If you are keeping score at home, advantage Dean Ambrose. After Tuesday night’s tag team match between the current WWE World Champion and Dolph Ziggler in a confrontation with Bray Wyatt and Erick Rowan, the Lunatic Fringe had the last laugh on his partner. It’s now a little over one week and counting until SummerSlam, and the two men wrestling for the company’s top prize are about as even as any two performers could be – with one caveat.
Ambrose holds a title Ziggler wants to help resurrect his career. Ziggler is in a precarious situation now that he is the number one contender to unseat the current champ. For everything the former world champion is himself, he is not a long-term solution for Smackdown Live moving forward. I personally love Ziggler as a “heart and soul” type character who should get more than he deserves, but has been a jobber and a mid-card success.
If Ziggler was part of any other promotion, he would be “the guy” hands down. Now, he stands in murky waters waiting to see if he sinks or swims next weekend. It’s almost unfair that Ziggler is placed in this situation, mainly because it is temporary. Had this been two years ago, I’d probably be writing a different piece and Ambrose wouldn’t be holding the company’s top title.
WWE also have indicated plans for having another star enter the World title picture.So, here are five reasons Ziggler cannot and will not win at SummerSlam.
The Draw
Vince McMahon’s biggest beef with wrestlers like Ziggler is they do not draw money for long periods of time. He said the same thing about Shawn Michaels before he became a household name and said the same thing about Daniel Bryan. Maybe that is how the “B+” comment from Stephanie McMahon came about.
With every champion, the need to make money is ever-present. Ziggler wasn’t a world champion for long because financially, it did not make sense. Ziggler does not sell merchandise like John Cena or Seth Rollins. In the end, everything is about dollars.
Ambrose is too popular
The fact Ambrose walked out of Money in the Bank with the title and then held onto it at Battleground speaks volumes of how the McMahons finally get it. Ambrose is a popular babyface and his persona resonates with the fan base.
Having him drop the title now, before a potential program with Bray Wyatt is foolish. The best thing WWE can do right now is to leave the belt on Ambrose and see what happens after the second biggest night on the company calendar. Ambrose and Wyatt or another WWE superstar is a lot more appealing to fans.
Bray Wyatt
Finally, the Eater of Worlds appears to be locked onto a potential title run. The rumors are Randy Orton is next on Wyatt’s hit list, but if the crowds react positively to a Wyatt-Ambrose feud, then why would WWE shy away from it?
There has been some talk about Kevin Owens moving to Smackdown Live and other superstars trading teams. But Wyatt’s only blemish on his resume is he does not have a title to speak of. If Wyatt is truly going to become the new “Undertaker” of sorts, he will have to own gold at some point.
A Temporary Solution
If Ziggler wins at SummerSlam, how long does he hold the title? How long before Ambrose wants a rematch and can the fans get behind him for a long title run? Also, taking the belt off Ambrose now does little validate the belt. WWE needs its champions to have long title runs, solidify the new brands and keep fans happy.
While I am a huge Ziggler fan, having him carrying gold is not appealing. The company would do much better to put a title back on Roman Reigns, as an example, and see what happens. It’s a sad commentary, but those are the cold, hard facts. Ziggler as champion does nothing to help Smackdown Live.
Another path to take
I think when the dust clears – as this is not a three-match dance – Ziggler finds himself in a program with another veteran, say John Cena. Ziggler is at his best when he is selling for his opponent. Cena may not have a dance partner after his feud with AJ Styles.
The idea of both of these guys “finding” each other makes all the sense in the world. And as I have said in other columns, wouldn’t it be nice to see Nikki Bella in the mix as part of the storyline?
