Dean Ambrose Isn't Getting the Respect He Deserves as WWE Champion

Dean Ambrose won the WWE World Heavyweight Championship on June 19 at Money in the Bank. Eight days later, he was curiously referred to on Monday Night Raw as the "WWE champion." The following Thursday on SmackDown, he was laid out by The Miz in the middle of the ring.

Meanwhile, fans can't stop talking about Roman Reigns' controversial suspension and even more controversial return. It seems that no matter how much he deserves the attention, Ambrose just can't catch a break.

Winning the biggest championship in the industry should be the crowning achievement of his career. It should have put him on a different level, higher than he has ever been before. Wearing the gold should have immediately meant a much more emphasized role in the ring and among the other talent.

But instead, fans seem to be watching the same Dean Ambrose, as if nothing changed.

It's a statement on WWE's part; Ambrose is the worker he was before, and he's going to work just like he did before. There's nothing wrong with that, as Ambrose is one of the best talents in the company.

It's only logical that he be a fighting champion.

The promo that he cut the night after he won the belt seemed to reinforce his new spot as well. He was more focused and intense than he's ever been in WWE. This was a guy who had finally come into his own, and he was ready for the responsibility that he had been trusted with.

Why wouldn't he continue to ply his craft in the ring? That was part of why he's now holding the belt.

But he doesn't look like a champion right now. Maybe it's because the company is saving him from getting involved in any major feuds before Battleground on July 24. Or maybe it's because the more matches he works, the more likely he is to possibly get hurt in the ring.

So he just doesn't have the opportunity to strut, show what he's made of and impress fans every time he's on TV.

He's riding the popularity he has and the character that's gotten him this far. He's doing what every other WWE Superstar is supposed to do. But he's not just any other WWE Superstar anymore, and that's the problem.

Ambrose's character was not built to reign as the top champion. That's not to say he shouldn't have the title, but he is more of a personality than a top guy. He's always rolled with the punches and played the part of the headcase in every storyline, and he's done it so much that it's become part of who he is.

So when that character is sent in another direction, necessary changes must be made.

But how does WWE do that? Fans do not want to see Ambrose change too much; he's this popular for a reason. Ambrose has connected with fans, and he's earned their trust. He's also earned their respect, and that means more than anything. 

The most obvious answer here is the booking.

It's obvious, and it's easy. Good booking fixes everything, and that is true in Ambrose's case. Allowing The Miz to put Ambrose flat on his back didn't help the new champ at all, as The Lunatic Fringe should be held to a higher standard now.

It's not to say that Miz has not earned his spot as well, but he has not been a world-title contender for a long time.

To see Ambrose laid out that soon after winning the championship was shocking. It may have just been a way to set up two matches against Miz, but it left him looking weak in the fans' eyes.

This must stop. Ambrose needs to appear stronger than ever, he needs to be at the top of his game and he must do all of this while exuding full confidence in himself. When fans see Ambrose in the ring, they need to believe he has matters well in hand.

His matches can still be competitive, but if he gives his opponent too much, he is impacted in a negative fashion.

He's been fairly quiet about Reigns, and that may or may not have helped him. Seth Rollins has been vocal about Reigns' suspension, and it's working for him as he attempts to resume his role as WWE's top heel.

But Ambrose and Reigns were once best friends, as their association outlasted the one they shared with Rollins in The Shield. Now that Reigns is out of the picture, it is curious that Ambrose has not publicly defended him more than he has. 

Of course, Reigns is still a polarizing figure, and maybe Ambrose has kept quiet because of that.

Because of Reigns' continued main event spotlight and Rollins' return to form, Ambrose's title run is beginning to feel like a fill-in reign. But if it is indeed temporary, that would be a shame for Ambrose. 

He has worked too hard and come too far to be kicked back down now. 

He can be championship material, but the company has to be more supportive of him to make that happen. He's much more than just a minor player in the feud between Rollins and Reigns; he's an integral part of WWE and the top titleholder right now. Despite any changes that the company may have planned for its top championship, Ambrose is still the man wearing the gold, and he must be treated like it.

He is more than capable of carrying the weight and responsibility that goes along with being champion. WWE must give him the respect he deserves because he's earned it. His time to shine is now, and he should be allowed to do just that.

Tom Clark can regularly be seen on Bleacher Report. His podcast, Tom Clark's Main Event, is available on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Android, Windows Phone and online here