The Miz Names The Great Khali’s Chokeslam Among His Most Painful WWE Finishers

The Miz WWE finishers discussion has revealed just how much physical punishment the two-time Grand Slam Champion has experienced throughout his lengthy career. After sharing the ring with some of the biggest and most powerful wrestlers in WWE, Miz recently identified the moves that caused him the most pain.

Speaking during a recent interview with Robbie Fox, Miz was asked about the most painful maneuvers he has taken during his career. The veteran immediately pointed toward powerbombs before adding chokeslams to the conversation. However, when The Great Khali came to mind, Miz quickly changed his ranking.

According to Miz, Khali’s chokeslam was the most painful finisher he remembers taking. He explained that he would intentionally allow himself to be lifted as high as possible when taking a chokeslam, meaning the landing could create significant discomfort.

The revelation is particularly interesting because Miz has worked with a remarkable variety of WWE performers. His career has included encounters with larger-than-life heavyweights, technical wrestlers, high-flyers and some of the most physically imposing stars of his generation.

The Miz Names The Great Khali’s Chokeslam as His Most Painful

The Miz initially struggled to identify only one move because of the number of hard-hitting finishers he has experienced throughout his career.

He first mentioned powerbombs as a particularly painful category. According to Miz, being lifted onto an opponent’s shoulders before being driven back toward the mat can make the landing extremely uncomfortable.

He then brought up chokeslams, explaining that he tries to get as much height as possible when taking the move. That approach may make the visual impact of the maneuver greater for television, but Miz noted that the resulting landing can be brutal on his back.

It was then that he remembered The Great Khali.

Miz immediately placed Khali’s chokeslam at the top of his list, describing it as the clear number one among the painful finishers he has taken.

Why The Great Khali’s Chokeslam Stands Out

The Great Khali was one of the most physically imposing wrestlers to enter WWE during the 2000s. His enormous frame and unusual physical presence made his matches visually different from those involving more traditional heavyweight performers.

His chokeslam was particularly effective because of the height involved. Khali could lift opponents significantly off the ground before driving them back down, creating a dramatic visual that became closely associated with his character.

For an opponent taking the move, however, the experience could be considerably less entertaining.

Miz’s comments highlight an important difference between the way wrestling moves look to television viewers and what performers experience inside the ring. A maneuver may be carefully coordinated, but the physical impact can still be significant, especially when it involves being lifted high into the air and landing on the mat.

That is particularly relevant for wrestlers who have spent many years performing regularly. The body absorbs countless impacts over the course of a career, making certain moves memorable for reasons fans may not immediately appreciate.

The Miz Says Powerbombs Are Always Painful

Before remembering Khali, Miz immediately identified powerbombs as one of the most uncomfortable categories of moves he has taken.

Powerbombs are among professional wrestling’s most recognisable heavyweight maneuvers. The basic visual involves an opponent being lifted before being driven down onto the mat, although different wrestlers have developed their own variations.

Miz did not single out one performer when discussing powerbombs. Instead, he suggested that the move itself is consistently rough, particularly when the wrestler is lifted onto the opponent’s shoulders.

That distinction is important because Miz has taken multiple versions of the move throughout his WWE career. Different execution styles can change how the move feels to the person receiving it, even when the basic concept remains the same.

For Miz, however, the common denominator is the landing.

Was Kevin Owens’ Pop-Up Powerbomb the Worst?

The conversation naturally turned toward Kevin Owens’ famous Pop-Up Powerbomb when Miz was asked whether that particular variation was the most damaging version.

Miz acknowledged that Owens’ move was rough, but he did not rank it above Khali’s chokeslam.

The Pop-Up Powerbomb became strongly associated with Owens during his WWE run and was one of the signature elements of his in-ring offense. Its explosive presentation made it particularly memorable, with Owens using the move during major matches against some of WWE’s biggest names.

Yet Miz’s comments suggest that visual explosiveness does not necessarily determine how painful a move feels to the wrestler receiving it.

That is an important distinction for wrestling fans. Some moves appear devastating because of their speed or height, while others can be physically uncomfortable because of how the recipient lands or how much impact is absorbed.

How Wrestling Finishers Can Look More Dangerous Than They Actually Are

Professional wrestling requires performers to make moves appear convincing while maintaining as much safety and control as possible. The objective is not simply to make a maneuver look painful but to execute it in a way that allows both wrestlers to continue performing.

That does not mean there is no physical impact.

Even carefully coordinated maneuvers can put stress on a wrestler’s body. Landing position, timing, body weight and the experience of both performers can all influence how a move feels.

Miz’s comments therefore offer an unusual perspective from someone who has spent decades on both sides of the equation. He understands that a finisher has to look devastating for the audience while also knowing exactly what it feels like to take one repeatedly.

His preference for taking a chokeslam as high as possible also illustrates the strange balance between performance and physicality in WWE.

The Great Khali’s Size Made His Moves Look Different

Khali’s size was a major part of his WWE presentation. At a time when WWE regularly featured powerful heavyweight performers, Khali stood out because of his extraordinary stature.

That physical difference changed the visual impact of his signature moves.

A chokeslam from a standard-sized wrestler can already look powerful. When performed by someone of Khali’s size, the height difference between the two competitors could make the maneuver appear even more dramatic.

For Miz, that visual spectacle came with a painful consequence.

The wrestler explained that he would go as high as possible when taking the move, meaning the landing became an important part of the experience. His recollection provides an interesting behind-the-scenes perspective on why some wrestling maneuvers remain memorable long after a match ends.

The Miz Has Spent Two Decades Taking Punishment

The context of Miz’s comments matters because his WWE career has lasted far longer than the careers of many wrestlers who debuted around the same period.

