5 WWE Superstars you might not realize have been with the company for more than 10 years

#3 Dolph Ziggler

Dolph Ziggler made his WWE debut as "Nicky" (pictured far right) all the way back in 2006.

The long-term WWE future of Nic "Dolph Ziggler" Nemeth did not look bright after his run as Nicky of The Spirit Squad ended in November 2006.

The male cheerleader group were written off television after being loaded into a crate by Triple H and Shawn Michaels marked for "OVW" (the then-WWE developmental territory Ohio Valley Wrestling). Given the nature of the departure, it is fair to say that WWE did not have major confidence in members of the group.

Return to OVW Nemeth did, though. He would stay in the WWE developmental system until he re-debuted on RAW in September 2008 - under the name Dolph Ziggler.

Ziggler was largely treated as a comedy character during his first few months back on the main roster, highlighted by his elimination from the 2009 Royal Rumble match at the hands of Kane in just 21 seconds.

A move to SmackDown a few months later saw Ziggler treated far more seriously. He would win his first singles title the following year when he defeated Kofi Kingston for the Intercontinental Championship. "The Show Off" has gone on to hold the belt a total of six times during his WWE run.

Ziggler would go one better in February 2011, when he was awarded the first of his World Heavyweight Championship reigns. The circumstances were anything but glorious, though. Vickie Guerrero - acting as the General Manager of SmackDown - awarded Ziggler the title as a result of Edge having used his "banned" spear during a Championship match between the pair.

Edge then immediately beat Ziggler on the same night to regain the Championship. Ziggler's reign amounted to little more than an angle, but is still acknowledged by WWE as having occurred.

Ziggler's second (and, for now, final) World Heavyweight Championship victory is remembered far more fondly. Having won the 2012 SmackDown Money in the Bank match, Ziggler famously cashed in the briefcase against Alberto Del Rio on the RAW after WrestleMania 29. The reaction to Ziggler's victory was thunderous and remains one of the most well-received cash-ins in WWE history.

ON THIS DAY: @HEELZiggler famously cashed in his #MITB briefcase to become World Heavyweight Champ on #RAW in 2013! https://t.co/wWcxHhtsJB pic.twitter.com/3wS3gfGuMC

— WWE Network (@WWENetwork) April 8, 2017

One of the most versatile Superstars in WWE

Ziggler's second World Heavyweight Championship run lasted just 69 days. In truth, though, he is not a man who particularly needs to be in title contention to contribute.

Although he has feuded with both Kofi Kingston and Drew McIntyre over the WWE Championship in the fairly recent past, Ziggler has other talents which he can bring to enhance WWE television.

His rivalry with Otis over the affections of Mandy Rose was one of WWE's more compelling storylines heading into this year's Wrestlemania. Ziggler has also lately been a part of the RAW commentary team, as well as a competitor on RAW Underground.

#RawUnderground felt like home sweet home for @BraunStrowman as The Monster made a red hot arrival by going up against @HEELZiggler & @riddickMoss!The two #WWERaw Underground mainstays hoped to be goin' out swingin and not have their face down in the dirt! pic.twitter.com/5zYbPgeYP0

— WWE (@WWE) September 17, 2020

It might be approaching 15 years since the man known as Dolph Ziggler first appeared on our television screens, but we have far from seen the last of him.