This year's Australia tour is amazing so far every show has been sold out and insane.
The 14-hour plane ride was uncomfortable and long especially because the only inflight movies were "12 Rounds" and "17 Again." Sorry Zac Efron lovers, but that movie is a sad version of "Big" and we all know my feelings on "12 Rounds."
The show in Auckland, New Zealand was a great way to start the trip, even though I got booed out of the building. Shocking right?
Next was Sydney, Australia which I've been to before, but never really left the hotel. This time I did a little sightseeing and met with the common folks. Interesting enough, my stereotype of Aussies was completely wrong. They all aren't like Crocodile Dundee or Steve Erwin. However, I did end up buying a boomerang at the market. I know I'm gonna throw this stupid thing and its gonna come back and hit me square in the teeth. Which would make some of you very happy. Whatever.
The arena was huge. We performed in front of 18000+ people. Ever have that many people booing you? For a normal person this would effect anyone's ego.
Luckily, I'm not a normal person. I'm The Miz and I'm Awesome!
Can't wait to see what the other cities have in store.
Every year WWE has a trip to Iraq (Tribute to the Troops) to entertain the soldiers who are fighting for our country. This year I was asked if I wanted to join the group and without hesitation I was in. My main reason for going was a couple of years ago one of my high school friends got shot and died while active in Iraq serving his country. I wanted to see how he lived and get a small taste of what life is like out there. It's truely an honor to go to Iraq and entertain the soldiers who risk their lives everyday, who have families at home waiting for them to come home safely, hoping they never get that dreaded phone call. These people are heroes and I wanted to pump up their morale and thank them for their services.
The trip started in Washington DC at night where we boarded an Air Force Cargo Plane...Yeah, no Continental's or American Airlines here. We had an 8 hour flight to Germany then another 8 hour flight to Baghdad, Iraq. Talk about a long trip.
We arrived in Baghdad and it was still night, with the time change nobody knew what day or time it was. When we found out, luckily, it was 3am and my group had to get up at 6am to visit 4 US Marine Camps. Sleeps overrated.
3 hours later we were getting ready to go to Camp Gannon. My favorite part was how we got to Camp Gannon. Via Ospree aka new age, awesome, helicopter. It's insane. We had about 50 lbs of gear including the heaviest bulletproof vest and helmet ever which each soldier has to have on while on duty. They also get a gun which I didn't get. BOO!!!
Gannon was a really small camp with about 200 US Marine soliders. They didn't have running water. Yes you heard me correctly. Imagine living without running water for 6 months to a year. They go to the bathroom in tubes and if it's a number 2 they use a wagbag which is basically a garbage bag they put under a toilet seat then they take the bag to a field and burn it. Talking to the Marines I found out that there's nothing to do besides work out, sleep, and work. Looking around I could understand why....sand as far as the eye could see. Nothing else. I can see how morale could be down. Boredom.
Next up was Camp Korean Village where they had running water...never thought I'd be so happy to hear that. We did a meet and greet. During this meet and greet one of my favorite stories was. A soldier said he didn't know what to get his son for his 10th birthday which he's missing. He thought the best gift was to video us wishing him a happy birthday. So we played with it and he was really happy. That's what it's all about smiles on people's faces.
Camp Rahwa and Ramadi were pretty much the same thing. Ramadi had a huge stage where we signed autographs. The soldiers were going nuts there were hundreds of them. We had a dance contest with Alicia and an Army Soldier which was hilarious. We ended up sleeping in Ramadi at around midnight. So in the first day we went from 6am to 11pm visiting 4 different camps.
The next morning started at 6am and we ate chow (that's what they call eating) then we were off to the next camps: TQ, Bahrea, and Cupcake (as they called it) They said it's the best place to be because nothing happens there. Gotta love that.
On our last day we performed the show and I have to say it was incredible. I went to the gym 4 hours before the show and saw the line. I'm talking at least a thousand soldiers waiting that early.
To perform for the troops and show our support was amazing. To see the posters saying "I'm okay", "I love you ____", and Happy Birthday____" was so cool to see. After the show we went out in the crowd and met and took pictures with everyone.
All in all this was an eye opening experience. I only knew what I saw on the news about what was going on in Iraq but seeing it first hand was above and beyond. What these troops go through, how they put their lives on the line everyday is truly heroic. The stories I heard made me realize how lucky I am to have these people fighting for my freedom. One soldier missed the birth of his granddaughter another said he had a 2 and 3 year old daughters and has seen them 5 months of their lives when I asked why do you do it. They both said the same thing because I want their to be peace so they don't have to go through this. I was wowed. To all the Troops thank you for protecting our country and putting your life on the line for my and everyone's freedom. I hope going out there made the morale better and let you know that what you are doing will never go unnoticed. I wish you all well and get home soon safely.
The Miz
here are two of my personal video blogs from the trip.
John Morrison and yours truely attended the YRB Magazine party and Carmello Anthony shoe release party on the same night so we were a little busy. We started off at the YRB mag party where we did the red carpet then were asked if we wanted to do a photo shoot. It sounded like fun because they had all these cool rocker clothes with all this really expensive jewelry. I decided that the more accessories the better so I had like 2 necklaces, 4 bracelets, 2 rings, a signature fedora, bandana, now that I think about it way too much stuff but I felt like that's the rocker way. Every time I see Motley Crue they are loaded with accessories. The shoot was fun. We got some really cool shots. I didn't want to give the jewelry back. I was thinking about stealing it but I'm not cryme tyme.
