You remember that era. The mid-2010s were a fever dream for wrestling fans, specifically because WWE Studios was trying to stick its fingers in every single cinematic pie imaginable. They weren't just doing gritty action movies with John Cena or Kane anymore. They went full holiday spirit. That’s how we ended up with Santa's Little Helper 2015, a movie that sits in a very specific, slightly chaotic corner of Christmas film history. It stars Mike "The Miz" Mizanin and Paige (now Saraya in AEW), and honestly, it’s a lot more interesting as a time capsule of WWE's branding strategy than it is as a cinematic masterpiece.
Most people see the poster and assume it's just another bargain bin DVD.
They aren't entirely wrong, but they're missing the context. At the time, The Miz was fully leaning into his "A-Lister" persona. He wasn't just a wrestler; he was a guy who played a guy who thought he was a movie star. Putting him in a lead role for a direct-to-video Christmas comedy was actually a stroke of meta-genius. He plays Dax, a corporate "hatchet man" who gets fired and suddenly finds himself competing in a series of North Pole-themed challenges to become Santa’s second-in-command. It’s essentially The Apprentice meets Elf, but with more wrestling-adjacent physicality.
The Bizarre Reality of Santa's Little Helper 2015
The plot is thin. Dax is a jerk. He loses his job, his car, and his girlfriend all in one afternoon. Then, a fast-talking elf named Billie—played by Paige—shows up to scout him for a job opening at the North Pole. But there’s a catch. He has to compete against a "pure-bred" elf named Eleanor.
What’s wild about this movie is the casting of Paige.
In 2015, Paige was the "Anti-Diva." She was the pale, Doc Marten-wearing rebel of the WWE women's division. Seeing her in a bright elf costume, complete with prosthetic ears and a bubbly (mostly) attitude, was a massive departure from her wrestling character. It’s one of the few times we got to see her comedic timing outside of a wrestling ring or the reality show Total Divas. She and The Miz actually have decent chemistry, likely because they’d spent years working together on the road. They speak the same language.
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The movie was directed by Gil Junger. If that name sounds familiar, it should. He’s the guy who directed 10 Things I Hate About You. You can see flashes of that professional polish in how the movie is shot, even if the budget for the North Pole sets looks like it was scavenged from a liquidated Spirit Halloween. It doesn't look cheap in a "home movie" way, but it definitely has that glossy, oversaturated TV-movie sheen that was a staple of the 2010s.
Why the WWE Connection Actually Worked
WWE Studios gets a lot of flak. Some of it is earned. But with Santa's Little Helper 2015, they knew exactly who their audience was. They weren't trying to win an Oscar. They were trying to sell DVDs and digital downloads to families who watched Monday Night Raw.
- The Miz was the perfect heel-to-hero lead. His character arc mirrors a standard wrestling face-turn. He starts arrogant, gets humbled, and eventually learns the "true meaning" of whatever the plot requires.
- Paige brought in the 'Total Divas' demographic. This was peak E! Network era for WWE.
- Physical Comedy. Because they used pro-wrestlers, the "Elf Trials" involve actual stunts and movement that look better than your average Hallmark movie.
The movie also features Maryse, The Miz’s real-life wife, though she isn't the lead. It’s a family affair. It’s a corporate product, sure, but there’s a weirdly earnest heart to it. It’s not cynical. It’s just... very 2015.
The Script and the "Ho Ho Ho" Stakes
The dialogue is exactly what you'd expect. It’s filled with Christmas puns and corporate jargon. Dax has to learn that "people matter more than profits," which is a hilarious theme for a movie produced by a multi-billion dollar wrestling conglomerate.
But here’s the thing: it’s short.
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Clocking in at just over 90 minutes, it doesn't overstay its welcome. In a world where every blockbuster is three hours long, there is something deeply refreshing about a movie that knows it's about an elf-scouting competition and just gets on with it. The stakes are low, the cocoa is hot, and the ending is as predictable as a John Cena comeback.
There's a specific scene involving a "bell-ringing" challenge that feels like it was ripped straight from a 1990s Nickelodeon game show. It’s goofy. It’s absurd. If you’re watching this expecting The Godfather, you’re the problem, not the movie.
Where Does It Sit in the WWE Filmography?
If we’re ranking WWE Studios' output, Santa's Little Helper 2015 sits somewhere in the middle. It’s better than the weird Leprechaun reboot they did with Hornswoggle, but it’s not as genuinely "good movie" as The Call with Halle Berry.
It exists in that pocket of comfort food.
It’s the kind of movie that stays on the TV in the background while you’re wrapping gifts. You don’t need to see every frame to know what’s happening. You hear The Miz’s voice, you see a flash of green felt, and you know everything is going to be okay.
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Critically, the movie didn't set the world on fire. It has a low score on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes, but those metrics don't really apply here. Is it a "good" movie? Probably not by traditional standards. Is it a successful piece of branded entertainment? Absolutely. It kept The Miz in the spotlight during a transition period in his career and allowed Paige to expand her brand before her unfortunate neck injuries changed her trajectory.
Real-World Production Details
Filmed primarily in Vancouver—the unofficial capital of Christmas movies—the production was efficient. They shot it quickly to accommodate the wrestlers' hectic touring schedules. In fact, most WWE movies from this era were filmed during "breaks" where the talent would vanish from TV for a few weeks, leading to "injury" storylines or "suspensions" to explain their absence.
- The Director: Gil Junger brought a level of competence that kept the movie from feeling like a total mess.
- The Lead: Mike Mizanin proved he could carry a non-wrestling movie without needing to rely on a "tough guy" trope.
- The Legacy: It remains a staple on streaming services every December, usually popping up on Hulu or Peacock.
How to Watch It Today
If you’re looking to revisit this relic of 2015, it’s usually tucked away in the "Holiday" section of Peacock, given NBCUniversal's massive deal with WWE. You can also find it for a few bucks on VOD platforms like Amazon or Vudu.
Don't go in expecting high-brow humor. Go in expecting to see a two-time WWE Champion get hit in the face with snowballs and a legendary female wrestler wearing elf ears.
Actionable Insights for the Curious Viewer:
- Watch for the Chemistry: Pay attention to the scenes between The Miz and Paige; their real-life friendship makes the "training" montages much more tolerable than they have any right to be.
- Context is Everything: View it as a 90-minute WWE promo from the mid-2010s rather than a standalone feature film. It makes much more sense that way.
- Check the Background: Many of the "elves" in the North Pole scenes are local Vancouver actors who populate almost every Hallmark movie you've ever seen. It’s a fun game of "Where have I seen that guy before?"
- Skip the Prequels/Sequels: Unlike other holiday franchises, this stands alone. You don't need a deep knowledge of North Pole lore to understand why Dax is a jerk.
The movie isn't going to change your life. It won't become a perennial classic like A Christmas Story. But as a weird artifact of a time when WWE thought they could dominate the holiday movie market, it's a fascinating watch. It's harmless, it's colorful, and honestly, it’s kind of fun to see The Miz get what's coming to him—even if it's just from a group of magical elves.