History Awesome / DolphZiggler

* He makes his TNA debut at the end of ''Hard To Kill 2024'', superkicking newly-crowned TNA World Champion [[Wrestling/QuinnOjinnaka Moose]] and hitting him with a Zig-Zag (which is soon renamed the Danger Zone) as the crowd went nuts.

* Showing up in TNA at the end of ''Hard To Kill 2024'', superkicking newly-crowned TNA World Champion [[Wrestling/QuinnOjinnaka Moose]] and hitting him with a Zig-Zag (which soon becomes renamed the Danger Zone) as the crowd went nuts.

* He makes his NJPW debut at ''Wrestle Kingdom 18'' in attendance with his brother Ryan and gets into a brawl with the inaugural IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion David Finlay. He then makes his intentions clear backstage to challenge Finlay for said title.
* Showing up in TNA at the end of ''Hard To Kill 2024'', superkicking newly-crowned TNA World Champion [[Wrestling/QuinnOjinnaka Moose]] and hitting him with a Zig-Zag (which soon became renamed the Danger Zone) as the crowd went nuts.

* Showing up in TNA at the end of ''Hard To Kill 2024'', superkicking newly-crowned champion [[Wrestling/QuinnOjinnaka Moose]] and hitting him with a Zig-Zag as the crowd went nuts.

* His brief run in NXT in early 2022 where he feuded with young upstart Bron Breakker and actually WON the latter's NXT Championship, winning his first world title in nearly 9 years!

** Also, let's remember that after Triple H screwed [[Wrestling/BryanDanielson Daniel Bryan]] over at Summerslam '13 to get Randy Orton the WWE Championship, which kickstarted the Authority angle in the first place, Ziggler was one if not ''the'' first person to get interviewed for WWE.com about it and openly criticize Hunter's actions, saying outright that [[IKnewIt he never trusted Triple H's integrity as the man in control]]. This made Ziggler the next best guy to finish off the Authority and preserve the angle's BookEnds after Bryan and Orton themselves, who were both out of action at the time (Bryan due to legit injuries, Orton turning face and then being taken out by Rollins in kayfabe so he could go shoot a movie). And that statement is actually consistent with {{kayfabe}}, because the two month period between Dolph's face turn and Hunter's heel turn is the only time the two have been on the same side of the face-heel scale. He not only got to feel the final brunt of Triple H's tyranny, he got to put it to an end.

** Also, let's remember that after Triple H screwed Wrestling/DanielBryan over at Summerslam '13 to get Randy Orton the WWE Championship, which kickstarted the Authority angle in the first place, Ziggler was one if not ''the'' first person to get interviewed for WWE.com about it and openly criticize Hunter's actions, saying outright that [[IKnewIt he never trusted Triple H's integrity as the man in control]]. This made Ziggler the next best guy to finish off the Authority and preserve the angle's BookEnds after Bryan and Orton themselves, who were both out of action at the time (Bryan due to legit injuries, Orton turning face and then being taken out by Rollins in kayfabe so he could go shoot a movie). And that statement is actually consistent with {{kayfabe}}, because the two month period between Dolph's face turn and Hunter's heel turn is the only time the two have been on the same side of the face-heel scale. He not only got to feel the final brunt of Triple H's tyranny, he got to put it to an end.

** Hell, this whole '''feud''' has been a [=CMOA=] for Ziggler, mainly because it's been very high profile and Ziggler's gotten the chance to shine and show how far he's come, ''especially'' on the mic. Appropriately enough for a ladder match where his Money In The Bank briefcase is at stake, he seems to be channeling Wrestling/{{Edge}} a tiny bit in some of his promos recently.

* Wrestling/JimCornette has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZkVLi6bhJE high praise]] of Dolph when he battled the Miz for the umpteenth time on Raw, saying he was the closest modern wrestler we have to [[Wrestling/CurtHennig Mr. Perfect]] and he was able to get a good match even out of a "goofy-looking, frog-faced" RealityShow star. He ends by saying he didn't see one flaw in the match on Dolph's part when all is said and done and that Ziggler belongs in the main event picture.

** [[UpToEleven He 'won'.]] Albeit with help from AJ, but Dolph Ziggler just went over John ''freakin'' Cena in the main event. The rise and dominance of "the biggest star of 2013" has begun.

