[2013-06-16-WWE-Payback] Alberto Del Rio vs Dolph Ziggler

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[supersonic]

More great storytelling here, and a somewhat karmic one to boot. Ziggler came into this just cleared from a concussion, and Del Rio went after his head over and over and over again. The crowd, already rooting for Ziggler, completely turned on Del Rio, but he didn't give a shit about their reaction or playing borderline dirty. Ziggler was great with his occasional hope spots, finally using his home run style moves at the appropriate times. Del Rio won and then came back out afterwards to say how happy he was to be the champion of the people just to troll the crowd. Perhaps this was karma for Ziggler, not because of his MITB cash-in, but because his girlfriend mentally fucked with the head of her opponent, and now he physically got his head fucked with by his opponent. ***1/2

[Makai Club #1]

I thought this was tremendous. It's rare that a double turn is done right and the crowd takes to it but they did it perfectly here. Ziggler basically a wounded animal with a serious head injury and Del Rio took advantage like a shark. I've always considered myself a Del Rio fan (despite him being a massive dick) and this is the reason why. His facial expressions were class. He went from the smiley face with a hint of excitement and slowly transitioned into a hate filled man willing to do everything. Being very aggressive early on, attacking the injured head of Ziggler. Ziggler scrambling to defend himself, doing anything he can but never being able to sustain a flurry of offence. The crowd already behind Ziggler, turning more and more against Del Rio as the match progresses. Ziggler was helpless throughout and could do nothing but endure the offence from Del Rio. Highly engaging throughout, it helps that it was only 13 minutes long but it didn't need to be any longer because this was was done almost perfectly. Awesome match. ****3/4

[Superstar Sleeze]

Two things from Makai review: 1. You nailed it, the time length was perfect. Given how vicious the head attack was, they couldnt go long or they would have undermined the story. 2. I disagree the live crowd took it. This was Chicago at peak Smarkdom (2011-2013) when they were CM Punk sheeple. I think they already liked Ziggler because he was a smark darling, but I dont think they even noticed he was getting his ass kicked extra hard. They liked chanting RVD and enjoying the entertainment, but they werent invested in the character development story. 

 

World Heavyweight Champion Dolph Ziggler vs Alberto Del Rio - Payback 2013

I would not have watched this in a million years if it was not for Jimmy Redman and her Top 100 2013 WWE Matches. So shoutout to her! I figured it out watching this match Dolph Ziggler was not meant to Mr. Perfect v2.0, he should have been the Ricky Morton of his generation. He should have been dying for our sins in tremendous face in perils then hit a dropkick out of nowhere and tag in his partner for a ferocious hot tag! I think Fantasy Dolph Ziggler will make my top 100 wrestler of all time.

Anyways, real life Dolph Ziggler did pull off one helluva a babyface selling performance in this match centered around Ziggler's concussion from five weeks previous. Del Rio was the babyface coming into this match coming off that Swagger/Colter feud. Ziggler was the heel with AJ and Big E, which is such a classic heel stable that I remember wanting it to be the greatest thing ever, but alas it was not to be. Probably because Ziggler has been miscast as a heel his whole life! 

They waste no time getting to the meat of the match when Del Rio headbutts Ziggler and it is off to the races. That's a pretty dick move, but at first you are like all is fair in love and war, but after a couple minutes you realize this goes beyond just trying to win that Del Rio is trying to maim. As Michael Cole says he is being "vicious & malicious" there is your double turn. Ziggler is the valiant babyface that is doing a great job acting concussed and he uses his great bumping skills to enhance the match. It is such a simple match, but it is so violent and elegant that everyone will love it. The hope spots for Ziggler are timed so perfectly like the perfect amount of salt & pepper on the steak of Del Rio trying to kick Ziggler's head off. The cutoffs are even more brutal and depressing. One thing that can be easily overlooked is that Del Rio was nursing his own injury which was a kayfabe leg injury from the Swagger feud, which Ziggler uses a couple times to setup his scant, but impactful offense. It is such a simple story that I dont feel like I need to write much more to explain why this match is absolutely awesome. So that brings me to my last point is that this match went the perfect amount of time. Any longer and they would have undermined their own story because it was such a vicious attack to Ziggler's head that if he kept kicking out or getting more offense it would have undercut all the brutality. So kudos for them for being efficient! Don't let the names in this match make you overlook this one...it is a gem from an absolutely amazing time in the WWE! ****1/4

 

[cactus]

Maffew from Botchamania had this match as one of his three matches that he would take on a desert island and I'm glad this is finally getting some love. This features a well executed double turn plus career performances from both men. Ziggler's kayfabe head injury stops him from flopping all over the place when he sells and he's actually great as a face in peril. Del Rio had spent the past year doing a disastrous babyface run and you can tell he's loving every second when the crowd start to turn on him. They seem indifferent once he enters the arena, but the Chicago crowd are out for blood after he kicks in Ziggler's head in a few times. He isn't afraid to show some personality here and it does him wonders. He has great facial expressions, and he looks like the smuggest prick ever. I love the spot where he kicks away AJ Lee's recently won Diva's title. I don't usually like Del Rio because he can lack charisma and feel very dry nor do I usually like Ziggler as he tries too hard to make every match feel like the main event of Wrestlemania by over-selling and relying on 2.9 counts to create drama, but thankfully none of these gripes are in this match. 

★★★★½