Podcast Summary: Bussin' With The Boys — The Miz On WWE, Netflix, ESPN, and Wrestling Legends

Episode: The Miz On WWE Deal W/ Netflix & ESPN + Working W/ John Cena & The Rock + Wrestlepalooza
Date: September 16, 2025
Hosts: Will Compton & Taylor Lewan
Guest: The Miz (Mike Mizanin)

Overview

This episode of "Bussin' With The Boys" features WWE Superstar The Miz (Mike Mizanin) for an in-depth conversation about WWE’s blockbuster deals with Netflix and ESPN, the evolution of pro wrestling, and his experiences working with legends like John Cena and The Rock. The episode also delves deeply into fatherhood, childhood nostalgia, and the unique grind of both pro wrestling and NFL life. The boys wrap up with a spirited back-and-forth about sports fandom, the upcoming Wrestlepalooza, and what legacy and personal moments mean to The Miz.

Major Topics & Key Insights

1. WWE’s Big Moves: Netflix & ESPN (1:47:00–2:13:00)

• WWE’s Growth and Evolution:
  The Miz discusses how WWE went from struggling to fill seats to achieving global reach through breakthrough media deals.

  “Now looking at where we are, we’re on Netflix... It’s right there, number one show. That’s generating a whole new fan base.” — The Miz (1:47:45)

• ESPN Partnership & Wrestlepalooza:
  The first major Premium Live Event (PLE) to air on ESPN is Wrestlepalooza, now added to WWE’s “Big Six” events.

  “It’s a big deal... ESPN is the worldwide leader in sports. It feels like we’re getting out there more in the world.” — The Miz (1:48:00)

• The Impact on Younger Fans:
  On-demand streaming enables younger kids to experience wrestling when they want, expanding WWE’s relevance.

  “My buddy’s three boys didn’t really watch until you were on Netflix... Now it’s always on, when they get home from school.” — (1:47:50)

2. Legends, Lessons & Locker Room Culture (41:00–1:01:00)

• Learning from John Cena:
  The Miz shares how Cena’s professionalism, dedication to craft—including learning Mandarin for WWE—helped shape The Miz’s own approach.

  “John taught me how to actually hear an audience and what to do with the audience.” — The Miz (40:28)

• Ring Psychology:
  The art of reading crowds, improvising live, and using subtle cues to adjust matches for maximum excitement.

  “It’s a science out here... you have to listen to them. What does this crowd need?” — The Miz (43:10)

• WWE’s Locker Room Hazing:
  The Miz recounts his early WWE days, including being shunned from the locker room and forced to earn his place by “walking on eggshells.”

  “I got kicked out of the locker room... took like six months to get back in. You shook everyone’s hand, you looked everyone in the eye.” — The Miz (1:40:58)

• Working with The Rock & Cena:
  Personal stories of crossing paths with legends and being on the biggest stages, including main-eventing WrestleMania as a heel.

3. The Road to WWE: From Real World to WrestleMania (53:10–1:06:00)

• Reality TV Beginnings:
  The Miz describes going from “The Real World” to taking a gamble on pro wrestling, facing skepticism for being a “no-talent hack” reality star.

  “Back then, being on a reality show, you were a no-talent hack... people didn’t think you belonged in WWE.” — The Miz (88:45)

• Tough Enough & Development:
  Gritty tales of surviving hellish tryouts, taking pay cuts, getting the “Ryan Seacrest of WWE” pitch, and fighting to be recognized as a legit performer.

4. Wrestling, Work Ethic & Adapting (1:34:00–1:47:00)

• Handling Disappointment:
  Plans change quickly in wrestling—like having a championship match taken away an hour before showtime.

  “If someone told me, ‘you’re the guy,’ then... ‘you’re not the guy,’... I’ll make them believe I am the guy.” — The Miz (1:47:36)

• Pitching & Reinvention:
  The Miz is constantly “pitching ideas”—even in his 20th year—and emphasizes never letting management forget his value.

5. Parenting, Fatherhood & Life Beyond the Ring (64:30–84:10)

• Being a Girl Dad:
  Deep-dive into parenting philosophies: balancing career and family, routines, handling emotions, home-schooling, and extracurriculars like jiu-jitsu and gymnastics.

  “There’s never been something so confusing in my life than parenting.” — The Miz (1:19:14) “I want my daughters to be able to take care of themselves... confidence level knowing you can handle yourself.” — The Miz (1:74:35)

• Homeschooling & Montessori:
  Will shares his rave reviews of homeschooling with Montessori philosophy, focusing on creativity and self-reflection.

6. Celebrity Tear Talk & Locker Room Banter (20:10–28:00)

• Celebrity Crush “Tear Talk”:
  Light-hearted segment where the boys and The Miz rank their childhood celebrity crushes (Topanga, Margot Robbie, Kelly Kapowski, and more).

