3 Reasons Why WWE Part Ways With Dolph Ziggler
On September 21st, WWE made an announcement that caught everyone’s attention: they let go of 18 of their superstars, and among them were 9 from the main roster. The most prominent name among those released was Dolph Ziggler, a wrestling legend who has held the World Championship twice, the Intercontinental Championship six times, the United States Championship twice, and has also been a tag team champion. Remarkably, he achieved a feat known as the Grand Slam, something not even John Cena accomplished.
Dolph Ziggler had been with WWE for nearly 20 years. He started his journey in 2004 under his real name, Nick Nemeth, as a solo wrestler in Ohio Valley Wrestling. Later, he transitioned to WWE’s RAW brand, initially serving as the caddy for Kerwin White (Chavo Guerrero). His career then took an interesting turn as he became part of the Spirit Squad stable on RAW.
However, the Spirit Squad eventually found themselves back in OVW after a memorable feud with DX on RAW. It was in 2008 that Nick Nemeth re-emerged as ‘Dolph Ziggler’ on the red brand.
His most successful phase came as Dolph Ziggler, where he captured the World Heavyweight Championship twice and the Intercontinental Championship six times. Ziggler also held the United States Championship and SmackDown Championship, and he proudly earned the distinction of being the 22nd Triple Crown Champion in WWE. His final title victory was the NXT Championship in 2022, which he secured during a feud with Bron Breakker.
Ziggler’s last match took place at a live event, ending in a double countout decision against JD McDonagh on May 29. His last televised match was in an Intercontinental Title #1 Contenders Battle Royal on RAW on May 15.
Dolph Ziggler is more than just a wrestler; he’s known for his charisma and showmanship. There’s speculation that he might continue his wrestling journey with AEW or elsewhere, but that’s not his only potential path.
Now, let’s delve into three key reasons why WWE parted ways with Dolph Ziggler:
3) Lack of Plans for Dolph Ziggler
The foremost reason for WWE’s decision to release the longtime veteran is their apparent lack of plans for him. It’s evident from the fact that his last match in WWE was on May 15, and it wasn’t even televised; it occurred at a house show or live event. This absence of plans for the charismatic Dolph Ziggler led to WWE making the tough decision to let him go.
2) He’s Over 40
WWE has been giving more attention to young talent in recent times, such as Austin Theory, Cora Jade, Dominik Mysterio, Roxanne Perez, Bron Breakker, and Nikkita Lyons, among others. This emphasis on youth is one of the main reasons why WWE rarely signs wrestlers over the age of 30 unless they are already extremely popular and beneficial for the company. So, in addition to the lack of plans, Ziggler’s age, being over 40, may have contributed to his release from the company.
1) Budget Constraints
Budget cuts have been a recurring reason cited by WWE when releasing high-profile talents. This essentially means that when they need to reduce expenses, they often release well-paid veteran wrestlers who may not have much going on in the company. Instead of releasing several lower-paid talents, WWE opts to let go of one big-money contract, citing budget constraints as the reason.
In summary, these are the three primary reasons behind Dolph Ziggler’s release from WWE. What are your thoughts on this matter? Feel free to share your opinions in the comments.
