By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

WWE champion The Miz appeared on Fox News's "Fox & Friends" program early this morning promoting "Tribute to the Troops" and talking about his first WWE Title run.

Fox & Friends co-host Brian Kilmeade set up Miz nicely throughout the interview, including noting something WWE rarely incorporates into their TV product - the lineage of the WWE Title, which is now resting on Miz's shoulder.

The segment opened with footage of Miz's title victory from the November 22 Raw episode before Miz was shown in-studio holding the WWE Title belt. Kilmeade told Miz: "You even get emotional when you think about the fact that The Rock wore that belt, that Hulk Hogan wore that belt."

Miz responded: "I call this a title because I won it. Just to pave my way - ten years ago, I was on reality shows with my own fake costume belt - to work my way up in WWE to hold the real thing, the real prestigious title."

As clips of "Tribute to the Troops" rolled on the screen, Miz talked up the "variety show" format of the show with a mix of WWE stars, Trace Adkins, Diddy, Cedric the Entertainer, and Ariel Winter. He then joked about Adkins reminding him of The Undertaker with his height and deep voice.

For the last part of the interview, Kilmeade referenced Miz as a "heel; a villain" to set up Miz talking about his on-air persona.

Miz responded with a heel promo playing up his on-air persona: "People think I'm a bad guy. But, I'm not a guy. People think I'm a bad guy because I beat up people's heroes. I'm not a mean guy, I'm just the WWE champion. I have a target on my back!"

Kilmeade, who sounds similar to ESPN's Adam Schefter, said Miz is obviously very confident he'll retain the belt. "I am not one brag to about it, but I am the best in WWE, and the world," Miz said to conclude the segment.

Caldwell's Analysis: Miz brought a lot of energy to 6:30 in the morning as WWE continues to get plenty of stretch out of Miz's first WWE Title victory three weeks ago. Another good interview from him representing WWE well.

Regarding the WWE Title lineage referenced by Kilmeade, WWE has produced a handful of DVD titles chronicling their top titles, but rarely do they reference a title's lineage on the air to enhance their current product. And not just in the first minute of a PPV title match when Matt Striker references Title Facts. There's a tremendous amount of marketing potential focusing on the lineage of any given title on TV when promoting matches, champions, and characters.

In the case of the WWE Title, there's the opportunity to make money by either (a) talking up a babyface's quest to be in the same category as past champions or (b) focusing on whether a heel - like The Miz - is deserving of being in the same category as past champions. It's basic pro wrestling storytelling that WWE too often misses in their quest to avoid being "pro wrestling." Sometimes it takes an outsider's perspective, like a TV news show anchor, to really capture how simple the marketing should be.

[Torch art credit Grant Gould (c) PWTorch.com]

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