The Miz meets and greets UAE fans

WWE wrestling superstar The Miz met some of his UAE fans and signed autographs in the capital yesterday.

The Miz fools around with one of his fans, Yazan, while signing autographs during a visit of the capital.

ABU DHABI // WWE wrestling superstar The Miz met thrilled UAE fans at a meet and greet session in the capital yesterday.

The sportsman, real name Mike Mizanin, was making his third visit to Abu Dhabi in two years, this time to promote next month’s WWE Live tour.

“It feels incredible to be back in Abu Dhabi, I feel like I never left,” he said. “I feel like this is my second home. Every time, it’s always welcoming.”

The wrestler signed autographs for 300 fans who had travelled from across the country to see him at Zayed Sports City.

“The fans here are just incredible, they’re always very vocal and that’s all we can ask for,” he said. “When we come here next month, we plan to bring the best show we possibly can. Last year we broke records and we plan to do the same this time.”

Mohamed Abdullah Abdulrahman, a 21-year-old Emirati, drove from Dubai to see The Miz, who he called his “big brother”.

“I’m a huge fan of the WWE and I watch it all the time,” he said. “I follow The Miz on Twitter and I consider all the stars my idols. I love them all.”

He hopes to follow in his hero’s footsteps and become a WWE superstar.

“I hope one day I’ll be able to live that life,” he said. “Maybe in three to five years I’ll be able to start wrestling.”

Dinu and Dinuka, both 14, from Sri Lanka, were extremely nervous about meeting The Miz.

“We’re not like other girls, we’re pretty much tomboys,” said the girls, who live in Abu Dhabi. “We’ve been into wrestling since 2005 and The Miz is an amazing wrestler.”

Mohamed Al Halabi, 35, a Palestinian, won tickets to meet the star from a radio programme.

“I’ve liked wrestling since I was four years old,” said Mr Al Halabi, who drove from Al Ain with his wife and three children. “I follow it every week. Last year I came here and I will keep coming as long as this happens. The Miz is awesome.”

The wrestler said he hoped that during this visit he would finally get a chance to try the national fruit and fit it into his strict diet.

“I haven’t tried dates yet, no one has told me about them,” he said. “But I have to try them.”

In the meantime, The Miz is looking forward to next month’s show.

“We know you guys like the fastest, and we know you like the tallest, so we’re bringing the world’s largest athlete for the show – it’ll be an absolutely incredible show,” he said.

“I’m expecting it to go where Big Show and myself are tagging up against The Shield, and I plan on leaving Abu Dhabi the tag-team champions.”

WWE Live will be at Zayed Sports City Tennis Stadium from October 10 to [e-mail]