The Miz lobbied for the role of Johnny Cage, the Jean-Claude Van Damme stand-in from the Mortal Kombat video game & film franchises, in the newest MK flick coming our way this summer. And a lot of wrestling fans were on-board.

It’s a role that went to Karl Urban… and we’ll never really complain about the Kiwi who’s brought a Rider of Rohan, Bones McCoy, Judge Dredd, Skurge, and Billy Butcher to life on the big & small screens. But we do think WWE’s Mike Mizanin would have killed it as Cage.

Miz’s new gig isn’t exactly as cool as fighting in a Shao Kahn tournament on Outworld, but it’s an equally well-known franchise with some similar elements… Miz has been announced as the host of Amazon’s reboot of American Gladiators.

It’s original run from 1989 to 1996 influenced much of the reality competition television that followed (and spawned a documentary or two). Amazon’s Prime Video service has revived it with an ad-supporting streaming channel dedicated to the original, and several new international versions of the show — including one in the UK with the BBC. It’s format features amateur athletes competing against the show’s “gladiators” in physical challenges, and should be a natural fit for someone with experience in the pro wrestling/sports entertainment and the reality television worlds (Miz rose to fame on MTV’s The Real World: Back to New York and earned his WWE contract via the fourth season Tough Enough).

Variety was the first to report on the American Gladiators reboot and Mizanin’s role after it was announced at the Amazon Upfronts yesterday (May 12). No premiere date yet, but we’ll keep you posted.

Excited for the return of AG? Happy for Miz? Both? Neither? Share your thoughts in the comments below.