Let’s go back… Right back, to the time Dean Ambrose was part of that three-way team that destroyed everyone — that’s it: The Shield!
With gelled up hair, a menacing look that was comparable to The Joker and a tone of voice that meant business. It is time to revisit those days. This was the time WWE took full advantage of The Lunatic Fringe, playing a threatening heel, that would do anything to win.
Some would call him the ‘weak link’ of the group, but I would call him the most compelling character away from it. Roman Reigns was known as the ‘muscle’ and Seth Rollins the ‘architect’. Both simply names, that were effective, but not half as effective as the way Ambrose’s character was perceived. An almost dirty looking character, with an aggressive offense that matched. Daniel Bryan had the best description: “grittiness, that you won’t find anywhere else in a wrestler.”
Dean Ambrose’s “Street Fight” – note the use of exclamation marks – was quite possibly the biggest let down at WrestleMania 32. With a card that looked average, this should have been the match that stole the show. Given Ambrose’s background at CZW – the pro wrestling company known for being ‘ultra violent’ – you’d have thought he’d be able to let loose, even if just a little bit? Of course it wasn’t going to be an all out ‘bloodfest’, but at least give us our monies worth!
From a personal standpoint, I was looking forward to this match the most. So imagine how disappointed I was when they gave them less than 13 minutes to let Brock Lesnar dominate, delivering suplex, after suplex. Then tease the baseball bat covered in barbed wire – handed down by The Hardcore Legend Mick Foley – only to let Brock hit one F5 for the win.
To put it simply, the match was a complete disaster.
The only positive thing I can say is that Brock looked like a beast – but in my opinion, the time for ‘Suplex City’ is well over. Anyway, this is one example of why Ambrose needs to be freshened up. He needs to come back with a vengeance in a hope that he can start to build up more credibility. At the moment, putting smiles on kids faces just isn’t cutting it!
Since The Shield broke up, Ambrose has unquestionably taken the biggest fall. At WrestleMania 31, Seth Rollins went on to win Money In The Bank; being the first ever man to win at WrestleMania using the briefcase. Roman Reigns was headlining that show with the undefeated Brock Lesnar. Both men were booked as strong characters: one fighting for The Authority, the other fighting against. While this was happening, Ambrose was featured in a Ladder Match for the Intercontinental Championship.
Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed the kick off to WrestleMania 31 with Bryan winning the title. But what I didn’t enjoy was the fact Ambrose was in this match to begin with.
But even after Mania, Rollins and Reigns continued to push further: Rollins became the first Superstar to win the WWE Championship and United States Championship at the same time. He defeated Sting while facing John Cena on the same night and became Superstar of the Year in 2015.
Roman Reigns won a Royal Rumble, has won the WWE Championship 3 times, and was Superstar of the Year in 2014. Meanwhile, Ambrose has lost feud after feud. Sure, he did defeat Kevin Owens for the Intercontinental Title at TLC last year, but the reign was laughable, only lasting 64 days! He has even lost to his former Shield ‘brothers’ for the WWE Championship on multiple occasions.
Some people’s argument would be that wins and losses don’t matter? And to a large extent, I agree. After all, Zack Ryder has been jobbing for nearly half a decade and he ended up winning the Intercontinental Title in a match with Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. Since Ambrose split from The Shield, his PPV record is 5-16. He won a Street Fight that ended up in separate segments against Luke Harper at Extreme Rules last year. A ‘DQ’ victory over Seth Rollins at Elimination Chamber. A tag team victory with Roman Reigns at SummerSlam. And three consecutive victories against Kevin Owens at Survivor Series, TLC and Royal Rumble. That record isn’t particularly impressive.
Ambrose has accomplished nothing compared to the other members of The Shield. Saying that, I can’t discredit Ambrose’s incredible reaction when feuding with Rollins. But it seems he can only really get a great reaction when paired against Rollins, as a face at least. Of course he ended up losing the feud in Hell In A Cell with interference from Bray Wyatt, whom he would also lose to. But anyway, enough of the past. Lets discuss why Ambrose should turn heel!
Ambrose is currently booked as a knock off cartoon villain from a kids show. From his weird facial expressions to the way he comes back from heel promos, using his aggressive yet passionate speech on how he’s going to ‘dig deep’, and find it in him to win.
He gives off a vibe that he wants to cause havoc. This means he will do anything to win, traits which once featured in his previous gimmick. The only difference being that Ambrose used to win matches and prove his point. Now he losses, and looks weaker. Okay, it makes him more sympathetic. But uNeil he makes a difference, he’s stuck at a crossroads.
If Ambrose was a heel, attacking his enemies backstage – looking into the microphone and verbally destroying opponents, he’d be much more effective. Instead, he’s out there with his tank-top and jeans hitting stupid looking clotheslines from the middle rope.
What Ambrose needs to do is come out one night on RAW, and attack a sympathetic face. He then needs to say something along the lines of “Since I split from The Shield, I’ve done nothing but fight The Authority and be a nice guy, and what has that gotten me? Nothing. So I no longer care about you people, or anyone else. The only person I’m looking out for is me.”
Now, Ambrose isn’t a monster heel, but the difference was the change in attitude. This could really do wonders for Ambrose, and the main point is you are developing the character. It’s simply a ‘good guy, gone bad’ situation. Him as a ‘tweener’ may work, but Ambrose as a full heel would work much better. He needs to replace his semi-grin with a menacing scowl. He needs to develop more mature moves in the ring and take nonsense from no one. He needs to get rid of ‘The Lunatic Fringe’ and just become a straight up ass-kicker!
