Dolph Ziggler was on CBS Sports’ In This Corner podcast with Brian Campbell, and he had some interesting thoughts. He touched on a lot of topics that fans gossip about such as frustrating booking, his tag team with Drew McIntyre, and if he’s underused in WWE.
Check out some excerpts of what he had to say below:
Quotes transcribed by WrestleZone Senior Editor Tyler Treese.
On who is the “Jannetty” between him and Drew McIntyre:
Who is the Jannetty? There isn’t one.
You could be a fan that watched for a long time who enjoyed me, hated me, loved me, then really hated me. You can judge me all you want, but my facts don’t care about your feelings. Check out the page, check out everything I have on my resume. I’ve done it all, all the while not being loved backstage. I’ve done all those accolades by myself…I’ve never not made something amazing.
Now Drew McIntyre had to leave to realize what he was missing, what he needed to fix. He came back razor sharp, laser-focused. A walking, talking Terminator. He told me when we’re not on camera that we need to rid this show and roster of anyone who is only pulling 99%, and he means it.
On why WWE and fans might not always appreciate him:
One thing that has contributed to that is that I’m too good of an athlete that I’ve never taken time off. I’ve never had to disappear for a year and get something fixed. All of the damage I’ve put my body through, I’m so damn good at it and bouncing back due to my physical and mental strength. Even years ago when I was kicked in the brain and was knocked out, I finished the match. I was cleared in two weeks after extreme safety protocol because the brain is very important. In two weeks I sent videos in of me from home, so I didn’t miss the show.
On if booking can be frustrating at times:
No matter what situation you’re in, even with so many superstars and stories, even when you’re in the middle of something huge or you become world champion, the second it’s not all about you. The second you’re not making these great gains because of something out of your hands, the fans turn on you. You don’t always get the chance [to be the greatest champion], and more often than not you don’t.
…Even when it’s going great, you think you should be deserving something better or you shouldn’t be in this business.
He ever came close to leaving WWE:
Is there something more than 100%? Many factors, like I haven’t gone away in 13 years is pretty ridiculous. I thought I needed to do that and I asked to do that and was told no. I tried several more times over the past two years and was finally told yes. That six months turned into being gone for three weeks and being brought back. I assure you every Monday I’m talking to the boss about how to make the show better. [Everyone gets on me] for teasing that I’ll be leaving, but it might be soon or it might be never.