** Their rematch for the IC belt on Raw started out much like how the feud kicked off, with Ziggler getting ambushed before the bell, and Ziggler accepting to start out the match rather than walk away. Harper hit Dolph with ''everything'' in his arsenal, powerbombs, superkicks, big boots...Dolph ''[[{{Determinator}} would not stay down.]]'' Even when Dolph countered his [[FinishingMove Discus Clothesline]] with a superkick, Harper still hit it, the move that's put every opponent down...and Dolph ''still kicked out!'' Dolph would come back in tremendous fashion, hitting back-to-back superkicks and a Zig-Zag to pin LukeHarper clean and cap off his rise in the second half of 2014 in epic fashion.

* Most of his WWE app promos are gold. His WWE app interview following his loss to Wrestling/AntonioCesaro on the 1/31/14 episode of Smackdown is possibly the most heartfelt promo the man has ever cut.

* In one particular backstage segment November 19, 2012, Dolph Ziggler got to not only call the resident GirlNextDoor-turned-{{Yandere}} [[Wrestling/ChickBusters AJ Lee]] out on her erratic behaviors when she tried to berate him for attacking and injuring Wrestling/JohnCena, but when Cena tried to get involved Ziggler was able to beat him down, tackling him into a breakaway stall and then kicking at his injury to the point a referee and Titus O'Neil had to restrain Ziggler. To see one of the top {{ineffectual sympathetic villain}}s that many {{smart mark}}s feel the {{heel}}s of WWE have been turned into get over big time on two of the biggest {{face}}s perceived as DesignatedHero / JerkSue characters, the crazy chick and the golden boy, was honestly the highlight of the night for many fans and even won a few over who were a bit more indifferent towards Ziggler. To those who disliked AJ's onscreen character, this could also have been considered an awesome TakeThatScrappy to her.

*** [[UpToEleven He 'won'.]] Albeit with help from AJ, but Dolph Ziggler just went over John ''freakin'' Cena in the main event. The rise and dominance of "the biggest star of 2013" has begun.
*** I wouldn't even offer AJ's help as a caveat to distract from the awesome. From a kayfabe standpoint she's essentially proved him right no matter how the revelations play out.
*** This troper believes that this feud has turned into a bit of a subversion. The win Ziggler got with AJ's help? That's the only win he's gotten over Cena. So, it's a CMOA to be completely unable to defeat your adversary without the help of a girl about half your size? Made even worse by the fact that even with AJ and the newly-debuted [[ScaryBlackMan Big E Langston]] in his corner, he still can't get a win.
* He won the World Heavyweight Championship on the April 8th post-Wrestling/WrestleMania Raw!
** It's not only that, it's the way he won it and the place he won it. The crowd, which was absolutely electric and hot the entire night, went into the loudest pop heard since CM Punk won the WWE Title at Money in the Bank 2011. They were even chanting for him constantly during the previous match in which Alberto Del Rio got the injury that allowed Dolph Ziggler to cash in. For a man who has come from the lowest levels of the company and the worst gimmicks, constantly grinding year after year, multiple setbacks abound after many pushes, to finally reach the mountaintop with an utterly supportive and amazing crowd and two great friends beside him to celebrate his victory...he even said it himself. It may have been the night after Wrestlemania but this was his Wrestlemania moment. And keep in mind Ziggler was a ''heel''...
* At Elimnation Chamber 2013, in an impromptu match with Wrestling/KofiKingston, Ziggler takes a monkey flip which makes him do several rotations in the air.

* His WWE App interview following his loss to Wrestling/AntonioCesaro on the 1/31/14 episode of Smackdown. AKA possibly the most heartfelt promo the man has ever cut.
** Hell, most of his WWE app promos are gold.

