Dean Ambrose Booking During Build to Payback Reflective of WWE's Current Parity

It's 2015 in WWE, and everybody has a chance.

Despite scoring his first pay-per-view win since September 2013 at Extreme Rules, Dean Ambrose is now a No. 1 contender. In fact, Ambrose joins a pool of No. 1 contenders who will be competing against Seth Rollins in a Fatal 4-Way match at WWE Payback.

The crowded match is a microcosm for a general theme that every WWE Superstar can be relevant during an ambiguous post-WrestleMania season.

As I mentioned in the PodNasty Wrestling Podcast, the midcard used to serve as a live-action almanac of what could have been. But a combination of John Cena as United States champion, effective debuts and impressive returns has added parity to what was once a wasteland. 

Resurgent characters such as Sheamus and King Barrett are bolstering WWE's heel roster. Sheamus received immense heat for brushing off a recent "Kiss Me Arse" stipulation, and his mission to rid WWE of popular underdogs connects with both casual and hardcore fans.

Barrett's King of the Ring victory is being protected thus far. He continues to play a royal character, which will only remind people of his big win while making him a bigger villain for gloating.

The call-up of Neville and the recent Raw debut of Sami Zayn add a fresh flavor to the midcard, with electrifying NXT standouts giving the midcard a feeling of hope rather than demotion.

Through Cena's move to the midcard, seldom-used U.S. title hopeful Heath Slater suddenly finds himself in a multiweek television feud with WWE's top star. Though Slater continues to be denied a shot at the United States Championship, it should not be a surprise if he is the one who defeats Cena on a fluke down the line.

WWE's entire roster is up for grabs. Sure, Rollins is the current WWE world heavyweight champion, but he is booked as an overprotected, entitled prince who could lose the title at any moment. Whether it's due to Kane's erratic decision-making or his own petulant actions, Rollins is a vulnerable world champion, especially when juxtaposed against previous champion Brock Lesnar.

In a perfect world, Ambrose getting his first shot at the WWE World Heavyweight Championship is a sign that WWE is finally taking the character seriously. Fans certainly seemed to take a liking to Ambrose's position.

It seems as if his days as the stagnant underachiever of The Shield are over. This could finally be the moment where Ambrose joins his former brothers in the main event scene and stays there.

But just look at the amount of opportunity that suddenly defines the midcard, compared to the tumultuous nature of the main event picture. It won't help that a show built around Ambrose's entry to the main event was the lowest-rated show of the year, according to ShowBuzzDaily.com (h/t WrestlingInc.com). Until further notice, Ambrose's presence in the main event is merely a product of the system.

Alfred Konuwa is a Featured Columnist and on-air host for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @ThisIsNasty and subscribe to his weekly wrestling podcast.