Dolph Ziggler is an American professional wrestler and stand-up comedian, best known for balancing his dual careers in sports entertainment and live comedy. His dynamic career spans multiple WWE championships and performances at renowned comedy venues.
Born Nicholas Theodore Nemeth on July 27, 1980, in Cleveland, Ohio, Dolph Ziggler attended St. Edward High School in Lakewood. As a high school wrestler, he distinguished himself by winning two National Championships and setting a school record with 82 career pins.
Ziggler continued his wrestling journey at Kent State University, where he became a three-time All-Mid-American Conference champion. At one point, he held the university’s record for the most career wins, totaling 121 victories. His collegiate success laid a strong foundation for his future in professional wrestling.
Dolph Ziggler began gaining national recognition in WWE in the late 2000s. He participated in WrestleMania XXVI in 2010 and went on to win his first Intercontinental Championship later that year after defeating Kofi Kingston on an episode of SmackDown. He successfully defended the title against Kingston multiple times, including at SummerSlam, Night of Champions, and TLC, and retained it against Kaval at Survivor Series. However, he lost the title back to Kingston in January 2011.
Ziggler captured the WWE United States Championship on June 19, 2011, by defeating Kingston at Capitol Punishment. He defended the title successfully on several occasions before eventually dropping it to Zack Ryder. Throughout his WWE tenure, Ziggler has also held the World Heavyweight Championship, further cementing his place as a top-tier competitor in the company. In June 2019, he challenged Kofi Kingston for the WWE Championship at WWE Stomping Grounds but was unsuccessful in capturing the title.
More recently, Dolph Ziggler has explored stand-up comedy, performing in well-known Los Angeles clubs such as the Laugh Factory. Known for his charisma in the ring, he successfully transitioned some of that presence to the stage. Fellow comedians have praised his timing and delivery, highlighting how rare it is for an athlete to pivot effectively into the world of comedy.
Over the course of his WWE career, Dolph Ziggler has been linked to several notable figures. He was in a relationship with fellow WWE star Nikki Bella until their separation in April 2010. Bella later entered a high-profile relationship with John Cena, and the three maintained a cordial relationship, even appearing together on the reality series ‘Total Bellas.’
Prior to dating Nikki Bella, Ziggler was briefly involved with Maria Kanellis in 2009. He has also dated comedian Amy Schumer and former wrestling valet Shelly Martinez. Additionally, he was involved in on-screen storylines with AJ Lee and Vickie Guerrero, although these were purely professional and part of WWE programming.
| Birth Date: | 27 Jul, 1980 |
| Age: | 40 yrs |
| Occupations: | Professional wrestler Film actor |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | Cleveland |
| Education: | Kent State University |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | American professional wrestler and comedian |
| Net Worth 2021: | 3 million |
