Batista, NXT Divas, Dolph Ziggler and More from the Contract Extension Mailbag

Dolph Ziggler reportedly re-signed with WWE, according to PWInsider (h/t WrestlingInc). That same report noted that Ziggler is now off shooting a movie for WWE Studios.

What other perks lie in his new contract? A lighter schedule? More pink t-shirts? Perhaps a title shot?

Reigning, Defending Dolph Ziggler?

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@ThisIsNasty do you ultimately see Ziggler being the Champ?

— Divided Heaven (@DividedHeaven) July 15, 2015

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It'll be interesting to see how well Ziggler is booked under his new deal. Ziggler really didn't have much leverage, since his comedy career is still in its early stages and there don't seem to be very many big-money opportunities outside of WWE.

I think Ziggler is what he is at this point. As I mentioned on the PodNasty Wrestling Podcast, he peaked the night after WrestleMania in 2013 and hasn't been a serious world title contender since his feud with Alberto Del Rio ended.

As Ziggler is turning 35 this year during a WWE youth movement, he's an elder statesman. His value lies in elevating younger talent and having good matches with the next generation. WWE cannot build the company around Ziggler at this point, and with only one WWE World Championship title, his opportunities will be few and far between.

Batista's 2014 Run

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@ThisIsNasty how wwe should have booked Batista in 2014?

— Raheem Mansaray (@johnnymansaray) July 15, 2015

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WWE should have immediately made Batista a heel. Upon his initial debut, he was hobnobbing with The Authority as a babyface in the midst of the Daniel Bryan revolution. At that point, he had no chance to win over hijack-minded fans. It also didn't help that a would-be surprise return was leaked beforehand.

With a little more self-awareness, WWE could have booked The Authority to bring in Batista as its secret weapon. This would have created tension between him and Randy Orton, further justifying an eventual Triple Threat match at WrestleMania with the addition of Bryan.

Batista's best run of his career was as a heel in 2010. Fans wanted that Batista from the start, but what they got was a forced babyface who did not connect with a more stubborn fanbase. I wouldn't say Batista's last run was a complete failure, as they eventually turned him heel and he did have a handful of good matches, but it was extremely awkward, to say the least.

Question of the Week: NXT Divas on par with famed OVW Prospects?

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@ThisIsNasty can this class of NXT Divas be as good as the 2002 OVW Class with Cena, Orton, Brock, Batista, & Sheldon Benjamin?

— Jordan Smith (@JSmith_FOX6) July 14, 2015

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In NXT? Yes. On the main roster, I have my doubts. People are very excited about the NXT Divas debuting on Raw, as am I. But is there enough camera time for the nine women who brawled Monday night?

The Bella Twins have been the focal point of the division for years now, and they barely get any TV time relative to the WWE Superstars. I find it hard to believe that WWE will continue doling out extra time for all these women in the long run. Remember how quickly they moved on from #GiveDivasAChance?

It makes it even more difficult that all these Divas are feuding with each other. So each week there will be a conflict that involves nine people? Eventually, most of them will get lost in the shuffle. There's no demand for all three of these NXT Divas to be on the roster at the same time.

NXT is very popular on the road, and WWE could have gradually called them up one-by-one. Hopefully there is a meticulous long-term storyline behind all this that will put the WWE Divas division on par with its NXT counterpart. But I'll believe that when I see it.

Lunatic on the Fringe of WWE Battleground

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@ThisIsNasty How is it possible for someone as over as Ambrose to be left out of battleground card?

— Melanie Gomes  (@Melitxix) July 16, 2015

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Ambrose's wacky antics are holding him back. There is no main event demand for the resident crazy guy. His act is a midcard gimmick and not really something that can be a cornerstone for WWE.

Ambrose is a talented performer and needs something to sink his teeth into. I think he'd fit perfectly in the United States Championship division. Think of the great matches he can have against John Cena, Cesaro, Kevin Owens and Rusev. Ambrose could complete the U.S. title picture as it gradually shifts from Cena's exhibition to a legitimate meritocracy. 

Outside of competing for a secondary title, there is little to nothing for Ambrose to do. He already competed for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship on back-to-back pay-per-views and now finds himself in no man's land.

If he wasn't such a popular babyface, I'd suggest turning him heel.

 Alfred Konuwa is a featured columnist and on-air host for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @ThisIsNasty and subscribe to his weekly wrestling podcast.