wrestling / Columns

Don’t Cry For Dean Ambrose

February 11, 2019 | Posted by Justin Watry

Hi, I’m Justin Watry. You may remember me from such columns as March 2012’s “WWE WrestleMania 28: Sheamus Should Defeat Daniel Bryan In Less Than A Minute” and October 2016’s “WWE NXT: Bobby Roode, You’re Next.”

Backstory

WWE has confirmed that Dean Ambrose will be leaving the company in April 2019. Here are my thoughts…

Don’t Cry For Dean Ambrose

Let me take you back, all the way back to late 2012. CM Punk was WWE Champion, Daniel Bryan was the young up and comer with the Money in the Bank briefcase, and the entire industry was about to be injected with three new studs about to lead this generation of wrestling fandom for the next decade. The Shield debuted at Survivor Series 2012, consisting of Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns. They arrived in a big, big way and instantly felt like ‘big time’ players in the game. Here is what history will not tell you on the internet following their initial appearance.

The hand picked star was NOT Roman Reins, despite the millions memes and repeated (unfunny) jokes about making him look strong. Nope, it wasn’t him.

Heck, it wasn’t even Triple H favorite Seth Rollins. That would come into focus years later but not right out of the gate.

The star destined for greatness was Dean Amrbose.

Who got all the promo time?

Who was in the middle of a solo (but halted) mini-feud with WWE legend Mick Foley?

Who won single’s gold first from the group?

Who was selected to wrestle The FREAKIN’ Undertaker on Smackdown in April 2013?

Newsflash ladies and gentlemen, if anybody was handed a silver spoon upon debuting, it was not Reigns or even Rollins. It was Ambrose.

Here is the kicker though: I am not even faulting him. I have written about this before, but Kevin Owens was a favorite behind the scenes, rushed through NXT, held title after title after title after title after title and is openly buddies with the boss. Not a single peep about THAT from the online community because he has more or less earned his stripes. With Ambrose, the dude has been given more than his fair share of opportunities, which is why it is so shocking to see his impending departure meant with a ton of “What if?” questions.

What if? What if what?

Dean Ambrose has been United States Champion. Dean Ambrose has been IC Champion. Dean Ambrose has been a tag team champion. Dean Ambrose has been a Money in the Bank winner. Dean Ambrose is a Royal Rumble runner up. Dean Ambrose has main event a billion different WWE pay-per-views. Dean Ambrose won the WWE Champion for crying out loud! Dean Ambrose has attacked The Rock, The Undertaker, Kane, Seth Rollins, John Cena, Ryback, The Wyatts, and the biggest names in the company. Dean Ambrose has stolen the show at WrestleMania. Dean Ambrose has had a coveted WrestleMania spot versus Brock Lesnar!

Need I go on? Now suddenly, he wants to cut off negotitations, and WWE is the bad guy?

Huh?

Based on all reputable sources, the company is offering him A RAISE! In the seven figures…yet, he has declined, and WWE is getting dumped on?

In what world does that make sense?

Oh, right. The wrestling folks online whining about one of their favorites.

It was the same garbage when CM Punk left. You know, the guy who was ‘buried’ and under valued. Meanwhile, he wrestled Kane, Brock Lesnar, The Undertaker, The Rock, John Cena, JBL, Batista, Daniel Bryan, Jeff Hardy and countless others as WWE Champion for over a year, two-time MITB winner, and can boast a whole bunch of other accolades. Yeah, that guy – who walked out and quit, the one set to face Triple H at WrestleMania that year and win! Yep.

Amazing logic.

WWE is offering Ambrose a raise and comfortable spot on the roster – hence the report he was going to be in the Universal Championship match at WrestleMania against a healthy Roman Reigns. Geez, poor guy. Unlucky SOB. Those dreaded WM spotlights, let me tell you.

I don’t get it from the fan’s point of view. WWE has been nothing but fair to Ambrose for the past six plus years. They have gone above and beyond, even when he has put on sleepy promos, bombed badly as WWE Champion in 2016 and basically killed off the once great Stone Cold Podcast on the WWE Network. Still, he was a very talented performer and was showcased thoroughly.

Now, from Dean’s point of view, he is a man and can do as he chooses. I have no ill will towards him for wanting to leave WWE. If All Elite Wrestling is going to offer him a truck load of cash to sign, by all means. Take the money. I am not going to fault anybody for cashing in right now when so many companies are waving around dollar bills. Remember I am actually quite optimistic about AEW starting up. If he is getting a big payday soon (bigger than WWE’s), I support the dude 100 percent.

Same as if he is just taking time off to chill at home with family and friends. He is probably burned out after wrestling for so long. Who know what his time off and return did to his body? I imagine he is healthy, but as a life as a wrestler, there will always be wear and tear with the travel. Dean Ambrose may need to re-charge the batteries for awhile and again, there is nothing wrong with that. Good on him for looking out for his long-term future.

There is no bashing of Ambrose. Heck, even if he ends up staying last minute, cool. Pick up right where he left off and keep the train moving.

His fanbase though? Calm down. Seriously. Take a seat…and no, not in the Ambrose Asylum…