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Ric Flair: Is Managing Dolph Ziggler Really the Best Thing for the Superstar?

Ric Flair: Is Managing Dolph Ziggler Really the Best Thing for the Superstar?

Posted: Jun 24th 2012 By: mikeiles

Forget all the monikers and the ideas that Dolph Ziggler could be the ?Next Shawn Michaels? or the ?Next so and so.? Let?s just concentrate on the wrestler, who he is now and how someone like Ric Flair (who has been released from TNA and appears to be making his way back to the WWE) could help him win a world title.

I know that was a mouthful, and trust me, there is more where that came from, but I wonder if the move, if it were to happen, is really in the best interest of Ziggler, who appears to be ready for the next step in his WWE career.

I?m talking long-term world-title holder. Not a cup of coffee here and there, but someone, like a Michaels or a Randy Savage, who could be the next big thing in the WWE. Someone who can carry the belt (like a CM Punk) and challenge everyone on the WWE roster.

Back in the day, it was Ric Flair who traveled from territory to territory to face the best the region had to offer. And while Flair faced better talent than Ziggler will ever see in the WWE, he can still show he can go through everyone and remain the company?s champion.

Whether that happens as a face or heel remains to be seen, but I suspect it will more than likely take some getting used to by the fans if we see Ziggler (best porn name in the wrestling business this side of Matt Stryker) as a face taking on Brock Lesnar.

Also, remember that Shawn Michaels was a heel on his own, managed by Sherri Martel before he became the beloved superstar that he is today.

Flair?s antics in TNA (which led to his eventual firing) at the end of his run, where he missed arena dates and ran up huge hotel bills, were consistent with how the former NWA and WCW star has fallen from grace. Now that his daughter, Ashley, has signed a developmental contract with the WWE, Flair appears to be headed back up north in some capacity.

Personally, if he were to feud with Paul Heyman and there was a rivalry between Lesnar and Ziggler, it may be a benefit to the company and the fans.

I in no way assume that Ziggler can do for the WWE what wrestlers like Randy Orton, John Cena and CM Punk have done for it. That would be expecting too much too soon.

Also, what happens to Jack Swagger? While the combination of Swagger and Ziggler has been typical of some stables in the past, I am not sold on Swagger becoming anything more than mid-level at best.

What happens to Vickie Guerrero? She appears to be better at being a one-wrestler manager. Can she help Swagger attain world-title status again?

Wrestling is one of those businesses where we want to see the things that worked in the past, like managers and tag teams and matches that left us wanting more. Promotions?or in this case, the WWE?have gone to the well so many times that the product is not as good as the first time.

It?s hard to make the entertainment in the ring look like a first-run idea. It may have worked with bull rope matches and table matches years ago, but it is lost on us today as a new version of the old scene.

We certainly do not want Ziggler to be cast as something old in the mold of a guy who is clearly out of his element right now.

So before we all get jazzed about what may happen with Ziggler and the return of Ric Flair (if we are excited in the first place), let?s assess whether having an angle like this is the best thing for Ziggler himself, and then whether someone who appears to be on his last legs after once being the best there ever was can pull off something great instead of being an embarrassment.

 

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Spotlight in History

  • 1982 King Kong Bundy became the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 2003 Tyler Bateman def. Jef Tiger for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 2003 John O'Malley def. Tyler Bateman for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 2008 El Culo Intruso def. Dane Griffin for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 2018 Sam Stackhouse def. Abyss for the BCW Buzzsaw Title
  • 2019 Double D became the WFC Heavyweight Champion
  • 2019 Prince Mahalli def. Damon Windsor for the WCR Revolutionary Title
  • 2024 Cade Fite became the TIW No Pressure Champion
  • 2024 Ozzy Hendrix & Adrian Vega def. The Voiceless Society (Tyler Watts & E-Bone) for the CAPW Tag Team Titles
  • 2024 The Gatekeeper def. Rick Russo for the EPW All-American Title
  • 2024 Trench Blythe became the EPW International Champion
  • 2024 Malachi def. Kevin James Sanchez for the EPW Heavyweight Title