** This cannot be overstated enough. Luke Harper, Kane, Seth Rollins and Rusev all laid a brutal beating on Dolph Ziggler, including multiple Finishing Moves. He was ''the designated RickyMorton in this match,'' i.e the smaller guy who gets beaten up for drama before barely tagging out to let his teammates avenge him. But he [[SubvertedTrope didn't do that.]] With a show of defiance and endurance to go through all that and come out on top, Dolph Ziggler showed himself to be a stand out Determinator even for the world of WWE.
*** To put this in perspective, all month, anyone who even thought of rejoining Team Cena was punished by The Authority, and Dolph had gotten the absolute worst of it. He was forced to fight Kane twice in one week, got put into constant title matches, having J&J security beat him up and Seth Rollins hit him with the Money In The Bank briefcase, lost his title to Luke Harper, and FINALLY was part of the brutal assault on Team Cena from The Authority. Not to mention what happened during the match, where he was indirectly responsible for the elimination of Rusev, by rolling out of the way from Rusev's table to table splash, and he was directly responsible for the elimination of 3 members of Team Authority.
*** Not to mention that those were the REMAINING three members, and Triple H tried everything in his short-lived power to stop him, including taking out the referees and hitting him with cheap shots while the ref's were KO'd. Let's just say if it weren't for Dolph, Team Cena would be saying goodbye to their careers.
*** Honestly, who else could get away with looking better then JOHN CENA?
*** Let's also remember he was the legal man when Rusev was counted out. He took the beating from Rusev and got into the ring to avoid the same count. Ziggler eliminated four, the final four, members of The Authority. Cena didn't land a single pinfall.

* May 18th, 2015: Dolph cuts a "bruised but not beaten" promo after his loss to Wrestling/{{Sheamus}} at ''Payback'' the night before. Dolph starts TemptingFate big time by claiming that he's ready for ''anything'' that comes his way........ cue ''Lana'' of all people coming out, making eyes at Dolph, and then [[BigDamnKiss kissing him.]] ''Twice.'' That subversion gets [[DoubleSubversion double subverted]] when Rusev comes out and kicks him to the ground, but then Lana slaps the taste out of Rusev's mouth, allowing Ziggler to hit him with the Zig-Zag, and then leave with Lana like a boss. That's right: Dolph Ziggler just '''''literally''''' [[ZigZaggingTrope zig-zagged]] the TemptingFate trope.

* He won the World Heavyweight Championship on the April 8th post-WrestleMania Raw!

* At Payback 2013, Ziggler, who had came back from a concussion, lost the title (to the cries of most of the IWC) against Wrestling/AlbertoDelRio (to the booing of most of the IWC) after getting hit in the head too many times, resulting in him barely able to stand. But that's only the beginning as not only was this Del Rio's heel turn due to targeting Ziggler's head, this, along with his gutsy performance, resulted in Ziggler turning face, the first direct FaceHeelDoubleTurn in WWE since ''WrestleMania 13'' (Same town and arena too-- the Allstate Arena in Chicago). So the next night, after Del Rio bailed out of a non title match against the also-recently-turned Wrestling/CMPunk, the newly '''babyface Ziggler''' made his presence known by ambushing Del Rio, enough to have security try to break them up.

** Also, let's remember that after Triple H screwed Daniel Bryan over at Summerslam '13 to get Randy Orton the WWE Championship, which kickstarted the Authority angle in the first place, Ziggler was one if not ''the'' first person to get interviewed for WWE.com about it and openly criticize Hunter's actions, saying outright that [[IKnewIt he never trusted Triple H's integrity as the man in control]]. This made Ziggler the next best guy to finish off the Authority and preserve the angle's BookEnds after Bryan and Orton themselves, who were both out of action at the time (Bryan due to legit injuries, Orton turning face and then being taken out by Rollins in kayfabe so he could go shoot a movie). And that statement is actually consistent with {{kayfabe}}, because the two month period between Dolph's face turn and Hunter's heel turn is the only time the two have been on the same side of the face-heel scale. He not only got to feel the final brunt of Triple H's tyranny, he got to put it to an end.

** It also helped tremendously that the stipulation started off from what could very well be [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9zXcQYR_eI the most passionate promo in Ziggler's life]], allowing him to go toe-to-toe on the mic with the Miz, one of the top promo guys on the company who just recently got praise for his Talking Smack promo against Daniel Bryan.

