WWE And TNA: 7 Worst Moments Of The Week (July 31)
1. Ziggler Vs. Dean
Five years ago, Dolph Ziggler ending a show as number one contender would have been awesome. Three years ago it would have been pretty fun. One year ago, maybe a bit confusing. Now it’s basically nonsensical.
Much like Zack Ryder, Dolph is a guy that continually gets a hint of a push, only to see it be yanked away while Vince McMahon watches on a monitor backstage and laughs maniacally. It happens every year. All those years of booking Dolph poorly have caught up to him. He’s been so thoroughly defined as mid-card, that his rush to the top doesn’t even feel right. It actually helps make SmackDown feel even more like the inferior brand.
Ziggler wasn’t even booked for the last pay-per-view, and he’s been spending the last year putting over Kevin Owens, Baron Corbin and Tyler Breeze in pay-per-view matches. There’s no story with him winning like this. There’s no journey. Unless he turns heel and gets off to a really strong start, this push may be doing him a disservice.
Despite Dolph being so good in the ring, this feels less like Daniel Bryan fighting his way to the top with rabid fan support, and more like Eric Young suddenly becoming World Champion, much to the confusion of the crowd.
Time to kick out.