IN ADDITION TO our big interview with WWE Superstar The Miz to preview the “Extreme Rules” pay per view in Baltimore on April 25, we spoke to three wrestling journalists about the Miz’s skills on the mic and in the ring. Plus, we asked them who are the best talkers in the history of sports entertainment.

Weighing in are Wade Keller, editor of PWTorch.com; Bryan Alvarez from WrestlingObserver.com and Figure Four Weekly; and Vinny Verhei, co-host of “The Bryan and Vinny Show” on WrestlingObserver.com.

If all this talking isn’t enough, WWE Classics will feature “Pass the Mic” in May. It’s a showcase of the greatest talkers of all time.

» WADE KELLER, PWTorch.com

» EXPRESS: Where does the Miz rank among today’s best promo cutters?
» KELLER: I think Miz is rocketing to the top. I’ve liked Miz’s promos for a while; I’ve been a backer of him getting a push. I liked him last year saying he wanted to be a main eventer. I think sometimes you’ve got to set your sites high and let people know you’re not settling. I think if Shelton Benjamin, five years ago, had said, “I want to headline pay per views, and I want to do what it takes to get there,” I think management would have taken him more seriously and looked to him to step up and do that. I think Miz has stepped up. He changes his ring gear,he changed his look, but he’s great on the mic. He’s quick-witted; I don’t know he much he prepares ahead of time versus home much just comes out of him naturally. I think he’s growing into one of the top promo guys in the industry, and I think that he is opening some eyes. I don’t know if it will be in the next 12 months, but I think when we start looking at mid-2011, if WWE portrays him well and let shim work his way to the top with some credible in-ring work I think fans will take him seriously with his mouth and his in-ring work combined as a potential pay per view main eventer.
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THE BEST professional wrestling matches are the result of amazing athletics, but a bout’s dramatic framing is built on the mic, not in the ring.

Superstars such as The Rock, Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair could get an audience hot for a match simply by hurling insults and challenges to their competitors. This is why they’re called “promos” in wrestling parlance: great mic skills equal ticket sales.

In today’s WWE, the greatest talkers are CM Punk, Chris Jericho and The Miz, and all three will likely be in Baltimore on Sunday for the “Extreme Rules” pay per view. (At press time, The Miz and other Superstars on WWE’s “Raw” show were just leaving the U.K. after being stranded there due to volcanic ash. Punk and Jericho made it back to the U.S. and are confirmed for “Extreme Rules” matches, but the Miz’s appearance has not yet been announced.)

Jericho plays an erudite heel who belittles the crowd and opponents with whithering wit; Punk plays a mad-messiah type who delivers edgy sermons praising the straight-edge lifestyle; and The Miz plays a smart-aleck narcissist with copious comedic one-liners — which the man born Mike Mizanin said he usually spouts “off the top of my head.”

“If you believe it, everyone else will believe it,” he said over a London phone. “If you don’t believe, or if you’re trying to think of something to say … you’re not going to come off that great. Sometimes I’ll cut a promo and have no idea what I just said.”
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I have added 5 high quality photos of when The Miz and Maryse did a Press Conference in Strasbourg, France a few days ago. They both look great, so make sure you check them out.

RELATED LINKS:
- Photos: View

WWE has added 3 new digitals of Mike from when he preformed in Belfast, Ireland a few nights ago.

RELATED LINKS:
- Digitals: View

WWE have added 1 new digital of Mike from when he preformed in Lievin, France a few nights ago.

RELATED LINKS:
- Digital: View

With the volcanic eruption in Europe stranding the majority of the Raw roster, WWE’s flagship show is going blue. Even as the cast of the film MacGruber takes the reins as special guest hosts for the potentially cataclysmic show in East Rutherford, N.J., Triple H prepares to share the ring with several top SmackDown Superstars.

Although Raw is trapped in Belfast, Ireland, the SmackDown Superstars were able to arrive in Newark by charter early this morning, after traveling through the night by bus to get to a place where they could take off.

