Dean Ambrose Needs a Marquee Storyline Coming Out of Royal Rumble

Since the breakup of The Shield, WWE Superstar Dean Ambrose has been one of the top singles competitors in the company and one of the most popular wrestlers on the roster.

But after spending what feels like every waking moment since the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view fighting Bray Wyatt in a feud with no real storyline, it is imperative that WWE gives him a marquee storyline coming out of the 2015 Royal Rumble.

Ambrose was part of the most dominant trio in recent memory with The Shield but was crossed by former friend Seth Rollins in June of last year. What ensued was an extended program between the two men that featured amazing matches on television and PPV.

What made this feud so great was that there was a story to tell. There was genuine animosity between Ambrose and Rollins after the split of The Shield, and the WWE Universe had a vested interest in the program. While Ambrose went on to ultimately put over Rollins, he looked like his equal throughout the angle.

On the other hand, Ambrose was launched into a new storyline with Wyatt following the Hell in a Cell PPV that had little development or reason. Wyatt’s vague promos were fantastic on their own, but with few conceivable reasons for the two men to square off, the feud didn’t have the longevity with the crowds that WWE had hoped for.

Another huge problem could be the fact that the two men fought the same match on at least four separate occasions on TV and PPV.

It takes a great story to make the fans care about wrestlers and what they're doing in the ring. As memorable as the work between Wyatt and Ambrose was in the hardcore element, even fans of both performers grew tired of the same spots over and over again.

Losing the Ambulance match may have made Ambrose look weak temporarily, but it mercifully ended the feud. Thankfully, Ambrose has the talent on the mic and in the ring to get the crowds back on his side right away.

Even after taking several marquee losses, Ambrose is still brimming with top-face potential. With an antihero gimmick and the departure of CM Punk from the company, Ambrose has the potential to fill that role for many wrestling fans.

With a unique style in the ring and on the mic and an irreverent attitude, the fans looking for characters with depth and personality cannot help but be drawn to The Lunatic Fringe.

The key to capitalizing on Ambrose’s ability to connect with the fans is to give him a marquee storyline. As seen from his time working alongside John Cena and even butting heads with the face of the company, he can stand toe-to-toe with the best in the business and hold his own.

Of all the possible storylines for Ambrose to get involved in following Royal Rumble, there is none larger or more important than the return of The Authority. After having problems with Triple H and Stephanie McMahon for months due to their ties with Rollins and the breakup of The Shield, there is no better way to make Ambrose look stronger than by turning his focus on The Authority heading into WrestleMania.

The return of The Authority has been a sore spot with the WWE Universe due to the rushed nature of the storyline, and Ambrose's possible elimination from the Royal Rumble match by Kane or another member of The Authority would spawn a WrestleMania-worthy storyline that could culminate in an unforgettable moment at the biggest PPV of the year.

Looking back now, WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley knew exactly what he was talking about in 2012:

The perfect scenario for Ambrose would surround the Triple Threat WWE Championship match between Brock Lesnar, Cena and Rollins. With Ambrose swearing in the past that he would do whatever he could to stop any and all of Rollins' Money in the Bank cash-in attempts, he could hit the ring as Rollins is about to cash in at the PPV and thwart The Authority's master plan.

That would certainly draw the ire of Triple H and Stephanie McMahon.

Not only would the fans get the continuation of the fantastic Rollins-Ambrose feud, but the WWE Universe would also be treated to the most intriguing holdover feud in recent history. Rollins' successful cash-in attempt should take place at WrestleMania, which would successfully move him away from the angle with Ambrose.

From there, the hope is that the company sees the legitimate success of Ambrose as one of the top stars in the wrestling business today and continues booking him strongly heading into the Extreme Rules PPV.

As one of the most talented all-around performers on the roster, Ambrose needs to be in marquee storylines at all times. Whether it’s fighting Rollins, Wyatt or anyone else, Ambrose is a star right now and needs to be part of a storyline that the fans can understand and support.

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