Is WWE trying to re-create HBK with Dolph?

[HellBoundPower]

I can see a slight similarity because of height, weight, build, and parts of his persona. But I don't see too much in common with them. While Dolph might emulate HBK in a way, I don't think they're too much alike. I think Dolph is his own man, and doesn't need to be compared to someone else to get it done in the ring. The parallels are there, but it's not much. I think that Dolph will have a pretty good career, but I don't think it will rival that of Shawn Michaels.

[scottyshowman82]

I'm kind of torn with Ziggler. Are there obvious similarities between him and Shawn Michaels absolutely. He's a cross between HBK and Mr. Perfect if I ever saw one. I do think though it would be totally unfair to label him simply as a copycat because he is so talented with the way he pulls off moves, and is a great technical talent. I do like people who try to be original though that is very hard is all forms of art these days, Ziggler did take the risk and dye his hair black to do something original but everyone me included just wanted him to go back to the flashy blonde character he was.

At the end of the day I do think Ziggler wants to be remembered as an individual and not a HBK wannabe, though some would look at HBK and as Ric Flair wannabe. I think at the end of the day when someone is trying to grow and make their mark they do have to borrow things from people they respect and admire but ultimately become their own person. I think Ziggler is doing that moving from "perfection" to "Show off" and though he should channel his inner HBK to attain greatness he should also channel what makes him unique as a performer to attain ultimate superstar recognition.

[wrestlingfan]

WWE were trying to recreate HBK with Morrison. The look, the ring attire, the high-flying skills. Hell they even allowed him to superkick HBK.

Other than that, I don't have a problem with new stars basing themselves on stars from the past. With how long wrestling's been out its completely impossible to have your gimmick be 100% original. Ultimately they should try to be their own man (A perfect performer is 50% of the past & 50% of themselves) but there's elements of the past they could use in their own gimick. Guys like HBK & HHH learned alot from Flair.

[flawd101]

I don't think they are trying to. Ziggler just has a similar attitude. the way he sells moves. i just think he has "it". all the greats do. he just needs that spark, that moment that pushes him over the top. you can always compare people, but i never got the sense that he was ripping off HBK.

[Trance Metaphor]

I wouldn't say they're recreating HBK with Dolph Ziggler. They're both their own. Completely different. The only thing they share in common is their selling. Dolph has the look of Mr. Perfect with moves of Billy Gunn. If the WWE was recreating HBK with Dolph Ziggler though, it's not a good impression. HBK's matches usually last for quite a while and throw predictability out the window big-time. Just when you think he's gonna lose, he somehow pulls off a victory. There's so much endurance displayed in HBK. I don't see that in Ziggler. Yes, Ziggler has had a few victories here and there that have shown that unpredictable endurance, but not enough to assess as HBK-ish. Then there are the accomplishments. Shawn Michaels won two Royal Rumbles in a row. He won three WWE Championships with two of them being against a headstrong rival (Bret Hart). He has also had a slew of 'Match of the Year' wins. Dolph Ziggler has yet to win a Royal Rumble match or an eventful match of that calibre. For me, MitB is only secondary. Dolph's first World title win was hardly memorable since he was "awarded" the title. But, the biggest problem? He doesn't have that rival to win the World title off of. Dolph has yet to have a 'Match of the Year' under his belt. Shawn Michaels has also been in a lot of high profile matches against high profile wrestlers. He's beaten just about everyone minus Stone Cold Steve Austin. Dolph Ziggler has beaten John Cena and Randy Orton as his main two. It's just not enough. However, he has many years left in him, so he might get his own distinctions in the future. I'm just saying that right now the similarities are very minimal. Dolph is probably the best seller in the WWE right now and he's entertaining as hell, but HBK is on a different level. It's spectacular.

