Ziggler, Zig-zags, & Superkicks

[Max Headroom]

This is something that comes to my mind every time I see Ziggler, and even more-so when I see wrestlers throwing superkicks around like open-hand smacks (curse you, Usos).

I feel that a very important aspect of a wrestler is his finisher. A bad looking finisher, or one that can only be used on certain opponents, can often hinder a wrestler's ability to elevate up the card. This brings me to Dolph Ziggler immediately. At the moment, he has a finisher known as the "Zig-Zag" (he doesn't look like much of a stoner to me). He goes behind someone and kind of hauls them backwards to the ground, I guess. It's a very sloppy, hardly impressive looking move. A lot of the time they fall backwards out-of-sync, or Ziggler doesn't really get a good grasp on his opponents head, or whatever. Honestly, I'm hard-pressed to think of a worse finisher, when it comes to the current guys you generally see in the upper-midcard or above. I thing he *really* needs a new one, and should drop that move completely ASAP.

This is where the superkick comes in (curse you, Usos). It seems wrestlers these days throw that move around like it's no big deal now that HBK is retired. It's one thing that, as a wrestling fan, I cannot look past. The move is easily one of the most convincing K.O. moves in the business, and can be performed against any other opponent (unless they're vastly taller than you, or you're not very flexible). It should be a big deal anytime one connects, and an equally big deal if someone kicks out of one. Here's where mister kutcorners himself, Dolph Ziggler comes into play.

Dolph does tend to throw this move around quite frequently as well. That being said, he does throw a beautiful superkick. We can re-establish this move as a finisher, and Dolph's finisher at that, by doing two of the following:

1) Have him NEVER use the Zig-Zag ever again. And have him start winning his matches after *one* superkick. Have this continue for a while.

2) Tell the Usos (and others) to please stop using them as non-finishers. There is no need.

So, what say you? Agree/Disagree about my thoughts on superkicks? Have a different finisher for Dolph (figure-4, perhaps)? Think it should just stay the same?

 

[Pay Per Ghost]

Do you remember Micheals finisher before the superkick, it was a single handed back suplex. The thing is, it isnt the finisher that always sell it, its how the wrestler build it and react towards it. The persona demands something that suits the finisher and signature but look at Cena and that Fireman Carry Slam that he calls a fatality.

If the fans are invested, you could use the fingerpoke and still be on the marquee

 

[#1druid]

If you think about it Ziggler does a top rope x Factor, the famasser, and the super kick which all have been or are finishers (also all dx finishers but I digress), and all are more convincing finishers imo than the zig zag. It's odd that the same people who are going to kick out of dolph's famasser are going to go under to billy gunn when he makes an appearance using it. If it hadn't been so long I would agree that dolph's finisher should changer to either the super kick or famasser however since they've been signature moves so long I think he just needs a new finisher altogether but I agree with your point about finishers being protected at least current finishers. I think it's so weird that when I first started watching a ddt was a finisher and now a tornado ddt gets two counts but the best example I can think of is the spear. For big show who ways 400 pounds its a signature but for reigns "the next face of the company" it's his finisher which I think makes no sense.

 

[Soulblazed]

I agree that Ziggler should stop using the Zig Zag as a finisher..I don't care if he uses the move sparingly, but as a finisher, it just doesn't look convincing because it doesn't have the impact of a finisher, it doesn't fit his character and he could honestly use something far better..

I'm surprised that Ziggler hasn't been using the Top Rope Fame-asser(yea, Cena obviously uses it, but with Ziggler's "Showoff" gimmick, it'd make more sense that he should use it, especially to "show off" his athletic ability and end his match on a high note).

The Superkick is also another good finisher for him..He does have impact on his kick and it looks convincing..I also think that Ziggler should bring back the Sleeper..It adds versatility to his character. It shows the fans that he's able to choke an opponent out along with doing high-flying moves and technical wrestling.

 

[HBKistheHOF]

I respectfully disagree.

First off, I really like the Zig-Zag. He can hit it out of nowhere & on an opponent of any size. It's original, unique, innovative & I don't think Ziggler needs to change it.

