WWE Can Build Its Blue Brand Around Dolph Ziggler

WWE can build around Dolph Ziggler as a babyface, and Tuesday night’s SmackDown was a decent start, but they need to protect him.

That’s where WWE often fails when it comes to pushing new babyfaces.

The WWE philosophy has been even-steven booking. Wrestlers lose on Raw, then win on SmackDown. No one gets too far ahead and no one gets too far behind. It results in a roster full of guys that no fan feels like they can get behind.

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Ziggler was a victim of this booking strategy for years. There were times in the last few years that he’s felt like a jobber to the stars more than a star himself.

But Ziggler’s win on Sunday at No Mercy, capturing the Intercontinental Title, felt like a turning-point moment. It felt like the catalyst to what could be a new star for WWE, and the SmackDown show.

SmackDown is clearly lacking some star power, and that should actually help WWE protect Ziggler in their booking.

If Ziggler holds onto the IC Title for an extended period -- eight months, maybe one year -- it will not only elevate that title, and make whoever beats him a big deal, but it should elevate Ziggler into the main event and World Title picture. WWE can’t rush it, because Ziggler has been beaten so many times, they need to re-program the audience to recognize Dolph as a legitimate star.

From now until after WrestleMania, he shouldn’t lose a match. WWE also shouldn’t be shy about recognizing his past struggles. Heck, let Ziggler address it in promos and interviews.

Not every Hall of Famer in the NFL has a great rookie season. There are things you learn along the way that make you a better player. Let Ziggler talk about the things he’s learned along his journey that made him a better wrestler. Then allow him to look like a better wrestler in his matches, getting wins, and you could come away with someone that you can build your blue brand around.

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1. Dolph Ziggler beat Mikey and Kenny

Miz attacked Ziggler after this match, signifying that their feud over the Intercontinental Title isn’t yet over. It was assumed Miz would be entitled to an automatic rematch, and I get the sense with the angle on this show that they’ll build towards a pay-per-view rematch and keep the feud going for another month. Sometimes, WWE would book the rematch to happen here on SmackDown, with Ziggler getting another clean win, if they were going to move on quickly, but that doesn’t seem to be the case here.

I’m also interested in what they decide to do with the Spirit Squad. Are they in for just a few shots, or could they return in a full-time role and become another tag team on the SmackDown show?

2. Naomi beat Carmella

The SmackDown women’s division is going to suffer without Becky Lynch, who is out for a short while due to some personal reasons, per WWE. Lynch was the clear center piece.

The good news is that her absence could open an opportunity for someone else, maybe Naomi or Carmella, to elevate themselves. Nikki Bella would have a lot to do with this. She could be a longtime member of the roster that someone new could use to get over.

3. Jimmy Uso beat Chad Gable

Putting tag-team wrestlers, who are feuding, into a singles match is an old booking crutch and this felt like it was here just to fill a few minutes on television. Oddly enough, it’s not SmackDown that’s usually looking for filler, but Raw.

That said, when the two tag teams actually get together and feud, this should make for some great matches. Truthfully, the singles match here wasn’t bad, either, it was just lazy booking, in my opinion.

4. James Ellsworth beat AJ Styles

Nope, that’s not a typo.

Dean Ambrose was the special referee and hit Styles with a pair of dirty deeds before draping Ellsworth over Styles for the win, which came on a fast count by Ambrose.

Then, on Talking Smack, which airs on WWE Network after the show, Daniel Bryan revealed that Ellsworth, by virtue of his “win” on this show, would receive a WWE Title shot against Styles next week on SmackDown Live.

The goofy Ellsworth character continues to remain popular with the fans, it seems. He got a good reaction at the start of the match, although there wasn’t much of a pop for his win at the finish.

I’m not sure how I feel about them using Ambrose as a comedy character. He was playing with the crowd, eating popcorn with fans, etc. There’s so much more they could do with him. It’s an old saying, but funny isn’t money in wrestling, and Dean Ambrose is someone WWE could draw money with, especially as a heel.

5. Bray Wyatt & Luke Harper beat Kane & Randy Orton

Orton and Wyatt closed out No Mercy as the main event on Sunday night, and it left me wondering why. This match main-evented SmacKDown, and again, I was left wondering why.

Same old, same old.

Orton and Wyatt work such a slow pace, methodically acting out every move. There was just no energy to this main event.

Luke Harper’s return was well done and he has added some dimension to his character, in particular he talks now, but that wasn’t enough to save what felt like a ho-hum main event.

There’s a lack of star power on SmackDown, particularly on shows that John Cena does not appear, and it really shows up in matches like this.