* Wrestling/JimCornette has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZkVLi6bhJE high praise]] of Dolph when he battled the Miz for the umpteenth time on Raw, saying he was the closest modern wrestler we have to [[Wrestling/CurtHennig Mr. Perfect]] and he was able to get a good match even out of a "goofy-looking, frog-faced" reality show star. He ends by saying he didn't see one flaw in the match on Dolph's part when all is said and done and that Ziggler belongs in the main event picture.

** It also helped that the stipulation started off from what could very well be [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9zXcQYR_eI the most passionate promo in Ziggler's life]], allowing him to go toe-to-toe on the mic with the Miz, one of the top promo guys on the company who just recently got praise for his Talking Smack promo against Daniel Bryan.

* Being the Sole Survivor during the Team Cena vs Team Authority by eliminating [[labelnote:80 percent of Team Authority]] Wrestling/{{Rusev}} (via Countout), Wrestling/LukeHarper, Wrestling/{{Kane}} and Wrestling/SethRollins[[/labelnote]] with some help from Wrestling/{{Sting}} - technically speaking. He had Rollins beat until TripleH [[ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem went off the rails a bit and started punching out refs to keep them from calling a three-count,]] [[VillainousBreakdown and it all went downhill from there.]] And keep in mind, this victory was after taking a brutal beating from Rusev.

* Wrestling/JimCornette has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZkVLi6bhJE high praise]] of Dolph when he battled the Miz for the umpteenth time on Raw, saying he was the closest modern wrestler we have to [[Wrestling/CurtHennig Mr. Perfect]] and he was able to get a good match even out of a "goofball" reality show star. He ends by saying he didn't see one flaw in the match on Dolph's part when all is said and done and that Ziggler belongs in the main event picture.

* Wrestling/JimCornette has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZkVLi6bhJE high praise]] of Dolph when he battled the Miz for the umpteenth time on Raw, saying he was the closest modern wrestler we have to [[Wrestling/CurtHennig Mr. Perfect]] and he was able to get a good match even out of the "goofball" reality show star. He ends by saying he didn't see one flaw in the match on Dolph's part when all is said and done and that Ziggler belongs in the main event picture.

* Wrestling/JimCornette has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZkVLi6bhJE high praise]] of Dolph when he battled the Miz for the umpteenth time on Raw, saying he was the closest modern wrestler we have to [[Wrestling/CurtHennig Mr. Perfect]] and he was able to get a good match out of the "goofball" reality show star. He ends by saying he didn't see one flaw in the match on Dolph's part when all is said and done and that Ziggler belongs in the main event picture.

* /Wrestling/JimCornette has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZkVLi6bhJE high praise]] of Dolph when he battled the Miz for the umpteenth time on Raw, saying he was the closest modern wrestler we have to [[Wrestling/CurtHennig Mr. Perfect]] and he was able to get a good match out of the "goofball" reality show star. He ends by saying he didn't see one flaw in the match on Dolph's part when all is said and done and that Ziggler belongs in the main event picture.

** Beyond the match, the two have done so much to revitalize the long-tarnished Intercontinental championship that many people truly felt that it was the most important championship at that time.

* '''No Mercy 2016'''. Ziggler put his career on the line against Wrestling/TheMiz in a Career vs Title match for the Miz's Intercontinental championship. At the time, Ziggler had been on a lengthy losing streak at pay-per-views for both title matches and non-title matches alike, and his contract was set to be expiring soon, so many fans expected this would indeed be Ziggler's final match. In an absolute barnburner of a match, Ziggler managed to overcome two Skull-Crushing Finales and interference from both {{Wrestling/Maryse}} and former Spirit Squad stablemates Kenny and Mikey to pin Miz with a Superkick and become Intercontinental champion for a 5th time.

* '''No Mercy 2016'''. Ziggler put his career on the line against Wrestling/TheMiz in a Career vs Title match for the Miz's Intercontinental championship. At the time, Ziggler had been on a lengthy losing streak at PPVs for both title matches and non-title matches alike, and his contract was set to be expiring soon, so many fans expected this would indeed be Ziggler's final match. In an absolute barnburner of a match, Ziggler managed to overcome two Skull-Crushing Finales and interference from both {{Wrestling/Maryse}} and former Spirit Squad stablemates Kenny and Mikey to pin Miz with a Superkick and become Intercontinental champion for a 5th time.