Dolph Ziggler recently appeared on the “Chasing Glory” podcast with Lilian Garcia, and during the appearance, the Intercontinental champion speaks on his originally planned ring name in WWE after leaving the Spirit Squad:
“So I randomly got a call saying, ‘you’re going to TV to introduce something,’ said Ziggler, h/t to IWNerd.com for the transcription. “‘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, it’s 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’”.