Dolph Ziggler Discusses Championship Titles, Being a Heel & More
IGN recently spoke with Dolph Ziggler. Here are some highlights from the interview.
If he's still a heel: "Hilariously, the hottest question going in all my interviews as of late is whether or not I'm going to change it. It's too funny. I think – and because it's Twitter, which I also love to talk about – that in this day and age is that the reason I put �heel' in there is to let everyone know that I'm a jerk. So they get it. And so if they're going to start getting behind it like they have been, slowly, for about two years now, let �em. I'm still going to be a heel. I'm still going to be me. I'm not going to be one of those guys who changes and all of a sudden I'm shaking hands and kissing babies. I'm going to go out there and be the jerk that I am, but be entertaining while I do it. So I'm staying heel. As far as I know."
How an AJ vs. Ziggler match would go: "It would be incredible. If this was a different day and age where the Divas were allowed to step into the ring with the Superstars. Man, I would find a way to make that so entertaining one way or another. I bet it would even wind up being people's favorite match of the show. You know, in that category. But it is the time we live in now, so it's not happening like that. But we do have a lot of animosity for each other so at least I can try and take it out on Big E. Even though he's so strong and anything I do to anybody usually has little to no effect. Oh man, but me vs. AJ. That's…and then Kaitlyn goes to spear her but she moves out of the way and I get speared. That would be so great. Anyway, I think me being able to take out some measure of revenge on Big E. and Kaitlyn to be able to get back at AJ – somehow, the four of us all want a piece of the other one. And at least it puts us on this awesome card on this awesome show. As a part of the "Biggest Part of the Summer," in LA, in front of a sold out Staples Center. And people coming from all over the world to check it out. I'm excited just to be on this loaded card and be able to have a match."
Is the World Heavyweight Title now like the Intercontinental Title was decades ago: "You know what, I can see that. I can see that argument. The thing is, in the WWE, we have the WWE title, the World title, the United States title, the Intercontinental title, the Divas title, the Tag Team titles. And I feel like, in this business, when Mr. Perfect had that Intercontinental title, that was the belt we saw as the stepping stone to becoming "the man." The franchise of the WWE. I think in this day and age, I see the United States title as the steeping stone to the World title. And you see the World title is just – just – a notch below saying "This guy, he's going to have a chance to be WWE Champion. And be the face of the company." That's how I see it. That might not be exactly the way it goes, but it is a little bit of a "workhorse" championship title. But I pride myself on being a workhorse. And I pride myself on being able to go out there with anybody, and if we're given 30 minutes, it'll be the best 30 minutes you saw. Having that title around my waist, two times now, with zero positive defenses, literally keeps me awake at night. I literally do not sleep because of that. Two times now. Zero defenses."