Kevin Owens vs. Dean Ambrose Feud Must Be High-Priority for WWE

A high-voltage energy surges through the Kevin Owens vs. Dean Ambrose rivalry, waiting for WWE to tap into it.

The feud has too much potential to just be a midcard affair. It's capable of being a means to invigorate the Intercontinental Championship, lay the foundation for WrestleMania 32 and catapult two of the brightest stars on the roster.

WWE's writing team can't treat this like it did Ryback vs. Owens, with little forethought, letting the story fizzle out. 

Owens and Ambrose are both special talents. Both men thrive when armed with a microphone, brandishing a compelling energy on promos that few of their peers can match. Each foe boasts a unique in-ring style that allows them to stand out.

And The Lunatic Fringe and the IC champ have the rare ability to appeal to the casual fans as well as the diehards.

The Internet Wrestling Community often favors those wrestlers who have a real-life underdog story, one that saw them grinding their way through the independent circuit. That's true for each half of this IC title feud.

Ambrose grew up in a gritty, crime-rich part of Cincinnati. He then cut his teeth in bloody matches for Combat Zone Wrestling, developing a loyal fanbase along the way.

Owens spent a decade on the independent circuit before finally getting a shot at NXT. And as former WWE Creative member Andrew Goldstein noted on Twitter, there are parallels between Owens and CM Punk:

As quick-witted, risk-taking, one-of-a-kind performers, Owens and Ambrose both draw fans in who don't know or care about their indy backgrounds. 

Pitting them against each other creates an opportunity to showcase them, to craft a story that promises to be top-notch entertainment.

For one, WWE knows full well that their matches will be spectacular together. Their clash at Survivor Series was a peek at their great chemistry.

Add to that how skilled each man is as a talker, and the entertainment value of their feud grows. Owens has quickly established himself as a powerfully smug heel extraordinaire. Ambrose's frenzied, off-kilter promo style has long been a highlight of WWE programming.

With all that talent crammed into a single narrative, the company has every opportunity to make the hunt for the IC title feel momentous again. 

That should be one of WWE's goals here. John Cena's two recent reigns as United States champ have elevated the profile and prestige of that title. Ambrose and Owens are the right men to do that for what is supposed to be the second most important championship in WWE.

This could be Triple H vs. The Rock or else Randy Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat all over again.  

The more the company treats this ongoing clash as a big deal, the easier booking WrestleMania will be, too. If it's made a high-profile story, Owens will be better positioned to be ready for a match that WWE is reportedly at least open to booking him in.

Former WWE writer Court Bauer mentioned on MLW Radio (h/t Wrestling Inc) that the company is considering having Brock Lesnar face Owens at the biggest event of the year. If that proves to be true, Owens needs to be dripping with momentum to pull that off.

A set of marquee showdowns with The Lunatic Fringe can be key to that.

Plus, done right, Ambrose can come out looking like a bigger deal, even if he loses his personal war. That helps WWE make Ambrose's WrestleMania match more of a draw, too.

To accomplish all that, WWE simply needs to put the same kind of effort into Owens vs. Ambrose as it does in trying to make Roman Reigns a top babyface. 

These two foes need plenty of promo time to show off their skills. On top of that, the rivalry needs creative storytelling. WWE has to draw up memorable incidents between them. Maybe Owens drives over Ambrose with a car. Maybe the two enemies brawl in an alley. 

There just needs to be images out of the ordinary, a narrative compelling enough to make full use of these two warriors' talents.

Credit: WWE.com

And cap it all off with a proper climax, be it a Steel Cage match or Last Man Standing match where the enemies leave behind a trail of wreckage.

Justin LaBar, host of Chair Shot Reality, wrote for TribLive.com that Owens is "the wrestler WWE needs to invest in now." He's right. Owens is an electric presence, a unique, standout Superstar capable of being a cornerstone for the company. 

But that holds true for Ambrose, as well. Fans have made it clear with their vocal reaction to him that they are thrilled at what he's building.

Ambrose against Owens can be just another title-centered feud, or it can be a dynamic force that generates momentum enough to share. Not turning it into the latter will be a missed opportunity.