Miro has been on a run of brilliant and horrifying promos. The passionate words from the former AEW TNT Champion are not aimed at the fans, nor are they aimed at a particular opponent. These harsh words and painful questions have been directed at God. "First, you leave me to get beat. And now you're not answering? Is that funny to you?"
The relationship between Miro and his God has been long-running and ever-intriguing. Over the last several weeks, since losing his beloved TNT Championship, that relationship has soured completely. Subsequently, Miro's character has become even more of a petrifying figure. Beyond that, he now has the most unique and powerful gimmick in all of AEW.
Miro Was God's Favorite Champion
After a few months of rocky booking, Miro found his path in AEW. According to him, that path came from God. "After a few months, a voice came from above and said 'The Man should forgive himself!... and remember who he was.'" Miro's motivation was simple and effective in this brilliant character shift, winning to make both his God and his "hot wife" proud of him. The Redeemer was born.
It didn't take long for Miro's dominant win streak to lead him to a title shot. In a dramatic David vs. Goliath-esque contest, Miro defeated Darby Allin for the TNT Title in May with his lights-out finisher, Game Over. It was with this victory that The Redeemer became 'God's Favorite Champion.' Miro was a proud and influential TNT Champion, defending the title successfully and often. He would send praise to God in between each program, prayers of thanks for his dominance, and for his "flexible" wife that he would go home to after each title defense.
But with this fascinating and deft shift in character, the question presented itself; "what happens when Miro loses the gold?"
God's Favorite Champion Loses to the Spanish God
On the September 29 edition of Dynamite, Miro lost his TNT title to Sammy Guevara, sending the Redeemer down a dark and lonely path. When Guevara hit his finisher from the top rope onto Miro, he seemingly landed on Miro's family jewels. Painful as it looked, it also informed the next beat in The Redeemer's story.
In a series of captivating promos, Miro would beg his God for an explanation and beg himself for forgiveness. He is starved for redemption so that he can face his wife once again. Miro's character not seeing his wife because of some incurable psychosis is some next-level heel motivation. When you blend this creative storytelling with the chiaroscuro lighting that these promos possess, it's obvious that AEW has found itself a masterstroke of character work.
"Why have you forsaken your Champion? I am done pleading with you. Now, I am telling you. My God, you will make me your Champion, or you will make me your enemy!" Did Miro call out God? That sounds like a pay-per-view worthy matchup.
Will The Redeemer Get His Redemption?
After weeks of nightmarish prayers, Miro finally got back into the squared circle, replacing Jon Moxley in the World Title Eliminator Tournament. The former TNT Champion went back to business, brutalizing Orange Cassidy in the semi-finals. This victory earns him a match with Bryan Danielson at Full Gear for a shot at the AEW World Title; a fight that is so delicious, fans can almost taste it.
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The prospect of redemption has motivated Miro to cut a promo on someone other than his God. In a chilling call to action, Miro put Bryan Danielson on notice. "You say you've come here to feel alive. But you gotta understand, you're pushing a man who's holding a scythe!" As menacing as this promo was, Miro wrapped it up beautifully, never faltering from his brilliant long-term storyline with his God and his wife. He warns Danielson, "You'll have to say goodbye to your wife. So I can say hello to mine."
Given the amount of time, care, and attention they've given to Miro and his story with God, it's hard to imagine him losing to Danielson at Full Gear. On the other hand, it is intriguing to think about the dark depths Miro would fall to if he were to come up short. If the brutality we saw when Miro was champion was any indication, it's scary to think what we'll see from the Redeemer if he falters once more.