Interview: Dolph Ziggler on His Original Name, Being Six-Time IC Champ

Recent episode of the Chasing Glory with Lilian Garcia podcast show had Dolph Ziggler as the guest and some of the topics discussed included the origin of his ring name and his thoughts on being a six-time WWE Intercontinental champion.

On the topic of the origin of his Dolph Ziggler name, Ziggler stated WWE originally planned for his new name to be David Diggler before changing it to Dolph Ziggler prior to his character’s debut. Ziggler also stated he initially hated both names given but was convinced by Vince McMahon of the Dolph Ziggler name being a good fit for his new gimmick.

“So I randomly got a call saying, ‘You’re going to TV to introduce something. We’re going into a meeting right now, we’re letting you know now your name is David Diggler, what do you think about that?’ In my head, I’ve been fired twice, this is my last shot, I go, ‘I hate it, this is the Reality Era and I’m going to be David Diggler? Do I have any say in this?’ They go, ‘Well, we’re going into a meeting right now, if you can have something in 15 minutes, but it’s got to be a ‘D’ first name and a ‘D’ last name.” I texted everyone I knew and I tried to think of things. I knew a great great grandfather who was Rudolph and Dolph Lundgren was from Rocky IV and I needed a ‘D’ and I go, ‘Dolph?’ and then I go, ‘Is there any way I can not do Diggler at the end?’ So then I got to RAW and there was a little piece of paper that said, ‘Dolph Ziggler’ on it.

They didn’t really have long term plans for me which is fine, but I go, ‘Man, this might be my last chance.’ I found Vince and I go, ‘Vince, its Reality Era, we’re doing the stuff, you can google my name, we can mix my name up and switch it a little bit. Dolph Ziggler sounds like a cartoon wrestling name!’ And he goes, ‘It’s different. People are going to remember it. I love it!’ And he walked off before he finished the sentence. I go, ‘Alright. I tried.’

On the topic of being a six-time WWE Intercontinental champion, Ziggler stated he used to have mixed feelings about the Intercontinental championship but with his current reign, he feels honored to be following in Seth Rollins’ footsteps after his great title reign.

“I used be like, ‘I don’t get these chances that other people get.’ And after 12 years and 6 championships, Intercontinental champion, and plus a bunch of other stuff, you go, ‘I get the opportunity. I get them.’ We don’t always follow up on them, but that’s part of the business and sometimes you’re not meant to be a long term person. Everytime you get something, I go, ‘Wow, I was just focusing on being a tag team wrestler, which I haven’t done in years and became champion. How can I make this the most memorable thing I’ve done in the last 10 years?’ So I immediately went to work and I was focusing and I was watching different kinds of movies or studying different wrestlers from the 70s and 80s. I go, ‘How can I make this different?’ Because Seth’s done an awesome job. We’re not really tight, we’re not really close, but I know that he’s awesome at his job also and it’s great to see what he’s done with that title.”