keep The Mizfits updated on my training at OVW. If there’s any Mizfits in Louisville, I’d love to see you roaring at the shows. Until next week be good. Be bad. BE MIZ!

The Miz

