WWE SummerSlam 2012: Dolph Ziggler's Big Push Must Start vs. Chris Jericho

Dolph Ziggler is one of the most unique characters to figure out in the wacky world of WWE. He has his biggest singles match since challenging CM Punk for the WWE championship at the Royal Rumble when he faces Chris Jericho at SummerSlam on Sunday. 

We keep waiting for Ziggler to get that one big push that will keep him at the main-event level for a long time, but for reasons known only to Vince McMahon, that hasn't happened yet.

WWE loves to do start-stop pushes with its performers so much that virtually everyone on the roster has been in a main event and opening match at some point over the last 12 months. It is a dangerous path to lead your own talent down, because the fans are not going to know what to make of a superstar, therefore leading to them to just stop caring about them altogether. 

Look at the list of guys just over the last two years who have been down that road. Stars like the Miz, Cody Rhodes, Wade Barrett, R-Truth, Alberto Del Rio, Brodus Clay, Drew McIntyre and Kofi Kingston are just a few of the major players who have been beaten down because WWE loses faith in them before they can really show what they are capable of.

Ziggler hasn't hit that rough patch yet, but he is a lot closer to being nothing than he is a potential main-event superstar because McMahon has played with him so much over the last 12 months. 

Yet there is still hope in the form of a SummerSlam match with Chris Jericho. We have seen some signs of good faith from WWE towards Ziggler in recent weeks, as he has won the SmackDown Money In the Bank match to guarantee him a title match whenever he wants. 

Jericho is the next piece of the puzzle. He is a big enough star to make Ziggler look strong to a much more casual audience than the one Ziggler currently appeals to. Both men are so good in the ring that this match could easily steal the show, as long as they are given enough time to do so. 

The only thing that remains is for Ziggler to go over in this match. A lot of fans and wrestling analysts treat wins and losses like they are nothing because we have been conditioned not to care about them over the last decade, but it is still the easiest way to get someone over. 

Ziggler never beats any of the top stars, thus feeding the perception that he is only used strictly because he can work and not because he is going to be anything major. 

Jericho is the opponent that Ziggler needs, and the match is happening at exactly the right time. WWE is showing some signs of faith in Ziggler already. All that remains is giving him that last push to get him over. 

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