For many wrestlers winning a title belt is a big deal, and the WWE Championship is considered by many to be the richest prize in the industry. Over the years a number of big names have held the WWE Championship, and The Miz won the title for the first time in his career when he cashed in his Money in the Bank contract on Randy Orton in 2010.
In July of 2011, CM Punk defeated John Cena to win the WWE Championship at Money in the Bank, then Punk took the title home with him. In CM Punk’s absence a new champion was crowned, and The Miz recently revealed on Bussin’ With The Boys that he was originally supposed to win the title that summer.
“CM Punk left the show and he took the title with him. They made up a ‘paper champion’ or whatever. They brought a championship and said, ‘He’s leaving the show. He’s gone.’ They put the title in a refrigerator; that was the big meme. They were going to have a tournament. I went up against Rey Mysterio. I was going to beat Rey Mysterio and then beat John Cena, so I would be the champion.
They switched it because usually we like babyface vs. heel. Bad guy vs. good guy. In this instance, it would have been babyface vs. babyface. ‘You need bad guy vs. good guy.’ I was the bad guy, but then, it was two huge monumental babyfaces that are Rey Mysterio and John Cena. Let them go at it. There was a moment there where I would have been a (two-time) champion.”
Unfortunately for The Miz plans for his title win were nixed, but he did eventually become a two time WWE Champion he cashed in his second Money in the Bank contract on Drew McIntyre in 2021.
H/T Fightful