The Miz has come to the defense of WWE’s use of celebrity talent on the road to WrestleMania 42, pushing back against fan criticism surrounding the involvement of Pat McAfee and Jelly Roll in major storylines ahead of the two-day event.
Speaking exclusively to Us Weekly on April 16, while promoting Prime Video’s American Gladiators, The Miz addressed concerns about celebrities stepping into WWE programming and emphasized the broader impact they bring to the product.
The former WWE champion said, “A lot of people will get upset about celebrities coming into WWE. I’ve always said this: I want celebrities to come in. Because I want a new crop of people who might not watch WWE, but they might be fans of the celebrity. When they come in, I guarantee we will make them a fan because no one does what we do better than us. We are the best at entertainment.”
McAfee and Roll are currently involved in the ongoing storyline between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton, which is set to headline night one of WrestleMania 42.
The Miz further questioned, “It’s interesting that people are talking like this, because isn’t WrestleMania season the time to make the most noise? And who makes the most noise? More than anybody? Pat McAfee and his big mouth. Sometimes he needs someone to shut it.”
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He also pointed to Rhodes as a driving force within the storyline, while highlighting Orton as a pivotal influence on his own career.
The Miz Hints At Possible WrestleMania 42 Role
The Miz also suggested that his WrestleMania 42 involvement is not fully set, citing past last-minute changes back in 2023 to his booking during an appearance on the Throwbacks podcast.
He revealed, “SoFi stadium, I didn’t find out till the day of, that afternoon. They were like, yeah, you probably can have a match tonight. And I’m like, wait, what? Huh? And then it’s like, this is WrestleMania. This is what we build for.”
He added that he remains ready for any assignment WWE gives him during the event in Las Vegas.
“I’ve prepared myself to where I can be put into any situation. I feel like WWE prepares you for everything… So if they need me for a match, impromptu right then and there, I can definitely go out and put on the best match possible.”
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WrestleMania 42 is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, with Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton headlining Night 1 amid ongoing celebrity-driven storylines. Meanwhile, Night 2 is set to be contested for the World Heavyweight title between CM Punk and Roman Reigns.
