Dolph Ziggler IS NOT Main Event Quality

[Dale]

I'll take plenty of flak for saying so, but it's true. The best word I can use to describe him is that he is tacky, he's like a TNA "main eventer" where they will push any old riff raff to champion status even if they aren't main event material.

For starters, even though it doesn't really bother me his name is pretty shitty and to make it even worse you have his pre-teen looking girlfriend mixing his name with a damn pokemon character. I know people might point to guys like The Rock & Undertaker as having shitty names, but they also had something that Ziggler doesn't have, whether be off the charts charisma and mic work or 'the look' or even a strong gimmick.

Secondly is his look and the way he acts. Now I know there's been a running gag about him being a Billy Gunn clone but the more and more I see of him, the more it rings true. The constant ass shaking is just so cringey and the way he wears the belt backwards when he comes out just irks me so damn much and it was good to hear JBL mention it on RAW this past week. The bleach blonde hair, the constant ass shaking and the fameasser all combined together just scream Billy Gunn and we all know how he turned out. At least Ryback gets compared to an actual bonafide star.

Thirdly, can the guy even cut a promo? This is a genuine question because I swear to god I barely ever hear him cut a promo, let alone one I could judge him on. It's kind of a sad state of affairs that when I think of him cutting a promo, I immediately think of his re-debut and the "Hi, I'm Dolph Ziggler" lines. I mean he was paired with Vickie for what felt like a lifetime and he barely ever touched the mic then. You look at guys like Kofi (The Orton promo), Cody (Grotesque gimmick) & Barrett (Leader of Nexus) for example and they've had a 'breakout' promo where you can see that something is there to work with even if they rarely ever get the mic,has Ziggler even had one of these.

I know this is going to sound strange now given everything i've put, but I really don't want to sound like I'm bashing the guy and suggesting throwing him on the scrap heap because I don't. His in ring ability is by and far his best attribute but I think that's where it stops with him and I just think they're wasting time in trying to make him a main eventer when in all reality he's a mid to upper midcarder at best. I wouldn't be at all shocked if he ended up in a similar position to The Miz where he'll get his main event push but will then drop off beyond all recognition.

 

[Big Red Jericho Punk]

Despite my love for Ziggler, you do make excellent points. I do agree with some of the things you say about his look and reminiscing Billy Gunn. The best point you made was about the breakout promo, totally agree. I think he can, but there hasn't been anything memorable although can't the same thing be said for guys like Sheamus or Del Rio?

I think he can be main event, but he can't be a top heel. When you look at him, how can you look at him as a true main event heel? He looks clean as hell and doesn't really do much to piss you off. Then they pair him with a girl, who can't play a heel to save her life and a Bobby Lashley meets Tazz clone. The stable is a horrible combination, but I deal with it because there is a lot worse going in wrestling.

Ziggler is one of my favorites to watch and I think he'll always be around the top, but he could end up being like Jericho. Will see, I'd love to see him turn face. I don't think you can make a fair judgement of him just yet. Also like I said, there is a LOT worse going on in wrestling but this is still a great post.

The only thing I disagree with is the TNA line. C'mon you got to be over 40 years old to be a main eventer there for more than a year. Just ask Bobby Roode and Austin Aries.

 

[PHX]

I said oh god to myself when I saw the thread title until I saw who made the thread. One thing I could really see your point on is his name and how it really hurts when they have AJ giving him pokemon nicknames and stuff. Not exactly something that is going to make any guy look good let alone your world champion. The name has stuck with me as far as not minding it but the AJ nickname stuff hurts it. Far as how he acts and looks I will disagree somewhat because it doesn't seem forced and seems to work for him. I think it helps him stand out and it wasn't more evident than when he had that short stint where he has the short dark hair looking like he was Evan Bourne on steroids. I get the whole Billy Gunn gag and can't really argue against that gripe but I still just think he makes it work. And lastly the thing I will disagree on flatout is his mic ability that is pretty good when he has gotten real time on the mic. His promo with Jericho when they started feuded a while back was good stand out one as was the promo he cut on AJ during his feud with Cena. So he's shown it and I think it is something he is only going to get better at as time goes on.

 

[Nevermore Arcanum]

The only thing about Ziggler that really gets me unexcited about him is that there is nothing about him that's him. He's always mimicking someone else whether it's Billy Gunn (with his moveset), HBK (with his gimmick), or DDP (with his entrance, and with the belt in particular). He's entertaining, but I just wish I could see him throw some of his own ideas into his character.

 

[John McHenry]

Well this is his best gimmick thus far.

I think he's got great ability. I've seen a few promos that show real potential but I kind of agree. They just won't take off the training wheels. He's always got that crutch Vickie, AJ and Big E. Lets end him off on his own to fend for himself.

 

[Miss D]

as much as I like him I am in the middle as far as him being a main event but at least he is being the chance to sink or swim

 

[We Are Legion]

I completely agree, Dale. I've never understood the hype for the guy and never saw anything beyond a talented mid-carder in him. I could never see the name "Dolph Ziggler" as a headliner for Wrestlemania, a first ballot HOF inductee, or even someone I could take seriously.

And it's not just that, but his name is completely ripped off of the Boogie Nights porn star character "Dirk Diggler". If you haven't seen that movie, you really should and you'll understand why I just can't get into Ziggler. He's literally a parody of a parody, despite how talented he is in the ring. I will never discount his wrestling ability or say he's not entertaining, but I will never be able to take him seriously as "Dolph Ziggler".

