WrestleMania 30: Dolph Ziggler Deserves This WWE Push
By David M Levin
Don't look now, but Dolph Ziggler is about to get another huge push in the WWE. Tell where we have heard this before? Doesn't it appear that every week and new wrestler is being given a push to take his game to the next level? Haven't we heard about the Cody Rhodes push, the Damien Sandow Push, the Titus O'Neal push and the Roman Reigns push? All wrestlers who are certainly deserving of moving up the WWE ladder, but enough is enough, right?
Apparently not enough for Ziggler – who with his two World Title reigns, is about to embark on another after WrestleMania XXX in New Orleans. This actually make me a very happy camper. When Ziggler began his rise up the slope toward his second World Title, he faced the same kind of uncertainty someone named Daniel Bryan has had to deal with.
Can he lad the company? If we change his character and make him a face, will he get over with the fans? Can he help his opponents get over? Can he work well as a singles star? And most of all, can he draw at the gate? Looks like we may find out again.
Ziggler's pure natural ability (and remember he started out as a member of the famed Spirit Squad) is only matched by Roman Reigns, Daniel Bryan and Antonio Cesaro. Yes, he is that good. When is the last time you saw Ziggler not produce in the ring?
Based on the magic of Wiki, Ziggler (Nick Nemeth) signed a development contract with WWE in 2004, and was sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW). He was brought up to the Raw brand in 2005 as Kerwin White's sidekick. He was, however, sent back to OVW shortly afterwards, where he joined the Spirit Squad as Nicky. They debuted on Raw in January 2006, and won the World Tag Team Championship once before returning to OVW that November.
In September 2007, Ziggler was assigned to Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), where he formed a tag team with Brad Allen. The pair won the FCW Florida Tag Team Championship once, and Nemeth later won the championship for the second time with Gavin Spears as his partner. He returned to Raw as Ziggler in September 2008, and was drafted to the SmackDown brand in April 2009.
At the SmackDown tapings on July 28, Ziggler won the WWE Intercontinental Championship for the first time. He held the championship for five months, until January 2011. He was awarded, and lost, the World Heavyweight Championship on February 15, 2011. That March Ziggler returned to the Raw roster, and won the WWE United States Championship for the first time three months later. He won the 2012 Money in the Bank contract, granting him a future World Heavyweight Championship opportunity; Ziggler successfully defended the contract against John Cena in the main event of the 2012 TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs pay-per-view event, and cashed it in on April 8, 2013 to win his second World Heavyweight Championship.
After he won his second championship, the WWE changed gears again for one reason or another. There has been so much made about his road to success. A run with Vickie Guerrero, a love connection with AJ Lee and of course a rocky road with tag team partner Jack Swagger, Ziggler has survived it all.
I'd love to see him in a program with Ceasro or Dean Ambrose or even Antonio Cesaro. There should be more to this wrestler than the fact he does a great promo and has the best drop quick in wrestling. Fact of the matter is Ziggler deserves this run, like it is owed to him. Only problem is if he "does" get this push, then what happens to the others who are just as deserving?
Disclaimer: For the next 30 days, this will be an ongoing series of stories as we move down the Road to WrestleMania. Follow Camel Clutch Blog writer/blogger David M. Levin as he talks about the history, the pageantry and the success and failures of the past when it comes to wrestling's biggest events. The views of the writer are not necessarily the views of Camel Clutch Blog, and this series is intended to ramp up the excitement that is associated with WrestleMania XXX and the Crescent City of New Orleans. Please enjoy this new feature and any comments are most welcome.
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David M Levin
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