Fan favourite plans to "steal the show" in Los Angeles on August 17
Thursday 7 August 2014 11:16, UK
SummerSlam’s Intercontinental Title match will be contested in Los Angeles – but very much made in Cleveland.
Champion The Miz and challenger Dolph Ziggler were born in the Ohio city in 1980 and fantasised about reaching the pinnacle of wrestling, though that, according to Ziggler, is where the similarities end.
The Show-Off says he “can’t stand” The Awesome One, who seized Intercontinental gold in a Battle Royal at the Battleground pay-per-view in July by lastly eliminating Ziggler.
And he believes The Miz sees his recently-acquired belt as nothing more than an accessory.
“Miz and I grew up a couple of minutes apart in the Cleveland area and both had dreams of being WWE Superstars and being the best,” Ziggler told Michael Cole in a sit-down interview for WWE.com.
“But the two of us don’t mesh anymore – we’re not friends, we’re not looking to hang out and I can’t stand the guy.
“Somewhere along the way one of us worked really hard, scratching and clawing to get what he could get, while the other went a bit Hollywood.
“One of us sees the Intercontinental Title for what it is – a stepping stone to being the best and the next guy in WWE – and one of us sees it as a prop.”
The WWE World Heavyweight Title – which John Cena and Brock Lesnar will battle for possession of at SummerSlam, live on Sky Sports Box Office on Sunday, August 17 – is widely regarded as the most sought-after strap in sports entertainment.
But Ziggler says he was wowed as a child by a host of Intercontinental Championship matches and has vowed to not only become the next Superstar to hold that garland but to claim it in style.
I have gone above and beyond, whether I’ve been given 30 seconds or 30 minutes, but at some point you have to go to the next level.
“Winning the Intercontinental Title for the first time, in 2010, was a real milestone as I grew up living off some of those Intercontinental Title matches,” he added.
“Some of the greatest Superstars of all time – Mr Perfect, Shawn Michaels, The Rock, Triple H – tore each other apart for that prestigious title.
“I have always gone above and beyond, whether I’ve been given 30 seconds or 30 minutes, but at some point you have to deliver and go to the next level.
“And when I get in the ring against The Miz I am going to steal the show.”
See if Ziggler makes good on his promise by watching WWE SummerSlam on Sky Sports Box Office.
WWE SummerSlam will be shown at 1am on Sunday, August 17 (Mon) on Sky Sports Box Office (channel 743) and on Sky Sports HD Box Office (channel 752).
WWE SummerSlam will be repeated on Sky Sports Box Office (channel 743) BUT NOT Sky Sports HD Box Office (channel 752) until 9pm on Saturday, August 23.
Repeats showing will last three hours, with the final showing BEGINNING at 9pm on Saturday, August 23.
The event is priced at £14.95 for UK customers, €21.95 for customers in the Republic of Ireland.
Viewers can call 08442 410 888 from Tuesday, August 5 to book WWE SummerSlam. (There may be an additional charge for telephone bookings).
You will be able book WWE SummerSlam online from Tuesday, August 5 by visiting this link: https://my.sky.com/orderboxoffice/
You can also order WWE SummerSlam at a later date by pressing the Box Office button on your remote. Select 'sports & events' and follow the on-screen instructions.