Can the cast of MacGruber control the molten-hot situation that could erupt on Raw? Find out tonight at 9/ 8 CT only on USA Network.

The Miz joins Matt and Todd at the announce table to scout his potential opponents and to allow Todd to bring up that he beat David Hart Smith in his daddy’s home town. Miz reminds us that on Raw, Bret Hart has to admit that The Shiz is the greatest tag team in the history of the WWE.

CM Punk, Luke Gallows, and Darren Young w/ Serena vs Rey Mysterio, Tyson Kidd, and David Hart Smith w/ Natalya
Smith and Punk start things off but Punk tags Luke in before anything happens. Luke with a kick and punches followed by an uppercut. Gallows with an Irish whip and splash into the corner. Gallows with a knee and then Smith blocks a shot into the turnbuckles and Smith with an Irish whip. He runs into a knee but Smith with a power slam for a near fall. Smith with an elbow to the head and Rey and Kidd come in and Smith with a drop toe hold to Gallows and Rey and Kidd with a double drop kick to the head. Punk tags in. They lock up and Kidd works on the arm and takes Punk to the mat with a wrist lock. Punk with a leg sweep and a cover but he gets up before the referee can make a count. They lock up in a Greco Roman knuckle lock but Punk with a kick followed by a snap mare and kick to the back for a near fall. Kidd blocks a hip toss and hits one of his own. Smith tags in and kicks Punk. Rey is tagged in and Rey with a springboard splash while Smith and Kidd have Punk up for a double suplex. Rey with kicks to Punk in the corner but Punk sends Rey into the turnbuckles. Punk with forearms and kicks as Rey falls into the corner. Punk with kicks to the head and then he stands on Rey in the corner. Rey goes to the apron but in front o the ring post. Punk with a baseball slide and Rey goes into the ring post. Punk gets a near fall and then he puts Rey in an arm bar. Rey punches Punk but Punk with a rake of the eyes. Rey with a bulldog out of a wheelbarrow and then Rey with a drop kick to the knees and Punk falls into the ropes but Punk goes to the floor before Rey can hit the 619. We go to commercial.

We are back and Young backs Rey into the corner but Rey with kicks to Young’s leg. Rey with a forearm to Young. Smith tags in and he punches Young and kicks him in the corner. Kidd tags in and they hit a double shoulder tackle and Kidd gets a near fall. Kidd with a front face lock into an arm bar. Gallows tags in and he punches Kidd. Gallows throws Kidd over the to rope but Kidd lands on the apron. Kidd with a kick but he tries for a springboard move and Gallows kicks Kidd. Kidd goes to the floor but he sends Kidd back in. Gallows with an elbow drop for a near fall. Young tags in and Gallows is in a bit of shock. Young with a neck breaker for a near fall. Young sends Kidd into the turnbuckles and tags in Punk.

Punk with kicks to Kidd and he gets a near fall. Punk with a back breaker to Kidd and he gets another near fall. Punk with a figure four head scissors to Kidd. Kidd is able to counter with a bridge while Punk maintains the hold. Punk with a slam and he tags in Young. Young goes to the turnbuckles but he misses a leg drop. Punk tags in and he kicks Rey off the apron. Kidd with a leaping spin kick and then he tags in Smith. Smith with a clothesline and flying shoulder tackle. Smith with another clothesline. Smith kicks Young off the apron. Punk with a rollup but Smith rolls through and gets a near fall of his own. Kidd with a senton onto Gallows from the apron. In the ring, Punk with a kick to Smith but he can only get a near fall. Punk with knees followed but he is given a drop toe hold into the turnbuckles. Rey with a 619 using the ring post and then Smith with a running power slam for the three count.

Winners: Rey Mysterio, Tyson Kidd, and David Hart Smith

RELATED LINKS:
- Digitals: View
- Screencaptures: View

WWE has added 2 digitals of Mike from when he preformed in Strasbourg, France a few nights ago.

RELATED LINKS:
- Digitals: View