8 Times Dolph Ziggler Has Nearly Sabotaged His WWE Career
6. The Zack Ryder Shirt
A little less than two years ago on the Thanksgiving week edition of Raw, Dolph Ziggler and Damian Sandow faced each other in a Hamptons Hardcore match as decided by WWE app voters. The bout was the usual influx of props and silliness that WWE hardcore bouts have become and was basically a comedy segment. During the match, Ziggler wore a New York Islanders hockey jersey because you cant be hardcore unless youre in your street clothes and beneath the jersey he had on a Zack Ryder shirt. It was widely reported in the dirt sheets that Ziggler was under fire for his choice of attire. For his part, Dolph said he wore the shirt because they were in Ryders home market of New York and he was trying to show support for his friend. However, it was reported that those in charge viewed the shirt as a silent protest from Ziggler on behalf of Ryder, a talent that many fans and his own peers feel is criminally underused. Zack Ryder is an interesting case of a guy who was reaching for the proverbial brass ring and getting over on his own, and rather than reward him for all his hard work and ride the wave of grass roots support he had cultivated the company made him into a joke and then took him off TV. Except for sporadic jobs every few months Ryder doesnt even appear on Raw at all. Zigglers true intentions will never be known, but for a guy who is known for pushing his luck hes not going to get the benefit of the doubt from his bosses. One observer was quoted as saying its not as if he hasnt been in the doghouse enough as of late.
Brad Hamilton is a writer, musician and marketer/social media manager from Atlanta, Georgia. He's an undefeated freestyle rap battle champion, spends too little time being productive and defines himself as the literary version of Brock Lesnar.
