Dean Ambrose Needs a Heel Turn for True Success in WWE

In a way, WWE fans have not seen the true potential of the Dean Ambrose character since he was in developmental. Maybe a heel turn will revive the demented Lunatic Fringe many fans want to see.

One of the most important keys to the success of any superstar in World Wrestling Entertainment, or anywhere else in the industry, is to have a character that has a lot of depth beneath it. That can be done through the solid promotional speeches they give before or after matches, or in the segments aired from behind the curtain or pre-taped somewhere else.

And while Dean Ambrose has gained a cult following among the WWE Universe, it feels like we aren’t getting the true potential of the Lunatic Fringe. As far as what has been found on WWE television, the closest we got was a promo on the June 9, 2014, episode of Monday Night Raw as part of the aftermath of Seth Rollins’ turn against the Shield.

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It was the way he held onto the mic, how he looked as if he wanted to break something right then and there. That is a glimpse into what the Ambrose character should be. The problem is, you can only let someone get so dark and twisted when they are a babyface. It’s not impossible, but limited in the PG era of WWE television we watch today.

So how do we turn Ambrose back to a heel? Well, that would require him to do what was a big part of the Rollins storyline – having him turn against Roman Reigns and it will be a great option for the pair after Reigns concludes his feud with Bray Wyatt at Hell in a Cell on October 25.

That doesn’t mean Ambrose should be costing Reigns the match. In fact, the heel turn could be a slow burn where the seeds are planted shortly after the pay-per-view. When someone is mentally unstable, they start to think things that aren’t necessarily true and maybe they can have Reigns and Ambrose lose some matches together where Ambrose can start developing some doubts – i.e. Reigns on the outside fighting while Ambrose can’t get a tag to get out of the ring.

I think a paranoid Ambrose, mixed well with the obsession of exacting revenge can be easily branched to other storylines where he realizes that the best way to find success in the WWE is to be a lone wolf. It’s part of what made him so interesting in FCW.

Ambrose came up through Florida Championship Wrestling – which was the development territory for WWE before the NXT we know and love was formed – and was one of the biggest draws in an instant feud with Seth Rollins for the FCW 15 Championship medal that started in the summer of 2011.

It was quick to note that the character back then was mentally disturbed and demented, similar to how he developed on the independent circuit. The two showed amazing matches that ended in no decision and as the rivalry continued, you saw Ambrose become more obsessed with getting that victory

But he continued to grow and had his best program with William Regal where he drew the former European and Intercontinental Champion from behind the commentator’s table and back into the ring for an instant classic in front of the FCW crowd. Despite the loss, Ambrose continued to grow more popular for his promos and tried desperately to get a rematch.

There were a number of great parts to this story where one of the greatest villains of the Attitude Era, who really should have had at least one run with the world title, was passing the torch off to the younger protégé.

If you need more proof that Ambrose should be turned into a heel, just do a search on YouTube of his indie persona, Jon Moxley. While the PG era can limit some of the things he can say, the writers and staff can still give him some room to breathe, be creative and entertain in the way that has worked best for him because right now, he’s simply a Robin to Reigns’ Batman.

And if Reigns is like Batman, then the WWE needs a Joker to provide a balance in the universe.

You can follow Rob Wolkenbrod on Twitter @RealRobWolkey. If you would like to send a report from a live event, email us at robert.wolkenbrod@gmail.com.

Next: Dean Ambrose to Get Main Event Push?

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