7. Dolph Ziggler vs. Alberto Del Rio (Payback, June 16th)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLcdV5ECmF4 A double turn when a babyface and heel switch roles in the midst of a match is one of the rarest occurrences in pro wrestling. It takes the right setting and circumstance to pull it off. At WWE Payback in June, we saw such an occasion. It doubled as not only historic for the surface reasoning of the Chicago crowd embracing Dolph Ziggler and shunning Alberto Del Rio, but also for being a potential long-term reminder of what could have been for The Show Off. As recently as several months ago and particularly one year ago after defeating John Cena in the main-event of TLC '12, Dolph seemed destined for main-event stardom. Back in December of last year, Cena and CM Punk were the only active roster members that could be considered "consistent top tier players." 2013 was supposed to be the year that Ziggler turned the wrestling world into his oyster after posting increasingly impressive calendars for 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012. He was Mr. Money in the Bank heading into WrestleMania 29 and left the New Jersey/New York area with the World Heavyweight Championship to a massive ovation from what is usually considered one of the year's most important audiences. But then it all came tumbling down... Conflicting reports suggest that Ziggler's fall from grace resulted from either the untimely concussion that he suffered shortly after winning the World title from Del Rio on the 4/8/13 Raw or his tendency not to filter his thoughts in interviews (he can be openly critical about the WWE product and of how confident he is that he can be one of the WWE's top stars for years to come). Whatever the case may be, Ziggler's rematch with Del Rio at Payback became a microcosm of his 2013. His talents are so vast that, despite being a heel for his entire career, the very vocal Chicago crowd chose to cheer him over one of the WWE's appointed top babyfaces. By match's end, Ziggler was arguably receiving the loudest and most sustainable reaction of the night. However, he lost the World Heavyweight Championship to the heel-turning Del Rio, who made Ziggler's concussive symptoms his primary target. It was a fascinating match, but it is also a reminder that Dolph Ziggler might never make it despite having all the talent in the world necessary to do so.
Chad Matthews
Contributor
"The Doc" Chad Matthews has written wrestling columns for over a decade. A physician by trade, Matthews began writing about wrestling as a hobby, but it became a passion. After 30 years as a wrestling fan, "The Doc" gives an unmatched analytical perspective on pro wrestling in the modern era. He is a long-time columnist for Lordsofpain.net and hosts a weekly podcast on the LOP Radio Network called "The Doc Says." His first book - The WrestleMania Era: The Book of Sports Entertainment - ranks the Top 90 wrestlers from 1983 to present day, was originally published in December 2013, and is now in its third edition.
Matthews lives in North Carolina with his wife, two kids, and two dogs.
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