Dean Ambrose Defeating Kevin Owens at WWE TLC was the Right Call
By Evan Gomes
Was putting the IC Title on Dean Ambrose the right call?
At the TLC pay-per-view on Sunday night, Kevin Owens defended his Intercontinental Championship against “The Lunatic Fringe” Dean Ambrose. Many people expected Kevin Owens to retain his title, but it was Ambrose who came out on top, earning his first IC title reign.
HE GOT HIM! @TheDeanAmbrose rolls through the #PopUpPowerbomb to become NEWWWW #ICChampion! #WWETLC #ICTitle pic.twitter.com/ufu4KHOpRj
— WWE (@WWE) December 14, 2015
ALSO ON DAILY DDT: 5 Best Options to Win Royal Rumble After WWE TLC
Owens only earned the title back at Night of Champions in September, and his reign clocked in at 84 days. After the match there were two different reactions. For the big fans of Ambrose (including myself) there was joy:
AMBROSE WINS!!! NEW IC TITLE AND I HAVE GOOSEBUMPS. #WWETLC
— Rocky Balboa (@SportsQueen_5) December 14, 2015
For the big Kevin Owens fans (including myself) there was a little bit of fear:
Wonder what happens to KO now. A push to the main event scene? Or mid-card obscurity? #WWETLC
— Daily DDT (@FanSidedDDT) December 14, 2015
No need to worry, fans of both men. This was the right call.
With John Cena missing time, Cesaro injured, and Reigns slowly but surely getting more over, it’s all down to one guy as the top guy. Sherron Watson of PWPNation sees Ambrose as the #1 guy in the company.
He represents a big change from the rest of the title holders currently. Sheamus managed to escape TLC with the WWE World Heavyweight Championship so Reigns can continue his chase. Charlotte has seemingly turned heel with her Flair-inspired tactics. New Day are heels in spite of how entertaining they are. And Alberto Del Rio is definitely a heel. There needed to be a change in the title-holder landscape.
More from WWE
- Trish Stratus on WWE NXT would help elevate that women’s division
- Randy Orton signs with SmackDown to go after The Bloodline
- WWE and AEW will put on a full court press for Kazuchika Okada in 2024
- The Judgment Day is the top faction story in WWE
- Liv Morgan vs Rhea Ripley is perfect for WWE Royal Rumble 2024
While it is always more entertaining to have a heel champion and a babyface chasing after the gold, there needs to be a balance. Ambrose immediately keeps the IC title relevant just like Owens did before him, and gives the fans a champion to rally behind. There aren’t many babyfaces who are having big success on the current roster, so having Ambrose be successful is the right call.
It would not be a surprise to see Ambrose hold the title into WrestleMania and find himself in a high-profile singles match on the card against a viable contender. Someone akin to a well-built-up Rusev or Alberto Del Rio.
But what happens to Kevin Owens now? He doesn’t have the belt but he has a world of talent and experience. He needs to remain an important part of the roster, but how?
Owens’ first step will be a rematch with Ambrose. This will most likely be before the Royal Rumble, and the two should be given a gimmick match to work with. Since both are two extreme competitors, a Street Fight or Last Man Standing match could be a classic between the two over what is the clear #2 belt in the company.
Why not have the match at the Royal Rumble? Well that’s because Kevin Owens is now one of the top competitors to win the rumble match come January. As our editor Rob Wolkenbrod points out here, Owens could be on the rise to a WWE main event run.
The company needs to build credible top heels with injuries to Seth Rollins and bad booking marring some of the other heels. Owens is a no-nonsense bad guy capable of big things. While he’s been on the main roster for less than a year, he is a dominating presence who could easily be seen as a contender for the biggest belt. If Reigns takes the title off of Sheamus, it would not be a stretch to see Owens as the Rumble winner.