 

[The Cork]

Only problem with this thread, OP, is that being a world champ on Smackdown doesn't neccesarily mean you are a main eventer. When was the last time a Smackdown main event closed out a PPV? They are usually curtain jerkers.

Ziggler is fine IMO, seeing how they've gave the strap to Daniel Bryan and Christian in recent years I don't see how Ziggler is any worse. He's a good, reliable worker in the mould of a Benoit or Jericho in that you are always gonna get a top notch match.

 

[punk13]

as much as I like him I am in the middle as far as him being a main event but at least he is being the chance to sink or swim

Co Sign

 

[Defiant]

I wish WWE had built him up better in the time between his MITB win and cash in and figured out what they wanted to do with him, because there was really no growth or change in Dolph on the road to the title. He's exactly the same Dolph Ziggler he was a year ago and he's no more compelling as a contender, despite the audience being on board. He's actually been with AJ and Langston for a while now and I think a lot of us assumed he wouldn't still be on training wheels by the time he won the title, but as it stands Dolph is a weak champion. He's literally still relying on his backup to beat Kofi Kingston.

I don't care about the name but I agree he's also really awkward at promos and the "Show... Off" punchline is terrible. Most would agree Dolph has been in a really weird position for a while now and when WWE committed to him by giving him the briefcase, I'd really hoped they were going to give him more attention, let him cut more promos and figure out what sticks. They started off like this with the Cena feud but I guess he was forgotten during WM season and while Ryback and The Shield were being established.

So, to me, there was just lots of work that needed to be done with Ziggler before actually giving him the title that wasn't done. They held off for ages, but didn't use the time properly and anchored him with nobodies who are also still trying to get over themselves. His reign is doomed to flop. I'd have him drop the title in the next couple of months (AJ accidentally costing him would be a nice touch), establish himself solo for probably the first time in his career then challenge for the title again next year or later this year, he'd be more credible then now.

 

[SAIYANS]

Hes not wwe champion, so it doesn't truly matter. That title hasn't been main event since Edge, Taker, Dave, and Rey were running SD. Its basically at the status of the old IC title years ago now, so he's fine for it.

I said oh god to myself when I saw the thread title until I saw who made the thread. One thing I could really see your point on is his name and how it really hurts when they have AJ giving him pokemon nicknames and stuff. Not exactly something that is going to make any guy look good let alone your world champion. The name has stuck with me as far as not minding it but the AJ nickname stuff hurts it. Far as how he acts and looks I will disagree somewhat because it doesn't seem forced and seems to work for him. I think it helps him stand out and it wasn't more evident than when he had that short stint where he has the short dark hair looking like he was Evan Bourne on steroids. I get the whole Billy Gunn gag and can't really argue against that gripe but I still just think he makes it work. And lastly the thing I will disagree on flatout is his mic ability that is pretty good when he has gotten real time on the mic. His promo with Jericho when they started feuded a while back was good stand out one as was the promo he cut on AJ during his feud with Cena. So he's shown it and I think it is something he is only going to get better at as time goes on.

Thought it was me or cork?

 

[PHX]

You more so than Cork, lol.

 

[Gimmick]

You bring up some good points, but I think a lot of it boils down to his character and how he's been booked over the past year or so.

I said in a previous thread a while ago that Ziggler's new group just come across as a bunch of meddling teenagers up to no good. There's just something about them as a whole that doesn't work. Because of this, I think it's hard for Ziggler to stand out as a guy that belongs in the main event. That and the constant ass shaking (which annoys the hell out of me) are two things I would get rid of.

He has also been booked like none other than a mid-carder as well. He's had some breakthrough matches where he looked really good, such as his Ladder match against Cena last year, but creative's handling of him has been so inconsistent that it's hard for him to look like a big deal.

As for his mic skills though, I actually think he's pretty good. He hasn't had many stand out promos that have left people talking, but I do remember him having a really good promo with Hugh Jackman a few years ago, and since then he has broken through as someone who looks really comfortable on the mic.

I'm not saying getting rid of AJ and Big E, as well as tweaking a few things in his character will make him a bona fide superstar in the WWE, but I do think it would make him look more like a main event player, rather than a mid-carder who's slightly overachieving.

 

[Dale]

Only problem with this thread, OP, is that being a world champ on Smackdown doesn't neccesarily mean you are a main eventer. When was the last time a Smackdown main event closed out a PPV? They are usually curtain jerkers.

Orton, Sheamus, Show & Henry are all main eventers regardless of where the title placed on a PPV.

 

[Weez]

Honestly, I hate the "Show...Off" closer as well, but the guy really can talk. Watching "Ask the Heel" on Ryder's youtube show several times, he's got a good flow to his promos. Personally, "Later, Marks" was a much better closer, but IDK how that'd go over on WWE TV lol. When he was delivering these youtube promos, they were very fast, almost like a spoken word poem at the speed of a rap song. Good for the internet, but I don't know how that translates, again, to Television.

I remember one promo he did that made me lol. He was still with Vickie (and possibly Swagger, I can't remember) and he finally got the mic, went off on a long, no-stopping-for-air promos that ended with "AND-HOW-DAMN-GOOD-AM-I-AT-THIS?"

It was a long while before I heard him on the mic again, so I'll assume that was an Ad-lib lol