Dolph Ziggler is the kind of guy that makes other guys clutch their girlfriends a little closer. Not that that would help—the guy is slimier than his slicked-back blond hair.
An accomplished amateur wrestler, Ziggler set school records for wins at St. Edward’s High School in Ohio, and again at Kent State University before parlaying his skills into a WWE contract. In 2008, this braggart first introduced himself to the WWE Universe by gladhanding every Superstar on Raw. Successfully introduced to just about everyone on the roster, Ziggler really made a name for himself following the 2009 Draft and moving to SmackDown, where he perfected his unctuous image and proved his mettle in high-profile contests against the likes of Rey Mysterio and John Morrison. In 2010, he defeated Kofi Kingston for his first big win, the Intercontinental Championship with shrill girlfriend turned “business associate” Vickie Guerrero attached to his side.
In 2011, Ziggler broke into WWE’s upper echelon during a string of contests against Edge, in a rivalry that netted Ziggler a controversial, and short-lived, World Heavyweight Championship. It lasted less than 12 minutes. From there, he returned to Raw in the 2011 Draft, ultimately capturing the U.S. Championship from longtime rival Kofi Kingston at WWE Capitol Punishment, then successfully defended his prize for six long months. His edge-of-your-seat matches with the squared circle’s elite – such as Randy Orton, Daniel Bryan and CM Punk – lend credence to this blond showoff who the WWE Universe loves to see in action, even if they end up cheering against him.
Whether he’s holding gold, or chasing it, Ziggler is heartily drinking of his own Kool Aid. There’s no limit to his arrogance, no filter to his condescension, and no ceiling to his talent. He’s good, he knows it, and unfortunately, he wants you to know it, too.