[DiamondStudd]

Originally Posted by Trance Metaphor

I wouldn't say they're recreating HBK with Dolph Ziggler. They're both their own. Completely different. The only thing they share in common is their selling. Dolph has the look of Mr. Perfect with moves of Billy Gunn. If the WWE was recreating HBK with Dolph Ziggler though, it's not a good impression. HBK's matches usually last for quite a while and throw predictability out the window big-time. Just when you think he's gonna lose, he somehow pulls off a victory. There's so much endurance displayed in HBK. I don't see that in Ziggler. Yes, Ziggler has had a few victories here and there that have shown that unpredictable endurance, but not enough to assess as HBK-ish. Then there are the accomplishments. Shawn Michaels won two Royal Rumbles in a row. He won three WWE Championships with two of them being against a headstrong rival (Bret Hart). He has also had a slew of 'Match of the Year' wins. Dolph Ziggler has yet to win a Royal Rumble match or an eventful match of that calibre. For me, MitB is only secondary. Dolph's first World title win was hardly memorable since he was "awarded" the title. But, the biggest problem? He doesn't have that rival to win the World title off of. Dolph has yet to have a 'Match of the Year' under his belt. Shawn Michaels has also been in a lot of high profile matches against high profile wrestlers. He's beaten just about everyone minus Stone Cold Steve Austin. Dolph Ziggler has beaten John Cena and Randy Orton as his main two. It's just not enough. However, he has many years left in him, so he might get his own distinctions in the future. I'm just saying that right now the similarities are very minimal. Dolph is probably the best seller in the WWE right now and he's entertaining as hell, but HBK is on a different level. It's spectacular.

I don't think anyone is arguing that Ziggler is at HBK's level right now. It took HBK five plus years to get to the top and reach those heights that you talked about. I do see some similarities, but to me the biggest difference is the "face" style charisma that HBK has. People loved that charisma and HBK was always better as a face, while to me its obvious that Ziggler is your prototypical heel.

[Moneyinc]

Originally Posted by DiamondStudd

I don't think anyone is arguing that Ziggler is at HBK's level right now. It took HBK five plus years to get to the top and reach those heights that you talked about. I do see some similarities, but to me the biggest difference is the "face" style charisma that HBK has. People loved that charisma and HBK was always better as a face, while to me its obvious that Ziggler is your prototypical heel.

Yea I was about the say the same thing. How many years has Dolph been on Raw? Shawn was with the Rockers about 4 years and then he was HBK heel for about 3 or 4 more? These are just guesses but you have to consider the grind it takes to get to the top in the business. Where Dolph is at now I would say he is ahead of schedule when comparing him to HBK. At the same time though HBK was electrifying Wrestlemanias with the Rockers to open cards so maybe Dolph isn't exactly "ahead of schedule."

Someone said it above. The way Dolph sells is very similar to HBK. Perfect and HBK used to sell the same way, and I am almost certain Dolph studies their tapes. Dolph has been using that Super Kick a lot lately so that is definitely another thing he has in common with HBK. I can just tell Dolph is a student of the old school which makes me very hopeful he is going to turn into a monster of a personality/wrestler in the upcoming years. Also have noticed recently that he sounds a little like Owen Hart on the mic which is pretty cool consider Owen Hart was one of the best Heels/personalities ever. I was always too young to realize it at the time.

[cstatus94]

Originally Posted by DiamondStudd

I don't think anyone is arguing that Ziggler is at HBK's level right now. It took HBK five plus years to get to the top and reach those heights that you talked about. I do see some similarities, but to me the biggest difference is the "face" style charisma that HBK has. People loved that charisma and HBK was always better as a face, while to me its obvious that Ziggler is your prototypical heel.

Your not going find any guys to even seemingly be approaching HBK level mainly because of John Cena. As long as people like Ziggler and Barret constantly loose to Cena there not going to get higher just Cena just gets pushed higher. The potential nest big things are not getting there push. Its going to be how Cena was in early in his Career. He fueded with Big names like Angle but not until he beat JBL was you saw what he could be.