WWE: Roman Reigns vs. Dean Ambrose, Fantasy Booked

Instead of their current WWE storylines, would Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose have benefitted from a program with each other? How would it need to be booked?

Roman Reigns is considered the top guy in WWE, but isn’t receiving the desired reaction from live crowds. Then there is Dean Ambrose who was the front runner when The Shield was first introduced, but compared to the success of his former stable members has been a disappointment.

As we enter the home stretch of summer it already appears as if Reigns will not only be in the SummerSlam main event, but also be destined for a fourth consecutive main event at WrestleMania. At which time Vince McMahon will mute his headset in the gorilla position and pretend that Reigns is receiving a hero’s welcome. In this fantasy world, Reigns is the scrappy underdog despite being a 265 lb. Samoan former 1^st Team All-ACC football player.

The Big Dog’s major knock has been a lack of support from the WWE Universe, which causes a confusing narrative for casual fans wondering why Michael Cole is singing the praises of a man who is being booed out of the building.

Maybe Reigns isn’t the next John Cena. Maybe he is closer to the next Triple H. Triple H was the tough guy that everyone loved to hate during the Attitude Era. Remember Triple H had to be hated before he was eventually accepted by the WWE fans. It is either that or we can sit through ten years of a story we already read.

Then there is the “Lunatic Fringe” who is currently in a storyline with his other Shield brother, Seth Rollins. While this storyline is the most interesting angle either man has had in the past few months, ask yourself this. Will this storyline propel Ambrose to the top tier?

Staying healthy is usually a good thing, but in Ambrose’s case, it might also have been to his detriment. Ambrose has been overexposed in the past few years, and we know how that wears on the fan base. The reactions Ambrose is receiving now are not comparable to the reactions that he was receiving 18 months ago. A break from the ring might do everyone some good.

Another issue for Ambrose is that he has found himself on the outside looking in during the biggest show of the year. Ambrose needs to be in a big spot that not only sucks the audience in, but actually has a chance to deliver. Insert Reigns, who is as polarizing figure as there is in WWE right now and a feud with Ambrose not only gives a compelling story, but a match that warrants the main event of WrestleMania.

We’ve seen Reigns feud with Rollins multiple times, and we’ve seen Ambrose feud with Rollins multiple times. Yet we are still waiting on a feud between the two closest members of the former Shield.

How would you book a feud that would be beneficial to both men? I think I know how, and it would have started earlier in the summer.

Long-Term Booking of Ambrose vs. Reigns

Phase 1: A Different Shield Reunion

We’ve seen the start of a two man Shield reunion between Ambrose and Rollins, but that storyline is being driven by the journey, A Reigns and Ambrose reunion is driven by the destination, Why is that?

Well we haven’t seen Ambrose and Rollins team up in over three years. Whereas if the destination ends up being a feud between the two, it will just be a rivalry rehashed for the third time since the split of the group in 2014. With Ambrose and Reigns teaming up it will be a familiar journey, but with an unexpected ending.

Phase 2: Trust Solidified

Ambrose and Reigns have teamed together so many times in the past three years that a betrayal would be unexpected. A few tag matches where the two highlight their chemistry would bring back nostalgia for the WWE Universe. Maybe even tease targeting the tag team titles.

Phase 3: Betrayal

Just as everything seems to be clicking, fans wonder, “What is next for two members of The Shield?” Pull the trigger. A good heel turn should revolve around bringing heat, not to satisfy fans who are clamoring for it. Reigns does not need to join The Authority, but a lesson can be taken from the timing of Seth’s turn on his former brothers.

Phase 4: Week After Betrayal

Shock gets peoples’ attention, but compelling keeps them tuned in. Ambrose is at his best when he says goodbye to the wacky goofball gimmick and channels his inner Jon Moxley. Every time Ambrose gets together with members of his former stable he is at his very best.

Ambrose needs to be unpredictable. Interrupting a meaningless match by clearing the ring and calling out Reigns looks more “unhinged” than conducting a backstage interview. When Ambrose, of course, does not get his way, he impatiently makes his way to the backstage area. The element of surprise gives Reigns the upper hand once again.

Phase 5: Chaos

This feud is not just about Ambrose furthering himself, it is also about Reigns cementing himself as the top bad guy in the industry. What does a top bad guy do? He reveals his motives for his actions while gloating about the results delivered.

A backstage interview in this scenario works, because it allows an opportunity for Ambrose to attack Reigns with quick separation by security. Both men break free at different times to give the illusion of complete chaos, but without a definitive winner the feud feels unfinished.

Phase 6: Shocking Trade

Following the previous week’s actions, it is announced on Raw that Ambrose has been traded back to SmackDown Live. On top of this Ambrose is escorted from the building. The goal is to keep Ambrose as a sympathetic character throughout, and this injustice (pun intended) should maintain that feeling.

