Dolph Ziggler = HBK?

[Wrestlefan27]

Chris Cash's editorial is pretty thought provoking, regardless of whether you share the opinion that Ziggler has the potential to become another HBK.

It made me think about what similarities the two performers share and it made me question exactly when Shawn Michaels began to change into the legend, the greatest in-ring performer of all time.

Michaels started his singles career as the classic arrogant, vain, pretty boy heel. Ziggler did the same. The thing is, this gimmick is old and played out. It was when HBK was saddled with it.

So what does someone using this gimmick have to do to distinguish himself from all the others that came before? What was it that allowed HBK to become the "show stopper", the "main event", and "Mr. Wrestlemania"?

Is it consistent promo work? Consistent five star matches? Being part of a great stable with excellent foils? All of the above? Does Ziggler have the potential for any or all of these things?

At what point in the career of Shawn Michaels did he cease to be just another cocky heel and start to become the legend we all know and love today? When did he catch fire and take off?

I would argue that his ladder match with Scott Hall (Razor Ramon) was the catalyst. What do you think?

Looking back at the career of HBK, I think that he was involved in so many amazing "firsts" in the industry. I don't know if that kind of thing can be followed, because today's wrestling fan has pretty much seen it all. What kind of match could they possibly come up with that would be fresh and exciting without feeling laughable or overly contrived?

So, bearing all this in mind, is it fair to make the comparison between Ziggler and HBK? Does Ziggler have the potential to cease being just another cocky, pretty boy heel and become something as big as HBK? What do you think it takes?

[Detroitsandman]

The thing is you can say Ziggler is just another cocky pretty boy heel but the difference is that he is doing it his way. Everybody in the WWE could use the same gimmick but if they each do it their way then itll be new to us. WWE is bound to do some of the same stuff over again. Just like the Shield is just a smaller Nexus in disguise. Ziggler will be the new "HBK" persay but he will do it the Ziggler way or the Nick Namath way. Ziggler has brought the Art Of Wrestling back to wrestling. What Ziggler does in the ring is ART. Ziggler is his own man, and i dont like compairing wrestlers or sports athletes but yes Ziggler is kinda like the next Shawn Michaels.

[Wrestlefan27]

Can you please elaborate on your statement that Dolph is "doing it his way"? That's exactly what I'm looking for everyone to think and talk about. What IS his way? What is it that makes him different? It is exactly as you say, each person is doing it differently than before, and I'm looking for an analysis of what they are doing to distinguish themselves and set themselves apart. Can you be more specific?

[Jack-Hammer]

There have been comparisons to Ziggler with wrestlers like HBK and Curt Hennig for a couple of years now. Me personally, I never really put much stock in the so & so is the next Shawn Michaels or the next Bret Hart or the next Brock Lesnar or whatever. From the start, it almost sounds like it's setting the wrestlers up to fail because, and this is especially true among internet fans, NOBODY can equal their wrestling heroes they watched growing up.

I don't personally care who the next HBK is or whatever. I guess that's one reason why I've continued to enjoy pro wrestling over the years. Most of the time, I don't try to compare wrestlers now to wrestlers I liked when I was growing up. Even when I sometimes do, I do my best not to let nostalgia get in the way because, all in all, there are a good number of guys on the WWE roster right now that, in many ways, are light years ahead of where some of my favorites growing up were.

Dolph Ziggler is someone that has a bright future. People have been saying that for a long while now but it's become more and more obvious in the past month or so since his split from Vickie Guerrero. Ziggler has long since demonstrated that he's one of the top guys in the ring in any company and he's been doing quite well on the mic as of late especially. If Ziggler is to become "the next HBK" or whatever, then he's certainly headed in the right direction.

[OneLoneSapper]

I don't see it, I really don't. I can see where the comparisons started, but at this point the comparisons are smaller and less legitimate.

Both started as tag teams/stables. HBK with Janetti and Ziggler with the Spirit Squad. Both rose above those humble beginnings to become legitimate singles stars with the help of a female manager. Sherri Martel in the case of Shawn, and Vicki Guerrero with Dolph.

Here is where things start to change in the comparison though. Shawn leaves Sherri because they want to prove that he can do it by himself. The powers that be felt he could get over by himself. In Dolph's case though, they simply replaced Vicki with AJ. It shows a certain lack in faith that Dolph is capable of getting over on his own.

