35 Current WWE Stars And Their '90s Counterparts

26. Dolph Ziggler/Shawn Michaels

Dolph Ziggler and Shawn Michaels
WWE.com/WWE

And whilst Tyler Breeze is a dead ringer for a modern take on Shawn Michaels first forays into his solo career, Dolph Ziggler can be labelled a modern-day version of the late-‘90s Shawn Michaels.

Sure, Ziggler has no substance issues, doesn’t go into business for himself and doesn’t refuse to work with particular talents, but the actual in-ring performances and characterisation of both Dolph and that version of Shawn Michaels are mightily similar.

Clearly both Ziggler and Shawn are exceptional in-ring talents, and for better or worse both are known for their bumping and selling ability. Now early Michaels’ selling was as over the top as a Ric Flair stag party, but by the mid-late-’90s he’d calmed the eccentric bumps down a little and was regarded as the very best in the business when it came to taking a beating. Ziggler is now getting similar plaudits in 2015.

As well as bumping, both Ziggler and Michaels have excelled as either heel or face, both are privy to an impressive connection to the fans, both can talk, both perform with a chip on their shoulder, and both can (and often did/do) steal any show that they are on.

Whilst Michaels soared with the big dogs in the main event, it sadly seems that Dolph Ziggler is left banging his head on that elusive glass ceiling.

Senior Writer
Senior Writer

Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main day job, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks/Saints, Jamie Hayter, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg. Where his beloved Wrexham AFC is concerned, Andrew is co-host of the Fearless in Devotion podcast, which won the Club Podcast of the Year gong at the 2024 FSA Awards.