Smark Out Moment

In FIVE MOVES OF DOOM, we break down a particular wrestler's moveset and examine the five signature maneuvers that they perform on a regular basis.

These are the moves that fans watch out for during a match and are usually in a sequential pattern, building up to and including their finishers that typically get the biggest pop of suspense from the crowd each and every week.

The edition will highlight The Miz. "The A-Lister" and former reality television star has made a name for himself in WWE as a heel in the ring and a star in Hollywood. For someone who had his moves criticized as being lazy, The Miz has been on a roll in the ring as of late with a more aggressive style to his character. He has even borrowed some high power moves from his former protege and rival, Daniel Bryan, and incorporated that into a style of his own.


1. Snap DDT to a kneeling opponent

More commonly used to a standing opponent, The Miz takes a stunned opponent and brings him to his knees. The Miz takes his arm and wraps it around his opponent's head and tucks it into his armpit. By swinging his leg back to gain more momentum and kicking forward as he drops backwards, he drives his opponent's head into the mat.

2. Awesome Clothesline

Also known as The Mizline, it is a corner clothesline. The Miz starts from the opposite corner with his opponent is standing up in the other corner. He charges forward and clotheslines his opponent. As an added bonus, he uses theatrics by showboating and posing in the ropes.


3. Repeated Shoot Kicks followed by a Roundhouse Kick

Copied from Daniel Bryan's Yes! Kicks, The Miz has gained popularity from the WWE Universe with his new move. With an opponent on his knees in the ring, The Miz strikes his opponent's chest or head with his shin repeatedly. He also gets the crowd to chant "Yes!", also copied from Bryan. The move is followed with a roundhouse kick to the head.


4. Figure-Four Leglock

Made popular by the legendary Ric Flair, The Miz had this move passed down to him from The Nature Boy. While he used it as his primary finisher for a while, he only breaks it out on occasion now. The wrestler stands over the opponent who is lying on the mat face up and grasps a leg of the opponent. The wrestler then does a spinning toe hold and grasps the other leg, crossing them into a 4 (hence the name). As he does so and falls to the mat, he applies pressure to the opponent's crossed legs with his own. While the hold applies pressure to the knee, it actually can be very painful to the shin of the victim. While the move is primarily a submission move, if the opponent has his shoulders on the mat, the referee can make a three-count for a pinfall.


5. Skull-Crushing Finale

The Miz has used this as his go-to finisher since 2009 and it is quite effective. The move is practically a Full Nelson facebuster, The Miz comes up from behind and puts his opponent in a full nelson. He then sweeps the leg and drives his opponent face-first into the mat.


Conclusion

The Miz has cemented himself as one of WWE's top heels. He is quite the underrated superstar, having held every title in the company at least once, including being a Money in the Bank briefcase winner and a six-time Intercontinental champion. He has been mocked throughout his career for his stint on reality television, for being a coward and lazy in the ring, and has fought through poor booking several times. The Miz has taken all this criticism and used it to his benefit. His in-ring style is more aggressive and impressive mic skills are not the only thing that makes The Miz popular anymore.