Is WWE trying to re-create HBK with Dolph?

[Rjw2688]

To begin I like Dolph. I like his ring work, I like his look, I don't think he is bad on the Mic. There has been comparisons of him with HBK, Mr. Perfect, Billy Gunn ect..

Lately I feel as though WWE is running with those comparisons and trying to re-create HBK through Dolph. Yes Dolph has been the show off for a while, and he "steals the show" while HBK was the show stopper.

I know Dolph used the super kick a while ago but it seems to me he is using it more often now then before.

Dolph with AJ reminds me a lot of HBK's playboy cocky gimmick.

Big E Langston another Big Daddy Cool Diesel. Why else throw a body guard on Dolph?

Coming into the Royal Rumble I thought to myself, wouldn't surprise me to have Dolph enter as number 1 and steal the show. Low and behold he "won" the right to choose either number 1 or 2, pretty sure he will be number 1. HBK's first Royal Rumble victory was from the 1 spot.

My questions are-

1. Do you think the WWE is trying to re-create HBK with Dolph or am I just over thinking the similarities.

2. Whats his chances come sunday at the royal rumble? Does him holding the Money in the Bank hurt his chances?

[Jack-Hammer]

There are some similarities between the two. In various ways, past stars are always an influence on new or current stars. HBK is someone that was known for being a great seller, so is Dolph Ziggler. HBK was known for being able to work with damn near anybody in the ring, so is Ziggler. HBK & Ziggler are both very athletic, can do mat based wrestling & can do the high flying stuff. They're roughly about the same size and weight, etc.

The bodyguard thing is also nothing new. We've seen wrestlers have a bodyguard or factions that have a wrestler that's the muscle or bruiser for decades.

I don't think they're trying to "rip off" HBK or anything, if that's what the OP is getting at. You simply can't do carbon copies of past stars. Some companies have kinda sorta flirted with doing that at various points with very limited success. They have somewhat similar heel personality types as being highly arrogant, though Ziggler has much less of the adolescent/frat boy aura that HBK had, especially during his days with DX.

As for what Ziggler's chances are, I suspect his chances are strong. I don't think he'll win the Rumble, wouldn't bother me at all if he did though. I see Ziggler as being one of the final 2 or 3 left in the ring. With Vickie essentially screwing him by telling him he gets to pick between #1 & #2, I think WWE is setting Ziggler up to have a memorable performance in the Rumble. Otherwise, they could've just stuck with the inferred idea of Ziggler getting to pick any number if he won the BTCC matches on Raw this Monday and had him draw #30. If Ziggler did win while still having MITB, it would add a great sense of unpredictability regarding Ziggler, what title he'd choose to go after and what it ultimately meant for the MITB briefcase.

[OhYeah!]

Shawn's first run as heel was basically only about him being cocky and its difficult for a heel to be taken seriously that way, in my opinion. I always liked the second run better, with him being more "intense", if you wanna use that word.

[ultramattman]

Here's a fun fact about Dolph - his favorite match ever is Shawn Michaels v. Tatanka, an IC title match that opened Wrestlemania IX. Shawn was a year into his 'Sexy Boy' HBK character, and beginning to open eyes as to what a great performer he was.

So it's no coincidence that there's a lot of Sexy Boy in the Show-Off. That's who Dolph's been emulating all along. And yes, I'd say the similarities with HBK are intentional. (although I don't think Michaels had Sensational Sherri and Diesel at the same time) After all, every wrestling storyline gets recycled eventually, and recycled again and recycled again.

Of course, it was ALL the various turns of Shawn's career (DX, return, late-career resurgence) that made HBK a legend. But put in WM9, watch that opening match, and tell me it doesn't look and feel a whole lot like Dolph does today.

As for the Rumble, I don't expect Dolph to win, but I DO expect him to hang around till near the end, turn in a memorable performance, and be one of the Rumble's signature storylines. Even before Vickie's swerve, I expected Dolph to choose #1 so that he could 'steal the show' at the Rumble. But it makes no sense for him to win when he already has the briefcase.

[boozinjedi]

IF they're gonna re-create HBK with Dolph..How do you craft a face turn?
Doplh might go far in the rumble if he has Big E in there with him,at least in the early parts...until another HUGE guy comes in..I could see Dolph literally behind Big E and and he'd be tossing smaller guys out left and right as they come in,doing that whole looking at wrist pretending it's a watch..UNTIL some other HUGE wrestler arrives,like Khali,Big Show or even more fitting..Mark Henry.

Taking the belt off of Big Show could be Ziggler's best chance yet...he could even cash it in at Rumble

It's gonna be interesting to see this

[Dr.]

There parallels are there, but as Jack-Hammer said, WWE "can't do carbon copies of past stars." A lot of modern Superstars have elements that seem to harken back to some Superstar of yore, but I wouldn't say that any of them are an attempt to "re-create." That said, if you're going to borrow, borrow from the best.

I don't give Dolph a big chance to win on Sunday, but I'm expecting him to have a great showing. Record breaking, perhaps. He's going to be one of the first men in, and I'd bet dollars to donuts that he's one of the last men out. Also, more so than in the recent past, I expect his impressive showing in the Rumble to really be harped on and crowed about in the coming weeks. There's a lot to look forward to at the Royal Rumble, but Dolph just might live up to his slogan and "steal the show."

[uvx]

Dolph has a HBK mentality and persona. He loves himself, very arrogant and calls himself the show-stealer/show off. The only comparisons I see with Mr Perfect and Billy Gunn are only their look.

[lowandmighty]

I still don't see the big deal about Dolph Ziggler. He's not growing on me at all. I usually change the channel if theres too much focus around him.
He's nothing like HBK. Honestly Dolph being the new HBK is one of the most bizarre ideas I've ever heard.

However a couple of people have actually agreed with this idea! when everyone else thinks something and you're the only one who doesn't it's supposed to mean you're insane. So I guess I'm the insane one. Either that or I'm normal and everyone else is insane but it doesn't matter because I'm outnumbered.
Just can't stand Ziggler to be honest. If he gets pushed any further it might be me no longer a fan of wwe.

[MCMG]

It's the super kick. Lets be honest. I doubt there is a single wrestling fan who didn't think HBK when they saw Ziggler using it. I see where you are coming from with Big E and AJ but loads of wrestlers in the past have had bodyguard or a girlfriend: it just happens. With regards to the Rumble, it is only strange if Ziggler wins and I can't see that happening.

John Morrison was compared to Michaels and many wrestlers of the present get compared to those in from the past. After a while, it is difficult to make someone new and completely different from what we have seen before.

[WrestlingSabermetrics]

There are elements of HBK in Ziggler, but I don't know. This kind of reminds me of when baseball players are compared to past stars because of height, build, swing or speed.

Dolph is unique and has a lot of positives. He's one of the best overall talents in the company, but we'll only know how much his career is like HBK's in about another 10 years, at the very least. I will say, however, that in 10 years time I think Ziggler will be known for having had the better mic skills during his career. I also think Dolph could make a great face. Don't think he'll have a good Sunday at the RR though.