You can say that Shawn had Diesel as a bodyguard and maybe that is the direction Dolph is going with Big E, but the way it is being spinned right now it is AJ who is doing all of the thinking. It looks like she brought in Big E, not Dolph.

Shawn went on to form DX with Hunter, Chyna and Rick Rude. The jury is still out on what Dolph will do as far as that goes. Right now though, it doesn't look like Dolph can do it on his own, it's always the woman he is with that does things to get him his opportunities he gets. Is he capable, maybe. But untill he is on his own, who knows.

[uvx]

Comparing Dolph to HBK can also be a bad thing.
People will set their expectations far too high if he is compared to someone of the calibre of Shawn Michaels.
Dolph and HBK have similarities such as the pretty boy who make everyone in the ring look amazing. But Ziggler has a long way to go to match up to HBK.

[WWEcreatist]

I agree with jack-Hammer he hit the nail on the head there (sorry had to).

Our favorite wrestlers while growing up are what allow us to form an opinion on who is awesome and what type of wrestling style we lean towards.
Undertaker's agility mixed with the fact that he is a Brawler
Ultimate Warrior's size and strength
HBK's speed and stamina

Before JoMo got "Future Endeavored" I thought that he was going to be the next HBK until i realized his mic skills weren't so hot.

But Dolph Ziggler has taken the whole cocky and arrogant heel aspect and worked it in his favor. The only thing is while you can compare wrestlers there will always be someone that may come along that you may feel is more like one past wrestler than
another.

He maybe on to something though because he absolutely has a bright future the business.

[kingk12]

Dolph Ziggler is similar to HBK, but two different superstars, two different eras. Dolph is going to surpass Shawn for one reason...The Internet (Twitter). If Twitter were around when Shawn was in his prime who knows, he would have been a bigger name than he already is. I think Ziggler's interaction with the fans is one of the things that distinguishes him from Shawn. Another difference between Shawn and Ziggler is that Ziggler is real, Shawn was a character, Ziggler is a showoff and thats his personality.

Also, I know there are a lot of comparisons that Ziggler is like Billy Gunn. I believe that John Morrison is the new Billy Gunn. He is an excellent tag wrestler, but just doesn't have the mic skills or "it factor" to make it as a superstar.

[JGlass]

Originally Posted by Detroitsandman

The thing is you can say Ziggler is just another cocky pretty boy heel but the difference is that he is doing it his way. Everybody in the WWE could use the same gimmick but if they each do it their way then itll be new to us. WWE is bound to do some of the same stuff over again. Just like the Shield is just a smaller Nexus in disguise. Ziggler will be the new "HBK" persay but he will do it the Ziggler way or the Nick Namath way. Ziggler has brought the Art Of Wrestling back to wrestling. What Ziggler does in the ring is ART. Ziggler is his own man, and i dont like compairing wrestlers or sports athletes but yes Ziggler is kinda like the next Shawn Michaels.

This is so crazy, but after my morning coffee I took a dump that looked JUST LIKE this post. That's where the similarities end, though, as my post was only half as malodorous as this piece of shit.

How exactly is Ziggler doing anything "his own way," and how have you reached this conclusion? Isn't his entire gimmick pretty much a ripoff of Mr. Perfect, from his hair to his showing off to his constant bragging about being the best? And even if you could convince me (you never could, so don't try) that Ziggler's character is original from the hundreds of cocky heels that preceded him, how do you know that this character is his design? Do you really think that Ziggler, a guy who has been jerked around by the WWE for his entire career, is the one calling the shots when it comes to the creative direction of his character, a privilege reserved for the John Cenas and Undertakers of the WWE? He's not. Everything he does has been carefully scripted and rehearsed, and much like matches, he still manages to consistently fuck up.

Comparing Dolph Ziggler to HBK is ridiuclous. HBK was a douche that could put on a great show. Dolph Ziggler is a douche.

[Loveless]

At the moment I'd say Ziggler is pre Wrestlemania X HBK. He has the attitude, the bodyguard, the in-ring talent. What he's lacking is the classic match on his resume, the credibility as a main-eventer and the influence and inventiveness that allowed Shawn to always book an interesting end to his matches.
Watching him in the last couple of weeks, he's clearly now started to turn the corner but there's a big problem. There's no popular face for him to dethrone and with Wrestlemania season starting at the Rumble, there is a big risk he is about to get lost in the shadow of Rock, Brock, Taker, HHH etc. That would be a real shame if his first legitimate title reign ended up being forgotten.