WWE: Bold Predictions; What Fallout Will the Royal Rumble Bring This Week?

By Bryan Heaton | Jan 29, 2018

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Dolph Ziggler Disappears Again

Given some of the other ways the 30th spot in the Men’s Royal Rumble Match could have gone, Dolph Ziggler was a good choice. He hadn’t been seen since Dec. 19 – two nights after winning the United States Championship at Clash of Champions. But that appearance in December was marked by Ziggler’s apparent “retirement” – he gave up the title and walked out of WWE.

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Since there always seem to be some kind of rumors that Ziggler is on his way out of the wrestling business, it’s tough to figure out what’s going on. So walking out seemed like it could have just been Dolph’s way of saying goodbye, because he’s got a weird sense of humor.

Entering the Rumble, Doplh was actually a favorite to win the whole thing. Lots of fans pictured a scenario where Ziggler was the “surprise” #30 entrant, won the Rumble, and went on to main event WrestleMania as a last hurrah. But now that he didn’t win the Rumble, could this have been his last hurrah?

Ziggler has had an up and down career in WWE. He’s a former world champion, but injuries derailed his big reign – then it seemed like the company lost faith in him when he never returned to the the main event. He basically “saved” WWE at Survivor Series 2014, being the sole survivor and getting an assist from Sting. He had a great Intercontinental Championship feud with The Miz in 2016.

But Ziggler has been permanently on the WWE main roster for ten years, with brief appearances dating back as far as 2005. Maybe he really wants out – he’s 37, and has other career options. I’d venture a guess that we don’t see him anymore, outside of occasional one-off appearances.

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What do you think is going to happen in WWE this week?