PREVIEW: United States Champion Dolph Ziggler vs. John Morrison

Interim Raw General Manager John Laurinaitis may have rejected Zack Ryder’s petition for a United States Championship opportunity, but WWE.com has learned exclusively that the prestigious title will be defended at Survivor Series (FULL STORY). Rather than naming The Long Island Iced-Z as the challenger, however, Mr. Laurinaitis told WWE.com that John Morrison will square off with U.S. Champion Dolph Ziggler. Though surely a disappointment for Ryder, the opportunity couldn’t come at a better time for The Guru of Greatness, who recently reclaimed some of his missing “mojo” after defeating Ziggler.

Mr. Laurinaitis’ decision presents a daunting task for the United States Champion, who was announced earlier in the week as Christian’s replacement on Team Barrett for the traditional 5-on-5 Survivor Series Elimination Match. This will also mark the second time in as many months that Dolph Ziggler has competed in two matches at one pay-per-view event. Though unsuccessful in a tag team match at Vengeance with Jack Swagger against WWE Tag Team Champions “Air Boom,” Ziggler rebounded by defeating Zack Ryder in the very next contest. The U.S. Champion has an opportunity to test his own endurance once again, and show the WWE Locker Room how he defines being a champion.

Although The Shaman of Sexy had fallen into a months-long slump, he bounced back by defeating Ziggler on Raw SuperShow recently, and reminding the WWE Universe why he is one of the most impressive ring warriors of today. The parkour master’s recent resurgence of his “mojo” has clearly not gone unnoticed as Mr. Laurinaitis has presented this amazing opportunity to the former three-time Intercontinental Champion. In all fairness to Zack Ryder, he failed to capture the U.S. Title at Vengeance, thus opening the door for a new challenger.

Of course, Ziggler always has a variable shrieking in his corner in the form of the banshee-like cougar, Vickie Guerrero. John Morrison may be able to adapt to and use the environment around him to his advantage, but nothing can help him adapt to the sound of Vickie’s high-pitched whine when competing against the U.S. Champion.

There is no word yet on which match will take place first for Ziggler, but even if the United States Champion does not survive the Survivor Series Elimination Match, he established at Vengeance that he can indeed handle two high-stakes contests in one night.

Will John Morrison continue to build on his rising mojo and capture the U.S. Title? Or will Ziggler prove that when the United States Championship is on the line, not even competing in two matches is enough to keep him down? Find out at Survivor Series this Sunday, live at 8 ET/5 PT only on pay-per-view.