I believe a heel Ambrose and a face Rollins would make for a much better feud, if the roles were reversed. Rollins, being described as the next Jeff Hardy – incredibly athletic, and has an outstanding repertoire. Ambrose being compared to the next Stone Cold – incredible on the mic, and taking a no nonsense approach. This could be magic, once again.
WrestleMania proved that having Ambrose as a face just simply doesn’t work. Heel Ambrose must occur this year. Unleash the heel wanting to get out of Ambrose, and let him prove to us his worth as an ass-kicking machine. Let him prove he’s the “IronMan of WWE”, placing him in matches fitting of a great face opponent. It’s time we see the new and improved Ambrose. One that makes us both excited and scared, at the same time.
The match at Mania was booked the way it SHOULD be booked.
Get real – you think in real life Ambrose had a shot against Brock? – Brock ended the Streak – he SHOULD be made to look strong because well…he IS.
That said – you might as well turn Ambrose heel because he isn’t over as a face anymore.
I thought when he left the Shield he would shine.
But by himself – he is annoying and not that good on mic – the way he taps that mic with his index finger drives me nuts. The edgiest thing he did was quirt someone with mustard and ketchup.
He isn’t that good.
Well I don’t know about you but it doesn’t matter how big you are if you get hit by a hard weapon, that was the point of the street fight..
Also the point was to make him look good in the match, not really win. No one was really expecting that. Also the dude is great on the mic, and is one of the most popular guys on the roster. So apparently unlike what you said, the guy is that good,
Everything you said is YOUR opinion.
When he draws 6 million on a Monday like Rock or Stone Cold, THEN talk to me.
But all you have to do is listen to his reactions – he doesn’t get the pop he used to – I listen to him on mic and he is just reading a script, and not all that well.
Steen is another guy who is overrated – can’t believe how robotic he sounds on mic in WWE – he sounds so fake and like he is reading something memorized.
Sorry – I know you Universe members think they’re great – but I have watched a lot of wrestling in my life – and Steen, Ambrose and WWE?
They aren’t great.
Trust me.
So you’re blaming the drop in ratings to one person who wasn’t even on the show last week and was barely on the show this week? The blame would go to the people headlining the show and behind the scenes. Why trust you when you have the audacity to say if theyre great they should be drawing like the Rock and Austin? Do you know how you sound?
And about Ambrose, yes he is quite popular, they’ve just killed his momentum coming out of that awful Brock feud. Not to mention that Dean Ambrose is one of their top merchandise sellers.
WWE is a different breed today with a different view than it had 15 years ago. They micromanage and 50/50 book everything to the point hardly anyone is allowed to be themselves and get over.
The fact you say they have to draw 6 million in order to show their greatness, probably just proves you don’t know what you’re talking about.
Oh X2C, go back to Inc.
WWE had a 2.50 two weeks after Mania, when that show is supposed to be a springboard and create interest.
That says it all.
And Ambrose was terrible this week with Jericho on mic.
And that is FACT – not my opinion.
When I say something – it is fact and NOT opinion. And I will NEVER think differently on that.
End of story.
Talk to me again when RAW hits a 4.0 rating.
And if Ambrose is a god on earth as you suggest, then his appearance on RAW should have been enough to lift it to at least a 3 rating.
literally no one is saying he is a god. We’re saying he is a great performer and there is potential that WWE isn’t capitalizing on.
I think you are absolutely 110% wrong – WWE pushed him right around that time I am talking about the ketchup and mustard.
They gave him the ball for a month or two and made him the focus – especially with that feud with Rollins – I think they gave him a chance actually – and I watched him closely.
His promos weren’t that great, and I noticed just like now – his pops went down and down – sure some marks like him, but that is it.
Just like ZIggler etc.
You people latch on and say he is gonna be so great and it never happens.
they put him in THE feud in the company against Rollins, and he fell flat – Ambrose is a midcarder – EVERYONE in WWE pretyy much is.
All these NXT guys – I couldn’t see them being stars in the 80s, they’d be mid-carders AT BEST – and most probably would have been enhancement talent in the 80s like Barry Horowitz or Sal Bellomo.
That is fact.
These guys I see the IWC worship?
I see that and I’m like pfffft.
They gave Ambrose a GREAT push against Rollins, and Ambrose dropped the ball – his voice and delivery gets grating and old after a while.
Two weeks after Mania – RAW got a 2.5 rating and lost over 15% of its audience from the week before.
If Ambrose is so great, why the drop?
Doesn’t seem all that many people are interested in him.
Taker has been pulled from Europe and may be retired.
He should have quit after Wrestlemania 26 and the two HBK matches – his legend would be amazing – but he hung around too long and the streak ended.
It almost serves him right, cuz he should have quit after 26.
He has become a parody of himself and the programs have stunk, especially the Son In Law ones.
Stone Cold sprayed people with a beer hose.
Ambrose came down with a hot dog cart and squirted guys with ketchup and mustard.
All you need to know about the current WWE….. and Jonny Good Ambrose.
WWE keeps bringing these guys up from NXT and they are garbage – I don’t see a mega-star in the bunch.
Vinnie Mac brought this upon himself when he killed all those companies.
WWE builds that center and starts that NXT vanilla midget garbage, and they think that equates to bringing in a Hogan from the AWA or Von Erich from World Class, or Flair or Piper from the NWA.
It doesn’t work like that – you can’t go to that NXT junk for one year and then go to WWE and be Ric Flair.
Vince killed wrestling.
When Ambrose was in that high-profile feud with Rollins, it did nothing for ratings.