Headed into WWE No Mercy, rumours were rampant about Smackdown superstar Dolph Ziggler potentially retiring after his Title vs. Career match with long-term rival The Miz. There were reports that Ziggler would pursue a career in stand-up comedy (and Hollywood), or that he was set for a backstage role.
The rumours turned out to be just that—rumors—as Dolph Ziggler was victorious against The Miz at No Mercy in a match many said should have gone on at least over Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt. Ziggler obviously agreed, sharing that same sentiment with Smackdown General Manager Daniel Bryan during the post-PPV edition of Talking Smack.
Now that Ziggler holds the WWE Intercontinental Championship for a fifth time, tying him with the likes of Triple H, Edge, The Miz and more. This is still far short of Chris Jericho, who held the title a record nine times. Jeff Jarrett and Rob Van Dam also have six reigns to boast.
But with Ziggler now set to remain with the WWE, what’s next for the Intercontinental Champion? While the answer is likely not a defence in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, there are five great options for Ziggler and his newly regained championship.
#5 – Rematch With The Miz
The easiest and most obvious answer, The Miz is going to have a rematch clause to enact, something that could happen as soon as Tuesday’s live Smackdown airing.
We could even see Daniel Bryan set this up as Smackdown’s main event, considering the comments made by the new champion on Talking Smack.
Whichever way you slice it, it makes perfect sense for The Miz to challenge, and he and Dolph Ziggler have already proven to be a great pairing. So “if” isn’t a question here, but “how” and “how many times” it will happen. Do they battle in a blowoff match, or is that saved for December’s TLC pay-per-view?
#4 – A Returning Kalisto
It was revealed in September that two-time United States Champion Kalisto was dealing with a back injury. He was injured in a Triple Threat Match with Baron Corbin and Apollo Crews in early August. While we don’t know the extent of his injury, the potential for a Dolph Ziggler-Kalisto program can’t be ignored.
In an era where the WWE has moved away from face/heel alignment, a competitive rivalry between Kalisto and Ziggler could be very entertaining. Both men are very exciting to watch in the ring and would be able to build a feud upon great matches over a set period of time.
It’s a simple story to tell, but if the plan is to have the Intercontinental Championship around Dolph Ziggler’s waist for any length of time, Kalisto would be a great option along the way.
#3 – Samoa Joe
As Samoa Joe is currently building his legacy-defining rivalry with Shinsuke Nakamura in NXT, a move up to the main roster can’t ever be out of the question for the Huntington Beach native.
We all know that Dolph Ziggler is a selling machine, and Joe has proven he can believably work with men smaller than him. This feud would be a great way to introduce the former NXT Champion to the main roster, and their matches would be fresh.
Samoa Joe vs. Dolph Ziggler has money written all over it, and regardless of the outcome, it could easily benefit both men.
#2 – John Cena
John Cena suffered another defeat at the hands of AJ Styles, this time with the involvement of a steel chair. Dena Ambrose didn’t take the fall, and a one-on-one rematch for Ambrose seems like a logical decision.
From there, it’d be easy to put Ziggler against Cena, just so long as “big match John” is used to further elevate the former two-time world champ.
Another highly entertaining mix of styles, John Cena vs. Dolph Ziggler has the potential to steal any show it’s featured on. It could be a great match for Survivor Series in November or December’s WWE Tables, Ladders & Chairs event.
#1 – Sami Zayn
Dolph Ziggler and Sami Zayn have crossed paths before, but never on a grand stage for a WWE championship. While Zayn is currently assigned to the Raw brand, an event like Survivor Series, the Royal Rumble or even WrestleMania could provide the right reason for these two to go one-on-one.
And there’s reason to believe it would be a great match. Both take a good beating and exhibit some of the best-selling in the company. But they can dish out the punishment as well. And each has a flair for the dramatic, with examples too numerous to recite.
That’s why Sami Zayn is my #1 potential opponent for Dolph Ziggler. Both men can tell a story in the ring, the match would be great, and you can’t go wrong with the result.
Sign me up.
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