One week he’s carrying a bag. Another time, he’s holding a megaphone, but it’s his most recent work which has him closer to carrying that ball and becoming a leading force in World Wrestling Entertainment.

The egotistical, overly sarcastic Dolph Ziggler continues to elevate his game, surviving prior roles that returned him to developmental (not once but twice) until ultimately charming the right people for his third time in the show. The latest fit is as natural as the talented superstar.

Ziggler briefly spent time in WWE in 2005 as a caddie for the arrogant Kerwin White (Chavo Guerrero Jr.) and later more time as a member of the goofy, fan-hated, male cheerleading Spirit Squad.

Set in some high-profile angles with the Spirit Squad — a group of young hopefuls from developmental — helped cheerleader Nicky (Ziggler) in his quest to find a truer identity.

Identity found.

Ziggler, 31, is not only the U.S. champ in WWE but someone who can work with top talent. The past two weeks on Monday Night Raw (WWE’s top TV show) spotlighted him in the ring with WWE champ CM Punk (Nov. 21) and former world champ Randy Orton (Nov. 28), WWE A-listers.

Battling for top tier status, Ziggler discussed his Raw match with Punk, since the interview was before his Raw match with Orton.

“A lot of people enjoyed the match, and my family and friends liked it,” Ziggler said. “Honestly, since last Monday, I haven’t been able to sleep that well, because I really wanted that match to be one of the best ever, and it wasn’t. So I have something to build toward, and hopefully we’ll get to do it on a big stage, and if we do, I know we will tear the house down. I know it.”

A confident Ziggler has paid his dues during his roller-coaster ride.

With so few spots available in WWE, second chances are difficult in the world’s top sports entertainment company.

A third? Forget about it.

Ziggler didn’t, defying odds.

“It’s a little scary, no matter how good you think you are or no matter how much you’re progressing,” Ziggler said. “Anytime you’re taken off the full-time roster, and you have to kind of start over and work on your craft some more, when you’re off TV, it’s scary.

“I told myself if I got another chance, if, then I would be 100 percent ready to go. I went to two practices a day. I was watching my tapes. I didn’t want to come back and have them say, ‘Hey, let’s give this guy a shot. Oh, he’s OK.’ I wanted, ‘Wow, this guy could be the best ever,’ and that’s what I’m striving for.

“I was lucky enough to come back, and I’ve been lucky enough to prove a bunch of people wrong, and now I go out there and when I walk back to the locker room, and it’s tough [for those wrestling next on the show] to follow my match.”

Ziggler, the U.S. champ, will wrestle social media fav Long Island Iced-Z Zack Ryder, the self-proclaimed Internet champ, when a WWE Raw house show (no TV) is 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3 at the Bank Atlantic Center in (South Florida) Sunrise. FYI: Sports Illustrated featured Ryder in its list of the 100 most influential social media users in sports. OMG.

“Anytime being in Florida, it’s great,” Ziggler said. “I love the weather. I love the people. I got to train under Steve Keirn and Dusty Rhodes and Dr. Tom Prichard there for a little while.”