Dolph Ziggler Losing The Intercontinental Title Is Important
By Nicholas A. Marsico
@nickmarsico
Dolph Ziggler – WWE Universe Facebook
Everybody has been talking about how much the mid-card titles have been devalued and how that can be remedied. Another major topic for discussion has been the vast misuse of Dolph Ziggler, a perennial fan favorite. Over the past few months, Ziggler has been getting the sustained push that people have been very vocally calling for, including winning the Intercontinental Championship and — imagine this — actually defending it.
Ziggler lost the title this Monday on Raw to Luke Harper, who looks to be headed toward being the singles wrestler that many people have been calling for him to become. Some people are surely going to start crying foul and declaring this the beginning of the end for Ziggler, but that could not be farther from the truth.
He took a three-on-one beatdown from Seth Rollins and his lackeys and followed up with a very gutsy performance before finally succumbing to the newest member of The Authority. He needed to be attacked before defending the title in order to be defeated for it, and it happened at the hands of the team he is bravely battling at Survivor Series this Sunday.
That still doesn’t explain why his loss is a good thing or how it is important. While it may not turn out to be an important event in the life of the Intercontinental title, it is definitely very meaningful to the career of Mr. Ziggler. His loss on Monday will lead to him chasing the title, likely with many obstacles thrown in his path before he is finally able to take the monster down and reclaim what is rightfully his. It will be an ongoing story arc for Dolph, which is a luxury that very few people get these days.
The WWE crowds will get behind him even stronger and when that three count happens and he takes the belt back, the reaction may rival him cashing in the Money in the Bank contract the night after WrestleMania XXIX.
That’s just being optimistic though, and I am still a realist at heart. Do I truly believe that a Ziggler title chase and big victory can happen? I certainly do. Do I think it really will? Maybe.
I’m undecided, but recent history is beginning to make me a bit of a believer again. They haven’t messed up with Rusev yet, and while I continue to advocate for a Sheamus heel turn and I’ve been wrong every time, I feel that the turn is coming this time. He will turn on Team Cena and join The Authority on Sunday, but that’s another story altogether.
Nicholas A. Marsico is a pro wrestling writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
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