10 Radical Ideas To Save Dolph Ziggler

I mentioned earlier, while discussing a much more specific storyline and character idea, that he should change his style. While it’s true that a more ground-and-pound, mat-based style would suit a corporate heel far more than his current flamboyant form, it’s also the case that a change of moveset and approach might freshen up his babyface character too.

A lot is made of Ziggler’s selling, both good and bad - but realistically he can’t keep this style up forever. He may not intend to: the stand-up and improv practice may be advance training in the kind of career he sees himself as having post-wrestling in a few years. But realistically, wouldn’t it be good to avoid back and neck problems like the ones that have plagued Edge, Austin, Bryan and Punk?

He’s really fortunate that he’s avoided serious injury so far. He may have suffered the odd concussion, but WWE clearly aren’t concerned about that on this occasion - he's still wrestling every night on tour, still throwing those crazy bumps.

Nick Nemeth was a record-setting amateur wrestling standout in high school and college, yet as Dolph Ziggler he works a melodramatic, big-bumping, overselling style, and has done several times a week for eight years. There’s no reason he can’t amalgamate the two styles… and ditch the overselling pretty much altogether.

Plenty of other performers have changed their style and still retained what made them special. Perhaps it’s time Ziggler did likewise.