Dolph Ziggler says Kurt Angle helped him forge a WWE career

Without Kurt Angle, Dolph Ziggler might not have made it to WWE.

That's the view of Ziggler, who believes Olympic champion Angle's success helped amateur wrestling standouts like himself earn an opportunity.

Angle, who will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on March 31, won gold in freestyle wrestling at the 1996 Games in Atlanta, before embarking on a WWE career which yielded six world titles.

Wrestling legend Kurt Angle will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame during the week of WrestleMania 33 Wrestling legend Kurt Angle will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame during the week of WrestleMania 33

And Ziggler, a successful collegiate grappler during his time at Kent State University, says he would be honoured to face the 48-year-old.

"When I was looking to get into the business, Kurt was doing so well with WWE, learning so fast and being so great at his job," said Ziggler, ahead of Sunday's Royal Rumble pay-per-view, which you can watch live on Sky Sports Box Office.

"Because of how awesome he was, I got a try-out with WWE. Guys like him paved the way for guys like me who wrestled in college.

"If there was a chance to get in the ring with him, it would be a dream come true. I have nothing but all the respect in the world for him."

Scott Steiner. Hearing those sirens go off and him coming out with his headdress – I would love it. He is my dad’s favourite wrestler so maybe I would superkick him out to win my dad’s affection back! Who would Ziggler like to appear in the Rumble?

Ziggler will be one of the 30 men targeting a world-title opportunity at WrestleMania 33 when he competes in this weekend's 30th annual Royal Rumble Match in San Antonio, Texas.

The Show-Off will be up against, among others, industry legends The Undertaker, Brock Lesnar and Goldberg, but believes his endurance levels will help him go far.

"I am never the favourite but I live for that," said Ziggler, who has competed in the previous eight Royal Rumbles. "I know how good I am and the fans know how good I am.

I like No 1. I don’t want to be called an iron man or told I’m really good at hanging on for a long time – I want to be the guy who starts and finishes and one of these days that just might happen. What number would Ziggler like in the Rumble?

"I'd love to be in the ring with guys like Goldberg, Brock Lesnar and The Undertaker as no matter what they've done, I know how good my conditioning is.

"If those three can say the same thing, I'd love to go and hang with them because I don't think they could hang with me."

The Royal Rumble, in which wrestlers are eliminated when they are thrown from the ring over the top rope, remains one of WWE's most eye-catching events, with surprise entrants frequently appearing.

AJ Styles made his WWE bow in the contest last year, while in 2015, there were shock returns for Bubba Ray Dudley, The Boogeyman and Diamond Dallas Page.

I remember when Mr Perfect, Curt Hennig, came back (in 2002). He ended up in the final three and doing such spectacular things. As such a big fan of his, that’s something I will never forget. What is Ziggler's favourite Rumble memory?

"As a fan or a worker, the idea is pretty cool," Ziggler added.

"You don't know who's going to come out and even if you do have an idea, when you do get out there you don't know who's coming after you.

"Someone could be hurt, someone could be teetering on the edge. It's a pretty exciting time.

"Whether you've been around for a long time, like myself, or are new, you are always wondering whether you will be able to get out there and show your stuff."

Watch the 2017 Royal Rumble, live on Sky Sports Box Office Watch the 2017 Royal Rumble, live on Sky Sports Box Office

WWE Royal Rumble booking details

WWE Royal Rumble will be shown live on Sky Sports Box Office (channel 491) and Sky Sports HD Box Office (channel 492) from midnight Monday, January 30.

The pay-per-view will cost £19.95 for viewers in the United Kingdom and €24.95 for customers in the Republic of Ireland.

WWE Royal Rumble will repeated on Sky Sports Box Office (channel 491) BUT NOT Sky Sports HD Box Office (channel 492) between 10am on Monday, January 30 and 8pm on Thursday, February 2 - 8pm is the start of the final playout.

A live blog of WWE Royal Rumble will run on skysports.com and the Sky Sports app during the event, featuring text commentary, social media and short highlight clips.

You can order the show by visiting this link: https://my.sky.com/orderboxoffice/?DCMP=WWERoyalRumble

You can also book the event over the phone: UK viewers should call 03442 410 888, while customers in the Republic of Ireland should call 0818 220 225. (There may be an additional charge for telephone bookings).

You will also be able to order the show via your Sky remote nearer the event:

Sky+: Press the box office button on your remote, then click the sports tab followed by WWE Royal Rumble.

Sky Q: Press Home on your Sky Q remote, select TV guide, then Box Office and then WWE Royal Rumble. Enter your TV Pin if prompted. (Only bookings via Sky TV remote are recordable using Sky Plus).

Sky TV residential customers only. Commercial customers contact Sky for price and to order. Sky Box Office terms apply. Cable customers should contact their local cable operator.