WWE: Dolph Ziggler Needs Wins Upon Return, Not Show-Stealers
By John Brown
Dolph Ziggler is an incredible performer, but his win/loss record does not come close to matching the caliber of his performances. If he is going to be seen as a legitimate threat to anyone in WWE, he is going to have to start winning matches upon his return.
Before leaving for his most recent hiatus, Dolph Ziggler incessantly reminded us of what we already know: that his performances in the ring are works of art that few others in the WWE, or the world for that matter, can match. His obvious infatuation with Shawn Michaels leaps through the screen as Ziggler not only delivers picture perfect superkicks to this opponents, but sells for them with such mastery that a routine scoop slam can be made to look like homicide.
Shawn Michaels, however, won a match every once in a while.
It is true that Ziggler was able to overcome Bobby Roode and Baron Corbin to capture the United States Championship at Clash of Champions just before going on his recent break. This win, however, came as a result of being nonsensically added to a match that was originally set to feature just Roode and Corbin, two men who had just spent weeks pinning Ziggler with embarrassing regularity.
This win also came at the heels of a months-long gimmick that featured Ziggler poking fun at various WWE past and present wresters’ gimmicks, as the Ziggler character believed that they received and were receiving featured spots and title shots due to their gimmicks and fanfare.
It was almost as if Ziggler forgot that he was in the wrestling business where spectacle sells tickets and merch. He mocked the entrances of legends such as Michaels, Randy Savage, and The Ultimate Warrior in his quest to prove that a champion should be worth more than the gimmick he portrays. What he forgot is that champions tend to become champions based on winning matches. Not only has Ziggler not had a notable win since cashing in Money in the Bank on Alberto Del Rio, he was just in a feud with Dean Ambrose last year that was built around the idea that Dolph could never win the big one.
This feud concluded with Dolph not winning the big one. A babyface underdog story ended with the underdog persona being an anchor rather than an obstacle to overcome. Babyfaces overcome obstacles. Ziggler buckled at the sight of his. HIs stock was left at such a low level that he may have been thinking of going back to obnoxiously offering handshakes in the hopes everyone would forget the last decade or so.
Next: What Were The 15 Greatest Royal Rumble Moments Ever?
Dolph Ziggler’s most recent run saw him complain about gimmicks being booked higher than performances. Heels complain, and Ziggler was booked to be a heel. At the same time, credible heels find a way to win at all costs which is why we pay our money to see the babyface vanquish the heel for his/her series of misdeeds. Ziggler has found a way to perform, but has not found a way to win. Gimmicks did not pin him; opponents carrying those gimmicks pinned him. If WWE ever hopes to see Ziggler’s stock match the caliber of his in-ring ability, he is going to have to win upon his return.