10 Best Non-Attitude Era WWE RAW Moments

4. Dolph Ziggler Cashes In

Ziggler Jericho
WWE

Opinion is split on Dolph Ziggler in 2019.

Is he missed?

Is he a sad, missed opportunity, a performer who in a slightly altered timeline might have received his own #KofiMania moment? Or has he stagnated in recent years, as the succeeding NXT generation have exposed him as more good hand than elite talent?

Whether through prescience or ignorance is unclear, but WWE did not follow-up on his career pinnacle—which, when watched back now, feels like a pathetic insult. It was as much a great match as a great moment: a maximised minutes masterclass. Ziggler was ferocious in his assault of Alberto Del Rio’s injured leg; Del Rio battled through the pain to deliver an awesome near-fall. Del Rio recovered to land a near-fall of his own—and an application of the cross arm-breaker—in an expert manipulation of Ziggler’s cult favourite, nearly-man status.

Ziggler tore at Del Rio’s leg to create the opening for the Zig Zag, and that moment of victory never loses its power. His scream is primal in its intensity. Years of hard, futile graft informed it.

Ziggler showed the world on April 8, 2013. To paraphrase the Smiths, sadly, the world didn’t listen.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!