The Genius Fake-Out Vince McMahon Used to Stage The Rock’s WWE Comeback
Love him or loathe him, Vince McMahon built WWE on audacity — none bolder than greenlighting The Miz’s brazen impersonation of a major headliner, a riotous swerve that distilled the spectacle and controversy that made the brand global.
WWE loves a good swerve, but few were stranger or more fun than the night The Miz walked out as The Rock. Miz just broke down how that whole thing happened on A&E's 'WWE Legends: Biography', and yes, it was pure Vince from the jump.
The day Vince said: You are The Rock now
Miz — the A-Lister and a former United States Champion — says he showed up to Monday Night Raw and got a marching order you do not expect to hear if you are not a 6'5", 265-pound Samoan movie star.
'Vince goes, "Today you are going to dress like The Rock. And everybody is going to believe you are The Rock." I go, "I am not a 6'5", 265-pound Samoan. There is no way anyone is going to believe this." He goes, "They'll believe."'
He pushed back, worried he would look ridiculous. Then the music hit, the crowd erupted, and Miz realized the mad idea actually worked. He credits Vince for forcing the issue and, in his words and tone, basically calls it a genius move.
The plan: make the crowd second-guess themselves
The impersonation went down on the March 14, 2011 episode of Monday Night Raw, a few weeks before WrestleMania 27. The goal: crank up the chaos heading into the biggest show of the year. Fans were expecting The Rock himself, so Vince leaned into that, blurring the line between parody and reality. The theatrical entrance and quick visual fake-out were designed to grab attention, rile up the audience, and pour more heat on Miz by having him take shots at two of WWE's biggest names: The Rock and John Cena.
It did exactly that. The segment got people talking, gave Miz an extra layer of villainy, and reminded everyone that when Vince wants spectacle, he will find a way to make it happen.
Where Miz fit into the Rock vs. Cena build
Context matters: Miz was technically the WWE Champion going into WrestleMania 27, but the real gravity was in the Rock vs. Cena grudge that had just reignited. The Rock had returned as WrestleMania's host and spent weeks verbally torching Cena. Miz, never shy about opportunism, poked both guys to stake his claim in the spotlight.
It all paid off at WrestleMania 27. In the main event, The Rock got involved, Cena ate it, and Miz walked out with his title still intact. Not a bad outcome for a champion fighting for attention in a storyline loaded with star power.
Other times WWE leaned on impersonations
- Triple H and Shawn Michaels showed up as Vince and Shane McMahon to open the July 10, 2006 Raw. Triple H went full method: padded suit, the walk, and the catchphrase — 'You're fired' — for the punchline. It was meant to be goofy and it absolutely stuck with fans.
- Randy Orton and Edge later flipped the bit on DX, hitting the ring as their own version of Triple H and Shawn Michaels and mocking them in front of the crowd.