10 Predictions For WWE's Direction After SummerSlam 2016
5. Dolph Ziggler Turns Heel
The Dolph Ziggler career revival movement is in full flow. Having been stuck in the doldrums for the best part of two years, Ziggler’s ascent to number one contender status was abrupt, but last week’s stunning in-ring confrontation with Dean Ambrose alleviated all doubts. Taking on a new reality-based approach to storytelling, Ambrose and Ziggler did a masterful job of highlighting their contrasting fortunes, with Ambrose calling on subtle heel notes to really push the segment over the top.
It was one of SmackDown’s highlights, and a rare show-opening in-ring promo that didn’t bore half the crowd into taking a nap. It remains to be seen whether or not Ziggler is a stopgap challenger of if the company are serious about rebuilding him, but whatever the case, they’ve done an excellent job building interest for their SummerSlam match.
Though Ambrose played the heel last week, Ziggler’s “Show Off” character has always felt watered down when he’s performing as a babyface. By pointing out that Ziggler is too concerned with “stealing the show” while Ambrose focuses on winning matches, Dean’s hitting Dolph with the cold, hard truth, and if he keeps going down this route, Ziggler’s only going to get more and more frustrated.
A Dolph heel turn is the next logical stop. As Ambrose hammers his point home, Ziggler’s determination to prove him wrong can manifest in increasingly vicious ways, until he eventually reverts to the heel character that suits him better in the first place. A PPV turn would a be a huge boon for Ziggler, and a surefire sign that his resurgence is for real.