SmackDown Superstar The Miz recently appeared on WWE's The Bump, and the former Tag Team Champion was asked about his main event run which culminated at WrestleMania 27. He main evented that show in a match against John Cena, though the biggest talking point was the fact The Rock - who attacked Cena and helped The Miz retain his title - was involved.
Later that year, The Miz lost the title and lost his main event spot. Now, he's reflected on that. "I look at it and I go, I did everything I could in that moment to elevate myself, elevate the title. I mean I did it all, it was incredible. I’m working the face of the company, John Cena, I’m working with The Rock, who in the Attitude Era I thought the world of. I still do think the world of him, and I think he is just a special talent."
Elaborating on that, he explained how being "new" to the main event scene at the time helped his career. "And here I am, pretty new by the way. I’m a new up and coming guy and I need to make a statement, need to make an impact. I felt like I did, and I feel like I’ve continued to do that. Working with John Cena and The Rock showed me what I needed to do to be better.”
"And then, losing the title and getting out of the main event area for a while?" The Miz continued. "It made me realise ‘wow, it just doesn’t stay there, you have to keep working as hard if not harder once you’re there on top.’ People think you can relax and sit back? No I didn’t do that, but you have to work even harder than you did to stay at that level."
The Miz has never really regained his main event spot, but he does remain a top star in WWE.