10 Worst WWE Wrestlers Of 2019

6. Dolph Ziggler

Lacey Evans
WWE.com

The problem with reviving a serial midcard rivalry as a main event programme is that it is a serial midcard rivalry.

WWE's writing is a source of amusement - when they're not trying, of course - but this was halfway inspired. Dolph Ziggler had motivation to target Kofi Kingston - in a parallel universe agonisingly close to his own, the Show-Off was a sentimental 'Mania headliner - and their shared history afforded Kofi a chance to prove that he was no longer a midcard act, provided he took it by entering a main event-level performance.

This didn't happen; after a mundane match at Super ShowDown - an illogical and cheap excuse to promote a sequel even by WWE standards - the two men clashed in a Steel Cage at Stomping Grounds. If nothing else, this brought into focus just how impressive a feat it is to build an engaging main event epic, because Ziggler and Kingston lacked the cachet and gravitas to pull it off. Weirdly, the two men who rose to acclaim in 2011 wrestled a very 2011 main event: this was punishingly dull, methodical limb-work - a cosplay version of a relic of a style.

Ziggler was a great midcard act by the standards of his era, but with this bomb of a main event run, he saved us a few 'WWE Totally Wasted Dolph's Potential' r/SquaredCircle threads.

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!