TSC Evaluation #68: Dolph Ziggler

[Dreamzeedream]

I don't have much energy to give to Dolph Ziggler when he has been a walking corpse himself for years now. He's a low 7 that could have been on the verge of becoming a 9, especially in a post-09 WWE era. At this point, he's pretty much a 6. Sure, the WWE has cut him off at the knees a couple times, but he hasn't helped himself much either, copying the gimmicks of various other better past stars and cutting the same promos for what feels like forever. Dolph had like 3 times he could have been elevated permanently, but through unfortunate events (both cause of himself and the WWE), he became the guy they use to get people they REALLY want to push (who may happen better anyway). Yea I'll just stop here cause I'm as bored talking about Dolph as I was with Orton.

I watched a shoot interveiw with a former writer and he talked about the night he cashed in. From what the writer was saying Vince wouldn't give dolph a push. I can find the interveiw for u. If u want

 

[Tommy Fits]

I give him a 6 just off the fact he got over with one of the worst names in wrestling history. I still remember when he made his debut walking around backstage going HI I'm Dolph Ziggler, beyond cringe worthy. I thought he was dead in the water. He's been poorly booked most of his career. He should be an easy 8 but he isn't though. I'm debating between a 6 and 7. If he was booked better maybe wouldn't have gone into mail it in mode.

 

[Tommy Fits]

I gave him a 7, felt generous

 

[Mantis Toboggan M.D.]

Were this 3-4 years ago, I’d give him a 6-7 and say he’s a good talent who’s been a victim of poor booking. In 2017, I don’t believe that’s a completely true statement. He’s an average talent who’s been a victim of bad booking, causing him to completely give up and coast over the last 2-3 years. I’d give him a 5 now, mostly because there’s only about 4-5 matches of his I think are worth going out of your way to watch. Those being Bragging Rights 2010 vs. Bryan

Payback 13 vs. Del Rio

Survivor Series 14 vs Team Authority

And TLC 14 vs. Harper

And I have to mention his cash in, which is really more of a moment but the mini match following it was actually pretty good so I’m counting it.

Aside from that, the guy’s whatever to me. His brief feud with Ambrose last summer followed by his heel run have really exposed him as being a one dimensional performer who’s strongest attribute was bumping, and even that has become whatever. He can’t cut a decent promo, his in-ring psychology isn’t that great, he has no real stand out character. He’s the definition of average at this point. In the past I could atleast say the crowd’s behind him but due to booking and his apathy because of it, the crowd is similarly apathetic towards him. This, along with his mailed in performances, have imo made him toxic, which wouldn’t necessarily be a big deal if they didn’t deem him the guy you go through after graduating NXT. Feuding with him did/has done neither Nakamura or Roode any favors and has made their initial main roster debuts and runs lackluster when they should’ve had hotter starts, as feuding with a guy who doesn’t care and the audience doesn’t care about puts them behind an 8 ball before booking even has a chance to.

Also, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention his complete and total ripping off of Shawn Michaels. It’s one thing to do it in a meta, tongue in cheek way like the Young Bucks but Dolph straight up copied HBK’s look and his finisher

I mean


So yeah, 5 because I was once a fan and he’s got a few good matches.

5/10 should have left WWE though. Dolph in a place like ROH or even Impact would have had a lot of leeway and opportunity to grow as a talent. But he chose to stay and he's gotten stale as all hell.

This is the best summary of his career really. He managed to get over despite an all time bad ring name, and every time he got over enough to warrant a big push to the main event, management booked him to lose nonstop until the crowd gave up hope with the guy. After the Sheamus feud and subsequent rusev feud seemingly designed with the hope of breaking up rusev and Lana off camera in early 2015 he basically stopped giving a shyt, started mailing in his performances, and started sharking HBK down to every detail except his pyro. He should have left after they decided to punish him for making money off a stand up comedy show in 2015 because that showed they saw no value in him. If he left, maybe he finds his motivation again instead of reaching levels of laziness only matched by Randy Orton. I’m going with a 6 on account of the fact that if management actually gave him an opportunity, the crowd was willing to support him and instead they chose to bury him.

 

[Mike the Executioner]

I'll give him a 5. I still remember when I was a kid watching this guy shake people's hands backstage and thinking he wasn't going to make an impact. Then a few years later, it seemed like he was on the verge of something better. But I don't think WWE ever had enough faith in him. There were at least two occasions where the fans wanted him as the next top guy (cashing in MITB and going over The Authority at Survivor Series), but he was always cut off from the main event.

Now I know the reason why. He's had an absolutely terrible year. He hasn't been entertaining since his Miz feud, and he was a momentum killer for Nakamura and Roode. He's someone that could have been a lot better, but somewhere along the way, he became stagnant and now he's just some loser who's holding a roster spot he doesn't need anymore.

Not to mention his activities outside the ring, but that's another story.

 

[Slic Ric]

I mean as a Dolph mark, I can even admit guy has been terrible since 2015. Should he have left? Yes but I'm not gonna get on a guy if he's making good money and stays, but most of you have admit when he was on they never really got behind him, so he probably stopped giving a fukk

 

[PlayerNinety_Nine]

I know you miss it Dolph the (FAME)
Why you constantly overselling every shot to your frame?
Nicky, you're a (LAME)

Youse the f*g model for Donald Trump MAGA hats
Went from Spirit Squad to shaking hands
Had a spark when he started but now he's just
Went from World Champ to not on TV at all
Til your bodyguard's title runs were even better than yours....



Had the fans ROLLING with him when he cashed in, then he fell off the face of the earth.

We did get the legendary 'I DON'T LIKE DOLP ZILGA' from him though (word to Korean Charlie )

4

 

[Notorious 1 E.Y.E.]

he's a 6
hes good in the ring not great
and never really cared for his characters, now i just wish he'd go away

 

[Two Stacks]

He's so good as a heel. He is the best seller in the game (main roster) right now. His cash in pop was attitude era level. One of the best on the mic. Has great matches with everyone. 7.

 

[Kidd Dibiase]