Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre Update: Nailed It!

Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre know they're on to something big here. With a win over Braun Strowman and Finn Balor, who's next? Courtesy of the WWE

By Matthew Klink (@klinkmatt)

5/15/2018

We here at the Brothers of Discussion are huge fans of the Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre team up. I went over what the storyline should be a couple of weeks ago and the WWE has followed it to a ‘T’. That being said, yesterday’s match was a bit unexpected.

Ziggler and McIntyre felt like a slow burn type of team. Much like the Bludgeon Brothers, Ziggler and McIntyre could have taken out smaller opponents, decimating and taking apart local competitors and lower card teams. Week after week, the tag team would build believability and legitimacy, only to capitalize on their effort to challenge or interfere with a champion’s work. Maybe I’m forgetting that this cookie cutter type of build might not be fitting for two guys who haven’t had a consistent placement on the match card for years.

Avoiding that cookie cutter development, Ziggler and McIntyre were given an opportunity to take down two of the strongest names on the Raw roster, Finn Balor and Braun Strowman. Finn and Braun have their plans set for the next month, as they both set themselves up for a shot at the Money in the Bank briefcase in June. So, for them to enter this match, one might assume that the WWE was offering a showcase of two of the combatants entering the Money in the Bank as opposed to building up Dolph and Drew. Obviously, in doing so, ruining the build of Ziggler and McIntyre.

I was wrong on two accounts: 1. Being that this match occurred way too early for the Ziggler and McIntyre tag team. 2. That they would quickly become main event fodder.

The boys came out victorious and in a devilishly sneaky way. While Balor was distracted by the absolute train wreck created by Braun Strowman and McIntyre. Braun, doing his best impression of an out of control locomotive, laid out McIntyre and destroyed his Greatest Royal Rumble trophy in the aftermath. With Balor mesmerized by the destruction, Ziggler reversed Balor’s attempt at a Coup de Grace and laid him down for the pin. Balor was left stunned and Strowman…angered. McIntyre and Ziggler slithered down the ring, donning smirks above their chins, walking away with an unexpected, yet welcome, victory.

So, we don’t know if this is the beginning of a long term feud for the four men, but this was incredibly telling for what the future holds for Dolph and Drew. The two have been a joke in past gimmicks and feuds and beating a guy like Braun Strowman (who easily is at the top of the business right now) just hasn’t been in their cards. We at least know that creative has no problem handing a victory over to Dolph and Drew. And those victories could come from anyone. This doesn’t mean Universal Championships, but it at least means they recognize talent and we can get behind and root for this tag team to succeed.

This team is still new and fresh. They seem to be nailing it with their promos and now have a signature victory on the record books. Let’s keep an eye on the growth of these characters and cross our fingers that their climb to the top of the food chain continues to be just as entertaining!