UPDATE: Turns out, he hasn't.
Rumors started earlier this week that Dolph Ziggler's contract with WWE was up, and picked up steam with reports of interest from other companies and jokes by The Show-Off himself at his side-gig as a stand-up comedian indicating he might be considering life after sports entertainment.
According to a new report from Mike Johnson at PWInsider.com, however, Ziggler has opted to stay with WWE, signing a multi-year deal that will keep him exclusive to the Stamford, Connecticut-based corporation. Johnson indicates that the deal was reached weeks ago, before the speculation about his leaving even started.
While many of his fans don't like the way he's used, and Dolph himself has issued some bitter-sounding comments about his booking in the past, the fact remains that he's a prominent piece of WWE storytelling. His current angle with Lana and Rusev gets mixed reviews, but keeps him front and center on Raw, SmackDown and online.
Factor in a role on the new WWE Network series Swerved, and the near-guarantee of being a featured player on the biggest possible stage has apparently beaten out the chance at becoming a star on a number of smaller ones.
There are no specifics in, or a WWE confirmation of, Johnson's report yet. We'll bring those to you when/if they come.
Excited for more Dolph Ziggler, WWE Superstar? Or bummed we won't see what Nick Nemeth could have done in TNA, Ring of Honor, Lucha Underground and/or New Japan Pro Wrestling?