Next was the Carmello Anthony Shoe Release party. On the blue carpet we were stopped for interviews where we always seem to get a wide variety of questions like were you a fan of Michael Jordan growing up (thought this was a Carmello thing but I guess Jordan makes the shoe), to what's the connection between Carmello Anthony and Wrestling? Always interesting what the interviewer comes up with.
After all the glitz of the blue carpet we walked in and who do we see Mena Savari (hope I spelt that right) from American Pie. The best part about this was when we were getting a picture this girl walked right in the middle so you see us all smiling and this random girl staring into the camera with a blank face. These are my favorite pics. Next I saw the Haitian from Heros while standing in line at the port o potty (yes Carmello's hollywood party had only port o potty's) I remember the haitian from a ping pong tournament where in the finals it was Randy Spelling (Tori's Bro) and me vs. Hero's Ando and him. I wasn't sure if it was him so I asked did you ever lose in a ping pong tournament here in LA. He smiled and remembered. That was fun but a whole other story.
As for the rest of the party it was fun. Typical LA party... free drinks, free shoes, which the new Carmello's are awesome. I was a little mixed up because they looked like Jordan's because the Jordan logo was on them more visable then Carmello's. Either way I had a blast. Till next time in life there are winners and their are losers. I'm awesome. Be Jealous!!!!
PS: If you want to see photos go to my photo gallery son!!!!
This Halloween instead of going to the playboy mansion or dressing in a costume and going to LA parties I was invited to Delaware to hunt ghosts. (Yes I said that correctly) Without hesitation I was on a flight to an Island where a Haunted Civil War Fort in Delaware City, Delaware lies to be on the Halloween Live show of Ghosthunters. I was really excited. Normally, I pay money to go into a fake haunted house where people are painted and wear masks to try to scare me but now i'm getting the real thing.
I was introduced to all the TAPS crew (The Atlantic Paranormal Society) including the stars of Ghosthunters Jason and Grant who were really cool and down to earth. I drove with them to the fort and they told me all about ghosthunters. I didn't realize what a big cult following this show has until we got to the ferry to take us over to the Haunted Fort. There were i'd say about 100 people waiting to meet all the TAPS crew. It reminded me of how WWE fans wait at airports and hotels just to get a picture. All the TAPS crew were very gracious to their fans.
I couldn't believe that Ghosthunters was going to have a 7 hour live show hunting ghosts on Halloween and I was going to be apart of it. I was teamed up with Kristen and Joe and we were given the Barracks to start with. As we entered the room it was very dark and spooky. I asked a lot of questions to Kristen and Joe because I wanted to learn exactly what they do plus I wanted to see a ghost as well as know the best tips on finding one. They told me to ask questions like "if you are in the room make a noise." Then out of no where Joe's video camera died. Wierd stuff huh? They said it could be from a ghost trying to drain the power so it can communicate. So we were off to a good start.
However, after an hour of searching, standing, and asking questions and no encounters we went to the Mess Hall where the last time they were there Joe heard a ghost say "show some respect." I thought, "sweet" this is the spot to hear or see something. They told me that in this room people have seen a women come out of the closet and clean the mantle then leave. This is called a residual ghost where it doesn't interact with you. An intellectual ghost does talk and can actually touch you. Yeah I'm learning son.
Nothing happened in the Mess Hall so we went up to bedrooms remember its dark as hell in these rooms and it's haunted on Halloween so it has that spooky feeling about it roaming through the rooms.
After 5 hours, 3 different room we went to the 4th and final for me the kitchen. I was getting irritated. I didn't see or hear anything yet. Kristen and Joe said it happens all the time sometimes personalities are too strong (a nice way of calling me conceeded...thanks haha) and it scares the ghost. I said if I was a ghost especially a civil war ghost I wouldn't be afraid. They said actually that's a technique to call out ghosts and try to make them mad. So..... me being me I started yelling at the ghost to come out, hit me, yell at me. If your a soldier act like one I'm invading your house and you're doing nothing. Then Kristen said she felt something tug on her shirt. I asked "are you kidding" and I looked at her face and she wasn't. I didn't see it which made me mad because I wanted the experience. Then I heard that something happened in another room that we haven't been in. I said let's go there and the production told me that I was done then thanked me. It was only 12:30am and the show wasn't over till 2am. I was like hold on we have an hour and a half I want to go to the room with the ghosts. They said no all the guests are done and the ghosthunters are just going to hunt. I understood it was their show so I thanked them and sadly walked back to the trailer.
While watching the monitor in the trailer I noticed that all the other guests were still in there and that I was the only one back in the trailer. That's when I named myself the worst ghosthunter ever. I didn't think I was bad but they wrapped me early for some reason. Was I too loud? Was I too much? What the hell. To my credit we were in a room that you could sit and see everything. So we'd be sitting there for hours asking questions with no replies then the live tv would come to us and it woulda been boring just to watch us do nothing. Plus my friends were texting me throughout the show like dude why aren't you on it more. I was like I don't know. They said every time I was on I was funny and entertaining. Maybe that was the bad part. I don't know and I probably will never know.
Whenever someone asks about it or said they saw me I ask how I was. I have yet to get a bad reply some say I was sarcastic towards certain things but that's how I always am.
One thing was for sure I had a blast. Just wished I could have seen a ghost. I never seen a Ghosthunters episode but experiencing the show from the inside was truly an honor and I will now be tivoing it. Thank you to the entire TAPS crew especially Jason, Grant, Kristen, and Joe as well as the production.