Week of Sun 06-14 to Sat: 06-20

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  • 06-14 1982 Fritz Von Erich def. King Kong Bundy for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 06-14 2004 Team Shenanigans (Tyler Bateman & Kenny Campbell) def. Li'l Joe & Al Farat (substituting for Se7en) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-14 2008 Kenny Campbell became the IZW Impact Division Champion
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  • 06-14 2008 Anarchy [2nd] def. The Enforcer for the SECW Tri-State Title
  • 06-14 2008 Dane Griffin def. Mo'Body Gillespie for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 06-14 2009 El Super Colibri became the TAP Adrenaline Champion
  • 06-14 2009 Reckless def. The Canadian Red Devil for the TAP Heavyweight Title
  • 06-14 2009 Shane Morbid def. Jon Cross for the TAP Oklahoma Heritage Title
  • 06-14 2013 Clint Cox became the BPPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-14 2014 The Rising (Justin Riker & Abel) def. Psycho Sawyer & Diamond for the SRPW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-14 2014 Omega X (Brett Stopp & X-Static) def. The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 06-14 2025 Pastor Brent def. Dr. Corvus for the WAH Living Hope Title
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  • 06-14 2025 Scotty Rose def. Floyd Maystorm for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 06-14 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Scotty Rose for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 06-15 1982 King Kong Bundy became the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-15 2003 Tyler Bateman def. Jef Tiger for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 06-15 2003 John O'Malley def. Tyler Bateman for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 06-15 2008 El Culo Intruso def. Dane Griffin for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 06-15 2018 Sam Stackhouse def. Abyss for the BCW Buzzsaw Title
  • 06-15 2019 Double D became the WFC Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-15 2019 Prince Mahalli def. Damon Windsor for the WCR Revolutionary Title
  • 06-15 2024 Cade Fite became the TIW No Pressure Champion
  • 06-15 2024 Ozzy Hendrix & Adrian Vega def. The Voiceless Society (Tyler Watts & E-Bone) for the CAPW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-15 2024 The Gatekeeper def. Rick Russo for the EPW All-American Title
  • 06-15 2024 Trench Blythe became the EPW International Champion
  • 06-15 2024 Malachi def. Kevin James Sanchez for the EPW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-16 1959 The Zebra Kid def. The Golden Giant for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-16 1970 Johnny Valentine def. Killer Kowalski for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-16 1984 Terry Taylor def. Krusher Khrushchev for the MSW Television Title
  • 06-16 1986 Buzz Sawyer def. Chris Adams for the WCCW Television Title
  • 06-16 2006 Bobby Burns def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-16 2006 Beau Dalton became the SRPW X Division Champion
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  • 06-16 2012 Big Business (Kevin Morgan & Damon Windsor) def. The Old School Suckas (Gary Tool & Randy Price) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-16 2017 Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders & Chaz Sharpe) def. Cursed (Kuda & Blade [2nd]) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
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  • 06-16 2023 Jason Simon became the MajCW Native American Champion
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  • 06-17 1957 Billy Raborn became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-17 1958 Bull Curry def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-17 1983 Jimmy Garvin def. David Von Erich for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 06-17 1983 Kerry Von Erich & Bruiser Brody def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Michael Hayes) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
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  • 06-17 2008 Kunna Keyoh def. El Culo Intruso for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 06-17 2017 Prince Mahalli def. Paul Puertorico for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 06-17 2017 Michael Wolf def. Aaron Anders for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 06-17 2017 Randy Price def. Double D for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 06-17 2023 Alex Royal def. Justin Lee for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 06-18 1964 Karl Kox def. Louie Tillet for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-18 2004 Shane Morbid def. Dirty Harry Sanchez for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 06-18 2004 Codie Mullins def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 06-18 2004 Dexter Hardaway def. Codie Mullins for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 06-18 2004 Pork Chop def. Dexter Hardaway for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 06-18 2004 Dexter Hardaway def. Pork Chop for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 06-18 2004 S.K. Fulton def. Dexter Hardaway for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 06-18 2004 Dirty Harry Sanchez def. S.K. Fulton for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 06-18 2006 Ryan Davidson def. Angel Williams for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
  • 06-18 2011 Michael Barry def. Kenny Campbell for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 06-18 2016 Spyder became the SRPW United States Champion
  • 06-18 2016 Skylar Slice became the IZW Womens Champion
  • 06-18 2021 Lady Sensacion became the FIW Women’s Champion
  • 06-18 2021 Rodeo (Chandler Hopkins & Malico) def. Cam Cole & Johnny Bedlam for the TexPro Tag Team Titles
  • 06-18 2022 Duke Cornell def. Blue Bolt for the WFC Prime Title
  • 06-18 2022 Maddox Jones def. Striker for the EPW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-18 2022 Mike Gunns def. Jake Danielsson for the NAW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-19 1977 Fritz Von Erich def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-19 2010 Aaron Neil def. John O'Malley for the IZW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-19 2015 Bree Ann def. Claudia for the NWA-TXO Rose Title
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  • 06-20 1977 Bill Watts became the TSW North American Champion
  • 06-20 1987 Barry Windham became the UWF Western States Heritage Champion
  • 06-20 2004 X-Cal def. John O'Malley for the ACW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-20 2009 Dustin Heritage def. Dane Griffin for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 06-20 2009 BLK-OUT (Montego Seeka & Jermaine Johnson) def. Impact, Inc, (Johnny Z & Bernie D) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-20 2014 Bree Ann def. Miss Diss Lexia for the NWA-TXO Rose Title
  • 06-20 2021 DNR (Drake Gallows & Revan) def. Malik Mayfield & Maui Mike for the ASP Tag Team Titles
06-15
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