5 things Dolph Ziggler can do to save his WWE career
October 31, 2017, was the last day when Dolph Ziggler competed in a match on WWE TV, and could possibly be the last. Ziggler lost a 2-out of-3 falls match to "The Glorious" Bobby Roode, a match that earned Roode a spot on SmackDown's 5-man Survivor Series Team, and may have spelt the end for Ziggler's WWE career.
Nick Nemeth aka Dolph Ziggler is the record holder for most career wins in Kent State wrestling history and has had a career full of ups and downs in WWE. Once looked at as the next Shawn Michaels, Ziggler had all the talent and potential in the world, but there was no backing from the WWE higher-ups.
He debuted in WWE in 2004 as Kerwin White's caddy, was re-packaged as a male cheerleader, and finally worked his way up to being Vickie Guerrero's boy toy where he was literally handed the World Heavyweight Championship in 2011.
Stop-start pushes and 50-50 booking has been the detriment to Ziggler's career. It is impossible to get invested in Ziggler now, because you know if he wins one PPV match, he will lose the next, if he is on a hot streak this month, he'll be on a cold streak for the next three months. How can Ziggler salvage his career if fans are almost scared to start rooting for him again, knowing that the rug will always be pulled out from underneath him?
#5 Join NXT
When rumours of the WWE shake-up began making rounds, it was speculated that Dolph Ziggler and some other main roster superstars could be sent down to NXT. Happening after WrestleMania 33, the shake-up was largely underwhelming. Raw and SmackDown Live traded mid card titles and a few superstars, and a few NXT superstars were promoted.
Ziggler was not moved, he stayed on SmackDown Live. NXT has proven time and time again that it is more than developmental stomping grounds, it is WWE's third brand. The NXT universe would love to see Ziggler competing at Full Sail, and him being on the NXT roster would've provided a plethora of new opponents for The Show Off.
Plus, Ziggler getting traded for Aleister Black, some of whom consider the next CM Punk, would be a great way for something fresh on the main roster and NXT.
Ziggler doesn't have to compete for the NXT Championship, he just has to put on good matches and work out a new gimmick. A repackaged Ziggler could then make a triumphant return to the main roster.