Dean Ambrose Talks Roddy Piper, Being Face or Heel, More in Exclusive Interview

“Stone Cold” Steve Austin once told me that the Superstars with the most effective on-screen characters are the guys who aren’t going that far away from who they are in real life. It seems that’s the formula Dean Ambrose has taken in carving his niche in the business.

During SummerSlam weekend, I had a chance to catch up with "The Lunatic Fringe.”

In case you hadn't noticed, Ambrose is one of the most magnetic young stars in the WWE today. His hardcore style, edgy and borderline kooky persona has put him way over with the WWE Universe. It seems just a matter of time before he gets a run at the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

Ever wonder how Ambrose and a few other guys manage to not only wrestle, but also pull off death-defying stunts in denim jeans? He unveiled his secret.

The jeans certainly fit his Everyman appeal and rugged origin.

Ambrose grew up in a tough neighborhood in Cincinnati where crime and violence were commonplace. He spoke briefly about how those beginnings helped to shape the persona/person you see in the ring.

"Nobody sat in a room and created Dean Ambrose," he said.

How could they? A character so over the top, unpredictable and less-than even-keeled has to be an organic creation.

An amalgamation of experiences, influences and entertaining idiosyncrasies has given us one of the more compelling microphone performers in the industry today. While he hasn’t completely turned the corner and become a mic legend just yet, the talent is certainly there.

We probably haven't seen anyone like him since the late "Rowdy" Roddy Piper.

Ambrose talked about a specific interaction with Piper and how it helped to shape him in the business. Like Piper, Ambrose's style makes him equally effective as a face or a heel. But which side does he prefer to play? Ambrose answers that and a few more questions in the exclusive interview in the video above.

Check it out.

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