Phase 7: Continued References

We have seen feuds before similar to that of Triple H and Seth Rollins put their storyline on the back burner to pass time before WrestleMania season. To avoid letting this angle cool off, both participants of the feud should find ways to make references to the other during promos.

Phase 8: Crossing Enemy Lines

Just like Brock Lesnar and Randy Orton, both of these men would need to make a physical statement on the other’s residential show.

Phase 9: Threat of Suspension

There are two rosters split between Monday and Tuesday nights for a reason. This would need to be addressed on Raw and SmackDown Live to make it known that these actions will no longer be tolerated.

Phase 10: Major 4 PPV Incident

A major flaw in the storyline would be if we pretended that both men were not in the same building during a SummerSlam or Survivor Series. There needs to be another backstage altercation between these two that reinforces the hatred that both men have for each other.

Phase 11: Ambrose Earns His Nickname

According to Dictionary.com, the definition of a lunatic is “an insane person”. Right on cue Ambrose acts before thinking. Ambrose coming to Raw to confront Reigns doesn’t lead to revenge, but does force Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan’s hand.

Phase 12: Indefinite Suspension

Unless a superstar fails to comply with the Wellness Policy, it seems that every suspension is “indefinite”. This solves Ambrose’s issue of being overexposed to the WWE crowd, while also giving him a chance to heal any lingering wounds.

Phase 13: The Rise of the Dark Empire

Keeping heat on the former college football player while keeping the “marks” from cheering him becomes the main focus. A great start is putting the Universal Championship on Reigns. Most fans rally behind a guy when they feel that backstage politics are holding him back. In this case we are removing any thought that Reigns is being held back.

Booking Reigns to beat popular babyfaces like Jeff Hardy, AJ Styles (trade required), and Finn Balor is a start. What if he did it clean? Think about it. Reigns is not just beating the crowd favorites, but is looking strong while doing it. This will keep the narrative amongst fans that he is still “The Guy” amongst backstage officials.

Phase 14: Rumble Return

Dirt sheets and rumor mills have ruined most surprises, and this most likely will not be exempt from that. That does not matter, because when entrant 30’s music is about to hit there will be great anticipation mixed with slight uncertainty of not knowing until seeing.

We can point to this hypothesis being proven at the 2016 Royal Rumble. As a fan in attendance, I knew there was a very likely chance of Triple H being number 30, but I didn’t know for sure. Just that one percent of doubt was enough to fuel mine and many other’s excitement when we heard Motorhead start playing. That same one percent of doubt will be what contributes to a huge ovation for Ambrose in this scenario.

Obviously we are not having Ambrose triumphantly return only to be eliminated. He wins the Royal Rumble.

Phase 15: “I Just Want Roman”

You remember how in this hypothetical Ambrose was traded to another show? Yes, this was done because the oversaturation of a feud that took several months of planning would be a mistake. Having Ambrose and Reigns beat each other up for ten weeks would be a mistake.

This hiccup would buy another four or five weeks until the storyline would be forced to move forward. In this time Reigns can mock the fact that Ambrose is on SmackDown Live while he is on Raw.

Phase 16: Ambrose’s Return to Raw

Imagine Reigns in the ring when a familiar theme song comes on. In disbelief, he sees that it is, in fact, Ambrose. The former CZW star carries out an attack that is driven by months of pent-up frustration.

More from Daily DDT

Afterwards, Reigns confronts General Manager Kurt Angle, only to find out that Angle reached a deal with SmackDown Live to bring Ambrose to Raw. The draw of former Shield brothers for the Universal Championship was an opportunity Kurt Angle could not pass up.

While Ambrose got the best of Reigns in his return to Raw the key is to continue making the latter look strong going into wrestling’s Super Bowl. The next few weeks Reigns gets the physical advantage, while also putting doubt that Ambrose can overcome the odds.

Win-Win:

Ambrose taking the belt off of Reigns in the main event of WrestleMania would be that moment that the former needs to be a perennial main eventer. Meanwhile, Reigns will have become the most hated heel in the WWE. Which when you think about it is not a bad omen. Stone Cold Steve Austin, Triple H, The Rock, and Shawn Michaels all became great babyfaces because of the work prior as a heel.

WWE could’ve gone that route, or they can have a repeat of John Cena in ten years when Reigns is receiving the same reaction because his character did not evolve.

Five of the past six WrestleMania main events have involved a part-time performer. A feud between Ambrose and Reigns would not feel like a forced publicity stunt.

Next: 5 Worst MITB Winners Ever

Ambrose and Reigns could’ve brought back the WrestleMania main event as the most anticipated match of the night.

What do you think? If WWE decided to turn Reigns heel would this have worked? If WWE became more open minded with Ambrose and Reigns’ characters, could this still work?

Home/WWE