WWE Raw: Don’t Bet Against Dolph Ziggler And Drew McIntyre
By Josh Raibick
One of the biggest surprises from the Superstar Shakeup was the pairing of Drew McIntyre and Dolph Ziggler as allies on WWE Raw. The combination of Ziggler and McIntyre is one that should benefit both superstars.
Over a week ago on WWE Raw, it came as a surprise when Ziggler was revealed as one of the newly acquired superstars for the Monday night show. Usually WWE SmackDown Live is the show that elevates talent that does not have a clear direction, but in this case Ziggler was being lost in the shuffle on the blue brand.
So why would Ziggler be traded to Mondays? Well we did not have to wait long as Ziggler would reveal that he did not come alone, and before Titus Worldwide could respond they were attacked by McIntyre.
In a matter of minutes, the creative direction for Ziggler went from puzzling to genius. Just when it appeared that WWE had creatively given up on Ziggler they pair him with a talent like McIntyre, whose stock has risen exponentially since his original stint in WWE.
Speaking of McIntyre, he benefits from Ziggler as much as Ziggler benefits from him. After a reported torn bicep at NXT Takeover: WarGames, McIntyre was forced to miss close to five months.
McIntyre was never expected to have a long stint in NXT anyways because of his main roster experience, but the time away was a momentum killer for the Scottish born wrestler. While unlikely adding Ziggler into the equation at least guarantees that McIntyre will not be thrust back into his old role that he had as a member of 3MB.
While Ziggler may not have a great win/loss record over the years, the Show Off is rarely booked to look like a jobber. Most of Ziggler’s losses follow a valiant effort where he comes up just short.
But if Ziggler rarely wins, how does that promote success for McIntyre and Ziggler as a team? the answer is because both superstars are well rounded, but also bring something different to the table than the other.
This past Monday on Raw was a perfect example of why Ziggler and McIntyre compliment each other so well. Ziggler is the finesse worker who is able to allow opponents to get the full extent of their offense in, while McIntyre brings the power.
There is also a presence that is added to this newly formed team thanks to the imposing physique of McIntyre. With McIntyre by Ziggler’s side it is much easier to see the Show Off having his hand raised consistently after matches.
The differences between McIntyre and Ziggler stand out immediately, but the similarities are what stand out at the end. Both Ziggler and McIntyre showed their ability to cut an effective promo following their match with Titus Worldwide this past week on Raw.
When both members of a team can deliver a promo it stands out more than a team that has just one “mouthpiece” that speaks for the group. Also do not let appearances fool you, both men, including McIntyre can really go in the ring.
McIntyre’s athleticism mixed with his power gives the team of him and Ziggler a lot of versatility to wrestle a variety of matches while keeping the in-ring product fresh. While I cannot guarantee this team’s success, I would not want to bet against Drew McIntyre and Dolph Ziggler.