Dolph Ziggler Discusses His Relationship With Vince McMahon

Former World Heavyweight Champion Dolph Ziggler has opened up about his relationship with Vince McMahon.

Appearing on Out of Character with Ryan Satin, Ziggler discussed the level of trust that exists between the two, revealing how their relationship has developed over the years.

The former Tag Team Champion explained that he used to think that McMahon didn’t like him, but now sees that he’s challenging and pushing him.

“There is a trust that so few of your favorites have that I have and it’s wild because, without complaining, I’m not the main event guy at the moment and a lot of times when it comes to something special, I’m the guy just a match away or so. But I know from that relationship — and, you have to earn it and it’s not just, ‘I earned this a few years ago and now I’m fine.’ You’ve got to re-earn it every day, and I do. If I mess up, which I do all the time, I say, ‘I screwed this up, it’s on me. I will fix it for next time.” Even though those years, I would say of the 15 [years], eight, or nine of them felt like man, ‘Vince hates my f’n guts. What the hell is happening here?’ Then, there are those five or six where you go, ‘I get it now. He’s pushing me, he’s challenging me because only I can do these things,’ and I’m very blessed to be doing them and still kicking ass doing them.”

Ziggler explained that while he enjoys the challenge, he also finds himself getting bored. The Showoff admitted that sometimes he finds everything too easy, adding that he needs the challenge to keep going.

“One million percent. Every day, every night. ‘Oh, we have 30 seconds to tell three stories? Okay. Got it. I’ll do it and I’ll make it happen.’ I love that challenge. That is — I don’t want to say I get bored but over the last couple of years, sometimes I get really bored knowing that I can do this job and knowing the time constraints, and knowing what needs to be accomplished. I go, ‘it’s too easy sometimes.’ Then you get that challenge and you go, ‘Dammit’ and you throw a chair against the wall and you go, ‘Okay, hit the music, we’ll figure it out!’”

Dolph Ziggler initially signed with WWE back in 2004. After briefly working alongside Chavo Guerrero as ‘Kerwin White.’ However, by January 2006 Ziggler was performing under the name ‘Nicky’ as a member of the Spirit Squad. The group were featured prominently in feuds with Shawn Michaels and DX. Although by the end of the year the faction disbanded and Ziggler returned to OVW before being repackaged once more.

Ziggler re-emerged in September 2008 and has since gone on to enjoy the most fruitful run of his career. The Cleveland native became the 22nd Grand Slam champion, most recently holding the SmackDown Tag Team Titles alongside Robert Roode.

Ziggler and Roode held the titles until WrestleMania Backlash where they were defeated by Rey and Dominik Mysterio.

H/t to Fightful for the transcription.