Why Dolph Ziggler Will Never Get Pass Midcard Level - Part 2

As it says in the title, this a part two. I felt my previous piece over the subject didn't necessarily say enough about why Dolph Ziggler will never be a main event performer. In fact I wanted to include more but I didn't want Part One to be too long to the point where readers wouldn't read. So I'm going to continue on why Dolph Ziggler just isn't cut out to be a position guys like Cena, Orton, and Jericho rule.

*Note: I will provide a link to Part One at the bottom of the article.

Let's move on.

His Name is Dolph Ziggler

Regular forum member Chey pointed this out in Part One. I never thought of this point just because it felt too obvious, but it does need to be said.

"Dolph Ziggler." Yeah, that doesn't sound like the most fake and ridiculous name someone ever had the displeasure of enunciating. Seriously, though, there's generic names and there's bad names and Nicky's current in-ring name just flat out sucks. It sticks out, but in the worse possible way. Sort of like if someone was still in school with that name, he wouldn't be having that easy of a time.

A wrestler's name plays a major role in image. Would Randy Orton's character be more or less a badass (as many fans of his make him out to be) if his ring name was something like...I don't know, Dean Rosenblatt? Imagine his theme music hitting and you see him just marching down to the ring and in the background you hear Lilian's voice announcing "Dean Rosenblatt!" It's a name that can't be taken seriously and it's the same as Dolph Ziggler.

The first time my mom saw him and asked what's his name and when I replied to her, she couldn't help but laugh. Same for my siblings, because when they heard his name, they giggled it up and one of them said out loud, "That's a stupid name!"

Hey, that should be a rule: If someone's name makes people giggle, they shouldn't be promoted until they or management changes it.

Anyway, point is that his name is something that people can't and won't take seriously. With wrestling already getting a rep of it being silly, last thing needed is someone who's the face of the company or representing the company, and their name is something people scoff at.

His Gimmick

This is actually related to the "he can't get over" point in Part One.

As stated in first article, he has a tough time trying to get a major reaction by himself. I also said it'd be easier to have the mic skills, but he doesn't have that so what's one good way of connecting to the crowd? Having a gimmick that can do the job.

Look at Brodus Clay: I'm not sure how he is on the mic (barely heard him talk at all) but since he became "The Funkasaurus" he gets a positive pop everytime his music hits. Why? It's apparently a gimmick people enjoy to see. They get a kick out of him, which makes people want to see him succeed. Or look at Wade Barrett and the Nexus. Wade was a leader of a ruthless group that brought destruction with them, and it was enough for people to want to see him and the group fail against John Cena.

Unfortunately for Dolph, he can't get over with his personas. His first one was just this cocky guy introducing himself to everyone....m'kay. After that he evolved into the typical, cocky...well, his old intro to his theme said it best. "I AM PERFECTION!" So yeah, I guess he was trying to a "Mr. Perfect-esque" character.

Now his latest person is him being a "show off." Doing random stuff like push-ups and ab-crunches during matches, but will also do things that borderlines on the unnecessary like headstands. He'll call himself a showoff, and Vickie and Cole will join in on the nickname, but then he'll contradiction himself by saying "It's not showing off if you're good at it!" or "back it up!" of whatever, meaning he's not a showoff but at the same time he is because he claims to back it up despite the fact that he hasn't been put over since the Raw before the Rumble last month, so...he makes my brain hurt.

Whatever. Anyway, what he's doing is really no different that before except it made him slightly more annoying as a character, but that's about it.

At best, his personas only ever gotten him a typical midcard-heel reaction.

FINAL THOUGHTS
I might do a part three if I can think of enough reasons to fill out an article. Until then, what I've written already is good enough. As stated, outside being an okayish in-ring performer, sans the overselling, he really has no redeeming qualities. You just can't take him seriously as someone who could represent the company the same way Cena, Jericho, Miz, etc. does.

P.S. Here's the link to Part One: http://bit.ly/wLHw32

I am considering legally changing my real name to Dean Rosenblatt.

I agree.

Another example is imagine Shawn Michaels being announced as Michael Hickenbottom.

Dwwwwaaaaayyyynnnneeeee JOHNsonnnnnnnnn............

Personally I don't think the name makes too much of a difference, it's because of his comic-esque character (whether he means to or not) that the name can't be taken seriously. Look at Triple H. Personally that names pretty stupid, but where he's a badass, the name has been associated to something strong, it carries a bit of weight with it. Sheamus is the same (for me anyway) because that name was what I used to call a stuffed toy after a dog over the local park when I was 5. But his menacing persona changed my perception on the name. That the problem with Dolph, if he was a bit more menacing then his name wouldn't matter. I do however acknowledge that Michael Hickenbottom would be a poor name regardless.

Another question I'll pose to you. Is Santino Marella really a serious name to have as your face of the company? I only pose this man because lots of people on this board are saying how well he could do in the main event with a few more tweaks (myself being one of them). Yet at the moment his name seems like a joke because his whole character can't be taken seriously. Dolph is the same in my eyes.

Secondly, his gimmick. I disagree with your points (some of which you made in the first part as well). Since his "show off" gimmick has started, he's been getting a lot of reaction from the crowd, especially mid match. It gets him heat without actually doing any heel tactics. I understand your point about how it's contradicting when he says he doesn't show off, but that's still his arrogant side shining through, because it's saying it's just what he does anyway.

Don't get me wrong, this isn't me trying to claim he is main event talent, because he's not. I just think that this second part of the article is a bit more of a bash at the man for the sake of getting some more support as appose to a well informed, well thought about article like your first part was.

This article was written just because I felt that my first one wasn't good enough on it's own to explain why Dolph doesn't have a great chance at superstardom. The ones I listed in this article are supplemental, as in that he already has some not-so-good qualities about him and these minor reasons definitely don't help, maybe even making it harder for him. I don't hate Dolph and I didn't bash him and if I did to you and to others, I'm sorry. I just felt that these minor reasons needed to be addressed.