A WWE Hall of Famer recently called The Miz one of the top five talents on the microphone. Mark Henry gushed with praise for the WWE's "A-Lister" during an episode of Busted Open Radio:

“I always considered Miz one of the top five microphone guys of all time,” Henry said. “Miz is hitting them with bars. I mean he’s lighting their ass up. They’re not equipped to crack whip, as the great Dusty Rhodes would say, with The Miz. Then GUNTHER comes down and says ‘You’re a joke, that’s how they view you.’ And Miz started to light GUNTHER up, and his comebacks were moderate, but Miz was out there with a razor blade, bro. I’m like, ‘Hey man, get out of the ring. Save yourself.’ That’s how powerful Miz’s ability is on the mic.”

“He’s a full-fledged Jedi Knight,” Henry said of Miz. “I wouldn’t say a Sith Lord, but Miz started to tell them, ‘If I wanted to be a Sith Lord, I can be. Look at my resume. Look what I did in my career.'”

H/T Inside the Ropes

High Praise for The Miz

This is high praise given some of the names fans often associate with the gift of gab. Names such as Flair, Piper, Hogan, Savage, Funk, Rhodes, and others come to mind when fans think of the territory days and the beginning of wrestling's national expansion. Attitude Era names such as Raven, Austin, and The Rock are likely to come up as are Ruthless Aggression Era wrestlers such as John Cena, Samoa Joe, Edge, Triple H, and Randy Orton. There are others too (not to mention managers) but this short list shows how tough the competition is.

Is The Miz That Good on the Stick?

Some fans might question whether The Miz should even be in the same league as any of the aforementioned wrestlers, let alone considered in the top five. Like any discussion in wrestling, this one is going to invite debate. For now, consider some of these factors that support The Miz' greatness on the microphone as well as his all-around value to the WWE.

Underpushed but Not Underutilized

The Miz rarely receives a main event push but at the same time, he rarely is underutilized. The Miz is a classic utility wrestler, someone who can be called upon to have a fantastic match with any moment. Few wrestlers can capture the essence of that jerk everyone knows who runs his mouth and is just asking for his comeuppance. What stands out so much about The Miz is that he can go months without winning matches yet still make fans want to see him get beat.

The Miz brings added value to his act because he is such an incredible worker. Wrestling has had its share of talkers who can convince fans to buy a ticket or tune into a show, but who are complete duds in the ring. The Miz is anything but a dud. His work is respected by fans and peers alike, who value his ability to work exciting matches and do so without hurting his opponents.

A Monster Heat Magnet.

It can't be stressed enough just how good The Miz is at getting heat. Indeed, The Miz is a monster heat magnet. Fans are familiar with monster heels, larger-than-life wrestlers who are portrayed as near-unstoppable forces of nature. The Miz's physical prowess is nowhere near that level, but when it comes to tearing opponents apart on the stick, and more importantly, getting the fans to want to see him get his face punched.

The Miz's ability to get heat is what separates him from other technically-gifted wrestlers. The wrestling industry is full of talented workers, now more than ever. However, many of these wrestlers have poor microphone skills. That wasn't always an issue when the WWE had managers to speak for workers without the gift of gab (or who simply couldn't develop it through practice).

The Miz's Liability

Perhaps the only thing that keeps The Miz out of consideration in the Top Five of All Time Talkers is his erratic push. As mentioned, The Miz doesn't need a push to fulfill his role in the WWE. Nevertheless, some fans and critics will question if someone who has only had brief periods in the main event deserves consideration as one of the all-time great talkers.

When it comes to getting heat and making fans want to tune in, there's a strong case that few wrestlers today can compare to The Miz. Whether he belongs in the top five of all time is a debate WrestleLamia will let the fans decide.