Who is the Grand Marshall of the 2026 Parma Fourth of July parade?

WWE superstar The Miz, whose real name is Mike Mizanin, has been named the Grand Marshall for the upcoming Fourth of July parade in Parma, Ohio. The Parma native will return to his roots to lead the parade, sparking reactions across the online wrestling community.

How did The Miz defeat John Cena at WrestleMania 27?

The Miz retained the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 27 by pinning John Cena at the fifteen-minute mark of their match. This high-profile victory was secured after Alex Riley interfered and laid out Cena, cementing one of the most talked-about moments of The Miz's career.

Why was The Miz banned from the WWE locker room early in his career?

Early in his career, The Miz was kicked out of the locker room by Chris Benoit for eating chicken over a referee's bag. As a punishment, he was banned from changing with the rest of the roster for six months before earning his way back.

What critiques do wrestling fans have of The Miz's in-ring style?

Some wrestling purists criticize The Miz for having a style that moves too slowly, comparing his speed to that of a parade float. Critics also mock his signature chest kicks, claiming they are executed slower and softer than those popularized by Daniel Bryan.

How long has The Miz wrestled without major injuries?

Supporters on the SquaredCircle subreddit highlight Mike Mizanin as a durable workhorse who has avoided major injuries for over fifteen years. This impressive longevity is one of the main reasons fans argue he deserves a spot in the Hall of Fame.

The Miz is leading a Fourth of July parade and the internet is losing its mind

Pull Up a Barstool

Pull up a barstool and pour yourself a double of whatever cheap whiskey is on the bottom shelf. We are sitting here on June 30, 2026, and the pro wrestling industry is running on pure, unadulterated adrenaline. If you aren't currently scratching your head over the latest local Ohio news, you might want to check your pulse.

According to the latest PWInsider report, WWE superstar The Miz has been named the Grand Marshall for the upcoming Fourth of July parade in Parma, Ohio. Yes, you read that right. The A-Lister himself is going back to his roots to wave at people from the back of a convertible.

Naturally, the internet wrestling community has spent the last twenty-four hours reacting to the announcement. Since the news broke this week, fans are arguing with their usual mix of unhinged devotion, bitter resentment, and pure, unfiltered sarcasm. Let us look at what the forums are saying about the local kid done good.

The Parma Pride and the Miz Apologists

First, we have the loyalists who believe this local honor is long overdue. On the SquaredCircle subreddit, supporters are pointing out that Mike Mizanin is the ultimate workhorse success story. One fan wrote that Miz is the most durable wrestler of his generation, having avoided major injuries for over fifteen years.

Another user argued that Parma has very few claims to fame, so celebrating their own WrestleMania main eventer makes sense. After all, how many people from Parma have pinned John Cena in a WrestleMania main event? Miz did exactly that at WrestleMania 27, retaining the WWE Championship at the fifteen-minute mark after Alex Riley interfered and laid out Cena.

Over on X, another fan posted that Miz deserves a key to the city, not just a parade. They brought up the famous story of how Chris Benoit kicked him out of the locker room in his early days for eating chicken over a referee's bag. He was banned from changing with the rest of the roster for six months.

For a guy to go from that level of humiliation to leading the locker room is incredible. Fans argue that he is a first-ballot Hall of Famer who deserves every bit of praise. Parma is ready to roll out the red carpet for their favorite reality television export.

The Skeptics and the "Miz Soft" Crowd

But the internet would not be the internet without a healthy dose of pure haterade. The workrate purists are out in force, and they are not happy about the A-Lister getting celebrated. One user on a popular wrestling forum commented that a parade is the perfect place for him because his wrestling style moves at the exact speed of a parade float.

Another fan joked that the parade will feature Miz executing his signature chest kicks on the street. They noted these kicks are famously slower and softer than the ones popularized by Daniel Bryan. They speculated that the local kids in Parma might fall asleep on the curb before he finishes his entrance.

Let us be real for a second. Nobody is lining up to watch Miz execute a figure-four leglock that looks like he is trying to untangle a pair of headphones. His second run as WWE Championship holder in 2021 lasted only eight days before Bobby Lashley squashed him in a lumberjack match on Raw.

The skeptics have a point when they say Miz has always been a character first and a wrestler second. For fans who want five-star technical clinics, Miz leading a parade is just another example of corporate WWE pushing style over substance. They believe this honor is the most mid-card thing imaginable.

The Ohio Memes and Local Humor

Then we have the contrarians and the local Ohioans who are just here for the memes. Parma has a very specific reputation in Northeast Ohio. It is known for pink flamingos on lawns, white socks, pierogies, and bowling alleys.

On social media, fans from the Cleveland area are having a field day. One local resident joked that the parade route should just go from one pierogi shop to another. They suggested Miz should throw out autographed copies of his straight-to-DVD movie The Marine 4.

Another commentator suggested that the parade float should be decorated with empty cans of cheap domestic beer. They love the contrast between Miz's Hollywood gimmick and the working-class reality of Parma. The Miz spent years bragging about his mansion in Los Angeles, but now he is back in the land of white socks.

There is also a lot of discussion about his reality show, Miz & Mrs. Fans are wondering if the parade will be filmed for television. One user joked that the entire event is probably just a setup for a comedy bit where Maryse gets mad about the lack of five-star catering in Parma.

My Take: Respect the Hustle

So, who has the stronger argument here? The workrate purists who think Miz is a joke, or the loyalists who view him as a legend? I am going to stand on the barstool and say the haters need to get a grip.

The Miz is a lock for the Hall of Fame, and anyone denying that is just lying to themselves. Sure, he is not going to give you a twenty-five minute technical masterpiece with twenty-seven near-falls and a Canadian Destroyer off the top rope. But wrestling is about drawing money, staying healthy, and getting people to care.

He survived the most toxic locker room era in WWE history and turned every terrible gimmick into pure gold. Remember when he was hosting Diva Search or teaming with John Morrison on the Dirt Sheet? He is the guy WWE calls when they need a reliable hand to build a feud or run media tours.

The skeptics can mock his safe style all they want, but that safe style is exactly why he is still wrestling on television. Parma should be proud of Mike Mizanin, the kid who watched wrestling and willed himself into becoming a legend. Go watch the parade, grab a pierogi, and show some respect to the Grand Slam Champion.