  “When I was a kid, Topanga from Boy Meets World—massive, massive crush.” — Will (21:26)

• Locker Room Nostalgia:
  Reminiscing over early gaming consoles, Blockbuster, and what growing up before the internet was like.

7. Fandom, Sports Heartbreak & Banter (111:42–1:30:00)

• Football Fandom Pain:
  The Miz, a lifelong Cleveland Browns fan, commiserates with the boys over perennial sports heartbreak.

  “You don’t know what pain is... Cleveland thrives on its sports, and when they're bad, it’s depressing.” — The Miz (1:17:09)

• Rivalries:
  Michigan vs. Nebraska (the “Bussin’ Bowl”), WWE event timing conflicts, and banter about sports legacies and heartbreak.

  “No one could show up [to our game], and Will and I would be excited about it.” — Taylor (1:24:54)

8. Personal Legacy, Mentorship & Moments (2:13:00–2:23:00)

• Creating Lifetime Moments:
  The Miz is passionate about giving families moments to cherish—“It’s those father moments where you’re like, this is great.” — The Miz (2:13:29)

• John Cena’s Farewell:
  Miz expresses gratitude for learning from Cena and hopes to pass lessons down the line as WWE’s new generation rises.

  “I got to learn from John Cena, and now these kids coming up won’t get that. My job is to pass it on.” — The Miz (1:11:01)

• Personal Wish:
  In a touching close, The Miz wishes for one-on-one time with his father, reflecting on family, aging, and legacy.

  “I would give anything to have a dinner with my dad—just my dad.” — The Miz (2:16:47)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On John Cena & Audience Work:
  “He taught me how to listen to an audience, hear an audience, and know what to do with that audience.” — The Miz (40:28)
• On Scrutiny & Drive:
  “I prefer being a bad guy... it fires me up when someone tells me I can’t do something.” — The Miz (1:41:05)
• On Parenting:
  “There’s never been something so confusing in my life than parenting... how can I develop her confidence?” — The Miz (1:19:14)
• On WWE’s Media Deals:
  “We’re pulling out all the stops... being on ESPN, having our big events there, it’s going to be amazing.” — The Miz (1:48:38)
• On Legacy:
  “My job when I go in that ring is to create a moment that’ll last a lifetime.” — The Miz (2:11:40)
• On Family:
  “He tells everybody else [he’s proud], but not me... I just want to hang out with him.” — The Miz (2:16:40)

Key Timestamps

• 15:00 — The Miz enters and joins "Tear Talk"
• 34:44 — How The Miz met his wife (WWE Diva Search)
• 40:00–44:00 — Learning from John Cena, crowd psychology
• 47:16–48:52 — WWE politics: last-minute changes, handling disappointments
• 53:10–61:00 — The Real World, reality TV roots, transition to wrestling
• 64:30–71:00 — Parenting, being a girl dad, routines, and presence
• 80:00–86:35 — Homeschooling, Montessori, and child development
• 107:03–112:59 — Wrestlepalooza, WWE on ESPN & Netflix details
• 1:13:11–1:24:04 — Football fandom, Browns pain, and the heartbreak of loving a losing team
• 1:34:00–1:44:57 — Creating legacy moments in WWE for fans and family
• 1:47:00–1:56:00 — Deeper dive on Wrestlepalooza, event hype, and why it matters

Tone & Feel

True to "Bussin’ With The Boys" style, the episode is rowdy but heartfelt—mixing irreverent locker-room energy, 90s childhood nostalgia, honest parenting struggles, and respect for what it takes to make it in top-tier sports and entertainment. The Miz is charismatic and direct, sharing stories with humility, humor, and a motivational edge.

Conclusion

This episode is a must-listen for wrestling fans, dads, and anyone who loves hearing how drive, resilience, and authenticity shape great careers—and great families. The Miz’s behind-the-scenes stories reveal not only the spectacle of WWE, but the grind, sacrifice, and humanity behind the glitz. With football and wrestling colliding, and generational change on the horizon, this conversation is both a look back at storied traditions and a glance toward new frontiers in sports entertainment.

Featured Quotes Recap:

• "My job when I go in that ring is to create a moment that’ll last a lifetime." — The Miz (2:13:02)
• "If someone told me, ‘you’re the guy,’ then... ‘you’re not the guy,’... I’ll make them believe I am the guy." — The Miz (1:47:36)
• "John Cena taught me how to actually hear an audience… that’s one of the biggest things I learned from him." — The Miz (40:28)
• "I would give anything to have a dinner with my dad—just my dad." — The Miz (2:16:47)

Wrestlepalooza:
Sept 20, 2025, ESPN, 7:00pm ET — John Cena’s farewell tour, couples matches, and more.
Don’t miss it.