He has competed in singles matches, tag-team contests, championship programs, multi-person matches and major premium live event bouts. He has also worked with performers of very different styles.

That longevity means his list of painful moves is extensive.

He has been powerbombed, chokeslammed and subjected to countless other signature attacks throughout his career. Yet the fact that he immediately remembered Khali’s chokeslam when asked about painful finishers suggests that the experience left a particularly strong impression.

For fans, that is an interesting reminder that WWE’s most memorable moments are not always the ones that leave the biggest impression on television viewers. Wrestlers themselves often remember completely different details, particularly when a maneuver is physically demanding.

The Miz Also Praises CM Punk’s New Aggressive Attitude

The Miz’s recent comments were not limited to painful wrestling moves. He also discussed the developing CM Punk and Kevin Owens WWE rivalry and offered an interesting assessment of Punk’s current character.

Speaking about Punk’s promo following SummerSlam, Miz said he liked this more aggressive version of the former WWE Champion.

Miz’s comments centred on the idea that Punk should behave like someone who knows he belongs in the main event and is willing to make that belief clear.

That observation is significant because Punk’s position within WWE’s presentation has become an important talking point. Even after winning the Undisputed WWE Championship, his SummerSlam match against Cody Rhodes did not close the first night of the event.

The championship match was followed by Oba Femi against Brock Lesnar in a Hell in a Cell contest.

Why CM Punk Not Headlining SummerSlam Became a Talking Point

CM Punk being placed before the final match rather than closing the show created an interesting contrast with his championship status.

A world champion traditionally carries enormous importance on a WWE card, but match placement is also influenced by several factors, including storyline priorities, match format and the company’s broader plans for the event.

For Miz, however, Punk’s reaction afterward reflected a performer who believes he belongs at the very top of the card.

That attitude can be useful for a wrestler’s character. Instead of quietly accepting his position, Punk can use the situation as motivation to assert himself.

It also gives WWE another layer for his championship presentation. The story is no longer simply about whether Punk can defend the title. It can also involve whether he believes WWE is treating him like the main-event-level champion he considers himself to be.

CM Punk and Kevin Owens Have the Ingredients for a Major Feud

Kevin Owens’ involvement makes the championship picture even more interesting.

Owens is not the kind of challenger who is likely to allow Punk to control the narrative without resistance. His reputation for direct promos and physical matches gives WWE a natural counterbalance to Punk.

The two wrestlers also have enough experience to make the feud feel credible without requiring excessive explanation.

Punk can present himself as the established star who believes he deserves the spotlight, while Owens can position himself as the challenger who intends to take that spotlight away.

That contrast is precisely what makes the rivalry commercially useful. Both men have distinctive personalities, and their confrontation can generate interest before the bell even rings.

The Miz’s Comments Reveal What Makes a WWE Finisher Memorable

One of the most interesting aspects of Miz’s interview is that his ranking does not simply focus on the most spectacular move.

He distinguishes between what looks painful and what actually feels painful.

That distinction is often overlooked by fans because professional wrestling is built around visual storytelling. A move has to look convincing from the audience’s perspective, but the wrestler taking it experiences the physical mechanics differently.

Khali’s chokeslam may have looked spectacular because of his size, but Miz remembers it because of how the landing felt.

Similarly, the Pop-Up Powerbomb may have looked explosive, yet Miz did not consider it the most painful move he had experienced.

That provides a useful behind-the-scenes insight into how WWE performers evaluate the moves they take.

Two Most Painful Finishers According to The Miz

What Makes The Miz’s Perspective Valuable?

The Miz’s perspective carries weight because he has experienced multiple generations of WWE’s wrestling style.

He has worked during periods when WWE featured a strong emphasis on heavyweight power moves as well as eras where athleticism, technical wrestling and fast-paced offense became increasingly prominent.

That gives him a broad frame of reference when comparing finishers.

His comments also show the physical demands associated with maintaining a long-term wrestling career. Performers may make a maneuver look routine, but doing so repeatedly over years requires conditioning, timing and an understanding between wrestlers.

For Miz, the painful moves are now part of a career that has included championships, major rivalries and countless high-profile matches.

Could Miz’s CM Punk Comments Hint at Bigger Storytelling Possibilities?

Miz’s praise for Punk’s aggressive attitude is interesting because Miz himself is one of WWE’s most experienced performers at portraying an outspoken antagonist.

He understands the value of a wrestler who believes he deserves the spotlight and is willing to tell the audience exactly why.

While Miz’s comments do not necessarily indicate a future storyline, his assessment highlights why Punk’s current presentation can be effective. A champion who actively demands recognition can create tension with both opponents and the WWE audience.

That could become particularly relevant as Punk moves through more championship defenses and encounters challengers who believe they deserve the same position.

Conclusion

The Miz’s most painful WWE finishers list provides an entertaining glimpse into the physical side of his two-decade career. While he identified powerbombs as consistently painful, he ultimately placed The Great Khali’s chokeslam at the top of his list.

According to Miz, the enormous height involved when taking Khali’s chokeslam made the landing particularly difficult. Kevin Owens’ Pop-Up Powerbomb was also described as rough, but it did not surpass Khali’s move in Miz’s personal ranking.

Beyond the finisher discussion, Miz also praised the more aggressive version of CM Punk following SummerSlam. His comments suggest that he believes Punk is at his best when he acts like a performer who knows he belongs in the main event and is prepared to demand that recognition.

With Punk’s championship story continuing and Kevin Owens emerging as a major challenger, Miz’s comments add another interesting perspective to WWE’s current landscape. Meanwhile, his memories of Khali’s chokeslam offer fans a rare reminder that the spectacular moves seen on WWE television can feel very different to the performers taking them.