WWE Smackdown: Will Drew McIntyre Be 2012's Version of Dolph Ziggler?

We are coming up on the one-year anniversary of Dolph Ziggler losing his newly-won World Heavyweight Championship to Edge, followed by being fired by Smackdown general manager Teddy Long.

This was done right before the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view, but he returned weeks later on the RAW brand.

The rest of the year for Ziggler was a good one. He tried a new look, which didn't last. He had a few new themes, a new nickname and a harder attitude.

His microphone skills were much improved, and he was having fantastic matches with up-and-comers like Zack Ryder and main eventers like Randy Orton.

Ziggler won the United States Championship and held it for months, bringing prestige to the title that was missing since the days of Montel Vontavious Porter.

Ziggler now seems to have his sights set to the next level. Ziggler is in a WWE Championship match at Royal Rumble this Sunday. Call me crazy for not thinking that this will be a one and only chance for Ziggler.

Last year showed a lot of growth in Ziggler and 2012 could be the year where Ziggler cashes in on all of that potential and recent hard work put in.

So who becomes the next great youngster to shatter the glass ceiling and take that place in the main event? I'll put money down right now that Drew McIntyre is your guy.

It wasn't too long ago that McIntyre was everyone's pick for a future world champion. After being practically irrelevant now, many have given up hope for the Scotsman. That makes it the perfect time to hop back on his bandwagon like you never even left.

McIntyre was on the fast track to the top, becoming Intercontinental Champion within weeks of debuting. His stay as champion was a long one, which included nice pay-per-view-opening matches with Kofi Kingston.

In the end, McIntyre seemed to outgrow the need for the mid-card championship and move into bigger feuds and more comfortable spots on the card.

Then, McIntyre's surge up the ladder hit a snag.

McIntyre's real-life wife, WWE Diva Tiffany, and him were involved in a domestic dispute, according to police reports (h/t sescoops.com), and fighting during WWE traveling would ultimately lead to her departure from the company and a divorce from McIntyre.

With his ex-wife gone, McIntyre took a lot of the punishment dealt out from the company.

McIntyre would barely get appearances on television, let alone matches on house shows. A storyline with McIntyre trying to catch the eye of Kelly Kelly was interesting and could have very well led to a feud with him and Edge.

However, Edge's health issues caused an early retirement for Edge and left McIntyre with nothing to do.

McIntyre was quietly drafted last April to RAW, but would barely make a splash. McIntyre returned to SmackDown randomly in December, getting into a storyline with former boss Teddy Long.

Long had been humiliated by McIntyre in previous parts of their storyline. The tables were turned this time around, as it was Long who did some bullying of his talent.

Long would imply to McIntyre that not winning would lead to not working, meaning that enough losses would yield a firing. McIntyre has lost four matches in a row, two of which were to Santino Marella.

McIntyre does have a match on SmackDown this week, which taped last night. I won't dare say who his opponent was or what happened, but I think you can at least predict the result on your own.

All signs point to McIntyre probably having a quick departure from the Royal Rumble match and getting fired from SmackDown.

This would leave the door open for McIntyre to go to RAW and actually be recognized and featured from time to time. Despite RAW being a show with SmackDown stars on it as well, McIntyre still found trouble trying to get booked on that show.

The firing from Teddy Long might as well become the new anointing of upcoming pushes. While it is obviously a little bit different, it can be suggested that this is everything McIntyre needs to become relevant once again.

The return of the Bragging Rights pay-per-view this year also has a perfect meaning to it.

Just imagine McIntyre hitting it big on RAW and being on Team RAW when they face his old brand in Team SmackDown. McIntyre could use the Bragging Rights match to show how dominant he is over his past.

It sort of reminds me of The Miz's dominance over John Morrison at Bragging Rights a few years ago.

There may not be a whole lot to brag about with Drew McIntyre lately, but his potential to finally break out in 2012 is very possible.

Whether he stays on SmackDown and his situation with Long explodes or he moves to RAW and gets used well, Drew McIntyre has the chance to make 2012 a very big rebound year for himself.

He has certainly served enough time with his punishment that it should be time for McIntyre to deliver some of that punishment right back.

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