Dean Ambrose Represents Biggest Waste of Talent in WrestleMania Ladder Match

It was not all that long ago that Dean Ambrose was the hottest star on a World Wrestling Entertainment roster ripe with young and intriguing talent.

An antihero fans had been waiting to throw their support behind since the height of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and The Rock, he was wild and unpredictable. Most importantly, he was the sworn enemy of the hated Authority, increasing his popularity tenfold.

Rather than following up on the undeniable momentum Ambrose had behind him following late-year wars with Seth Rollins and Bray Wyatt, the company took the spotlight off him, focusing it instead on the likes of Roman Reigns, Randy Orton, Triple H, Brock Lesnar, Rollins and Wyatt, allowing him to slump into the midcard.

Now, instead of participating in something meaningful at WrestleMania, he is stuck in a Ladder match involving six other Superstars in a similar position. 

In a match also featuring a Superstar who stood atop the WWE mountain just one year earlier in Daniel Bryan, arguably the most over babyface on the entire roster, Ambrose represents the biggest waste of talent on entire card.

The fact that WWE is wasting such a dynamic talent, whose connection is apparent in the reactions he receives upon his entrance every week, is a shining example of how poorly booked the company's midcard is on a regular basis.

Rather than spreading quality stories throughout the roster, WWE Creative opts to focus almost primarily on the main event stars, leaving the rest of the roster to fend for themselves in multiple-competitor matches with little or no long-term meaning.

Sure, the contest is guaranteed to deliver a few high spots that will make the company's sizzle reel, and it is one of the early contenders for match of the night, but it is a major disappointment to see a character who is so ripe with potential for entertaining and crowd-pleasing moments and matches stuck in a match with other stars the company had nothing else better for.

Unlike his former Shield teammates Rollins and Reigns, Ambrose has been unable to maintain the interest of the writing staff on the road to WrestleMania, which is questionable considering the fact that the Lunatic Fringe has enjoyed the most consistent reactions of any of the three Hounds of Justice.

There is plenty of time for Ambrose to rebound after the Showcase of the Immortals. It is probable, too, given the fact that one look at WWE's merchandise website WWEShop.com suggests the company recognizes his popularity and merchandise potential.

But that does not erase the problem: WWE Creative's inability to put its most over talent in the position to succeed at the highest levels possible.

So, for another year, a star deserving of a high-profile position on the most important card known to sports entertainment will be forced to steal the show from underneath the marquee matches instead of actually competing in those bouts.