Dolph Ziggler Was Told Early On By WWE Creative He Couldn’t Be World Champion Because Of His Hair

Dolph Ziggler reveals that at the beginning of his journey in WWE’s main event scene, he was told his hair made it too hard for him to be seen as a credible champion.

Dolph Ziggler is a decorated WWE competitor, winning the WWE Intercontinental Championship six times, the United States Championship two times, and two very short reigns with the now-defunct World Heavyweight Championship.

Speaking with talkSPORT, Dolph Ziggler reveals the trials and tribulations he’s faced when trying to climb the WWE mountain and why he cut his hair short and dyed it black in 2012.

“One time a long time ago, I was told the reason I’m not credible for world championships – this is 10 years ago, maybe longer, whatever – the reason I’m not credible enough to be winning world championships is because of my hair,” Ziggler recalled. “Not because I get beat up, not that I lose every match, not that I don’t talk – it was because of my blonde hair. So it got cut short and dyed black and I was serious, I went out there and beat the hell out of Santino and it was the dumbest thing I’ve ever done. I didn’t want to do it.”

He continued, “I said, ‘this isn’t me, we can find a way to introduce more of my shooting background and things’ – nope. That’s what they wanted [the hair cut]. Then after three weeks, they said ‘oh, our bad.’

“Sometimes people don’t see [it]. How about I just beat some people up sometimes? Or won a couple matches? Or talked? Or talk like I am right now and defend myself and say, ‘hey, I should be out here tying people in knots, winning world titles, getting on the microphone, hopping on a jet, doing a press conference and strutting away with Ric Flair!’ They go, ‘Yeah, but… I dunno. We should just cut your hair.’”

Dolph Ziggler attempts to go for the gold yet again when he challenges Drew McIntyre for the ever-elusive WWE Championship at The Horror Show at Extreme Rules on July 18.