By James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

WWE star Dolph Ziggler was interviewed at-length by CBS Cleveland reporter Chris Van Vliet this week. The following are highlights.

-- Ziggler talked around the topic of why he's not being featured in a main event program after having a cup of coffee with the World Title earlier this year.

"I feel that I can absolutely put the company on my back," Ziggler said, adding that he believes he can represent WWE in the ring, behind the scenes, doing media, etc.

Asked if he believes he will eventually hold the WWE Title, Ziggler said that he believes he has the ability to be top champion, but "I can't say that I can guarantee I'll win the WWE Championship one day," because he cannot predict whether management will eventually back him at that level.

"One day when that happens, everyone will be like, 'Oh yeah, I knew all along,'" Ziggler said, adding that "I get a bad rap for speaking my mind."

-- Ziggler revealed why he wore a New York Islanders jersey, a Zack Ryder t-shirt, and a third-layer Ziggler t-shirt in his "Hamptons Hardcore match" against Damien Sandow on Raw.

Ziggler said (a) he has numerous t-shirts that he wants to go through, (b) they were in Ryder's home market, and (c) WWE thought the "Long Island Street Fight" match would win the App vote. The Street Fight would have carried a hockey theme, with various hockey-related weapons in-play. But, Ziggler decided to keep on the Islanders hockey jersey anyways for the Hamptons match.

-- Ziggler said his ideal WrestleMania 30 opponent is Shawn Michaels, which Ziggler and Van Vliet agreed is not happening since Michaels is retired.

-- If he were to wrestle a 60-minute Iron Man match, Ziggler said his ideal opponents would be Daniel Bryan or C.M. Punk.

-- Ziggler named Tyson Kidd, Heath Slater, and Alex Riley as three of the most underutilized wrestlers on the roster.



[ Video URL: http://youtu.be/WbsKU67QdUo ]

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