As for superkicks, they're really not that special. Shawn Michaels is a whole different story as he performed "Sweet Chin Music", yes maybe it's just a superkick just with added theatrics but it really changes the move & makes a difference IMO. Which brings me to my next point, I always thought that it was kind of common wrestling logic that a guys finisher is his finisher partly because he supposedly (in a storyline/kayfabe sense) does that move better than anyone else. For example, the reason every superstar doesn't just start each match with a DDT & then goes for a pin is because they aren't Jake Roberts. It's not their finisher & it terms of their storyline/character they can't do the move the same way as Jake, but of course anytime Jake hits it he should get the three count even though the move is mostly considered a regular offensive move in this era.

So to me, Ziggler & The Usos just use the superkick as a signature move & it works for them as that. Sure maybe they could pick up a few more wins with it on TV or something to add a little more suspense to their arsenal but that could be said for just about every superstar & their move set.

 

[Radical]

I respectfully disagree on Ziggler and Usos getting rid of superkicks. I think they are good moves that are used as Signature moves that are played like they are powerful enough to knock someone out. I'm pretty sure if anyone gets up after a superkick by those guys it's because the pin was broken up, too much time was spent between the move and the pin attempt or they kick out a 2 and 3/4.

I know it's hard not to tear apart certain wrestler's moves, I do it too. And the WWE needs to be careful because they can't have moves and situations that are so unbelievable that you can't even pretend to take it seriously but on the other hand you have to enjoy the product for it's hilarious flaws like you enjoy basically EVERY ACTION MOVIE EVER where the hero is surrounded by dozens of enemies yet they only attack him one at a time or the hero is knocked out but instead of killing the hero they capture him and take him to a holding location where he inevitably escapes.

I am okay with duplicated moves, in general, in WWE because if they are duplicated each wrestler usually has a slightly different take on it to make it their own and often duplicated moves tend to be moves that just make more sense and add better drama.

I don't mind a lot of big men use big boots and chokeslams. It makes sense and each one look different enough.

I don't mind that most small guys use a lot of kicks to the legs. Again, it makes sense and they look different enough.

Look at Dean Ambrose. He used that side headlock DDT for a while and even though it was a UNIQUE move, it was an awkward looking move. Now Ambrose is using the double arm hook DDT that was famously done by Mankind but it's great! It looks really devastating and can be done on any size wrestler.

Last thing I will say is I kinda hope Ziggler finds a new way to do the Fameasser and make it another finisher or stop doing it! I hate how he's never really beat anyone using that move. It looks more devastating than the Zig Zag yet it never gets him the win. That is what I want to see changed.

 

[MERPER]

It's theatre... 1 superkick (HBK's) was built up stronger than all the others.. nothing more to it...

If you need to feel some realism about it, how about this: HBK set it up and "Stalked his prey" lining them up perfectly so it landed with more authority. Almost all of them now come out of nowhere, meaning less line up for a perfect face shot.

As for the "zigzag" I love it. I have zero issues. Actually, I think Dolph pulls it off well almost every time but his opponent doesn't sell it very well. For instance, on Smackdown this week, Kane botched 2 of Dolph's moves. Sometimes it falls on the other person to sell a move as working and having a major impact (another thing Ziggler is great at by the way)

 

[DCLXVI]

I actually like the Zig Zag in concept, it's a unique move that can be hit out of nowhere and doesn't require lifting heavy opponents. The problem is he's usually wrestling larger, kind of immobile guys lately and that always seem to sell the move like they are lazily falling down like a sack of shit... from Kane to Mizdow (Mizdow fucks up selling any kind of high impact move there is it seems but that's another story)... If it was R-Truth or somebody for example they might flip backwards when they landed or at least fold their bodies up as the took the back bump. The move requires a good sell or it looks kind of weak. This guy is always making people look like a million bucks... please put him in there once or twice with someone who returns the favor.

As far as the Superkick, I like Ziggler and the Uso's using them as often as they do. It comes out of nowhere, looks great, and keeps the pace of the match moving in a lot of situations or leads to cool spots.

 

[LODemolition]

I like the Zig Zag, personally. However, they've let so many guys kick out of it that it doesn't even feel like a finisher anymore and they should come up with something new for him.
Preferably something from the top rope.