5 Biggest Winners & Losers From WWE SmackDown Live (Oct 11)

2. Dolph Ziggler

dolph ziggler
WWE.com

What a couple of days it has been for Dolph Ziggler. Few gave him any chance of defeating The Miz at No Mercy, particularly when rumours of his imminent retirement surfaced, but he pulled it off. It was one of the best matches you’ll see all year, and two nights removed from saving his WWE career, the new Intercontinental Champion was in celebratory mood last night.

WWE have done the impossible: they’ve revived Dolph Ziggler’s career, and made the fans genuinely invested in him again. Long regarded as one of the company’s most underused workers, Ziggler’s crowd support had all but vanished after years of shoddy booking. It reached a head in his lacklustre match with Dean Ambrose at SummerSlam, but his No Mercy win saw the crowd erupt, and he got a tremendous reception again last night.

Dolph cut an excellent promo to open the show. Though Miz and Maryse would try to rain on his parade, Ziggler had the crowd in the palm of his hand as he went over exactly what his PPV victory meant to him. The heels, as always, tried to screw with him, but he overcame their shenanigans, defeated the Spirit Squad, and ultimately got one over on his biggest rival.

This might be the most compelling period of Dolph Ziggler’s career, including his run as WWE Champion. SummerSlam could’ve killed him once and for all, but no: The Show-Off is stronger than ever, and long may it continue.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.