Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose: The Story of Us

The tension between Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose is the most relatable story the WWE has had in quite some time.

The saga of Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose began long before the breakup of The Shield back in 2014. Both men cut their teeth in various independent promotions such as Ring of Honor and Full Impact Pro. This experience helped them to develop solid reputations as dedicated workers which made them all the more attractive for the WWE development league FCW, which would later be rebranded as NXT. Rollins was the first to join in 2010 and Ambrose followed in 2011.

In 2012, both men were called up to the main roster and joined by another FCW/NXT alumni, Roman Reigns, who would fit well into the overall plans for a new clique of mercenaries in WWE. The three men would be henceforth known as The Shield and quickly became one of the most popular factions in the company. Unfortunately for fans, The Shield lasted less than two years and delivered one of the most surprising moments in the company’s history when Seth Rollins unexpectedly attacked his teammates and aligned himself with Triple H and The Authority.

In the aftermath, each former member of The Shield had their own tastes of success and while the group’s breakup was disappointing for many fans, it gave these men a chance to shine on their own merit. This brings us to the present day, where Rollins has attempted to mend his broken relationship with Ambrose to mixed results. The reason this storyline has worked so well and connects with fans is because we can all relate to the idea of trust being broken. Whether it comes from a friendship or a relationship, the sting of being betrayed is such a universal and long-standing human emotion that has inspired works from Shakespeare’s “et tu Brute” to Beyoncé’s, Lemonade.

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The Rollins character shift from heel to face began several months ago, but his attempts to get back on Ambrose’s good side began just after Great Balls of Fire when Ambrose was attacked by the Miztourage and Rollins came to his aid. Ambrose was justifiably hesitant in thanking Rollins for the save, even after Rollins handed him a steel chair and offered him a free shot to the spine as payback for his betrayal several years earlier. On the July 24 episode of RAW, Rollins and Ambrose were celebrating a win over Miz and the Miztourage when Rollins extended his fist in a show of solidarity, harkening back to their days in The Shield. The fist bump was not returned.

At this point, fans began feeling sorry for Rollins. His intentions seemed genuine and he has shown a willingness to put his own safety at risk to help Ambrose, but we can also understand Dean’s hesitation. The next week, it was Ambrose who came to the aid of Rollins who was being assaulted by Sheamus and Cesaro (now calling themselves “The Bar”), but his rescue also came with a warning that it was a one-time assist. True to his word, Ambrose failed to come to the ring when Rollins was again attacked by The Bar this past Monday night on RAW. Afterwards, Rollins confronted Ambrose backstage and put the ball firmly in Dean’s court. Rollins is visibly frustrated as he believes he has done everything to earn back Ambrose’s trust with no reciprocity. Later that night, Ambrose would be saved by Rollins from a similar attack by The Bar and this time it was Ambrose who extended his fist in solidarity. The fist bump was not returned.

Now that both men have had their good deeds publically spurned it puts them on even ground for their inevitable reconciliation. What makes this such a great storyline is that both men have justification for their feelings. Rollins is frustrated that his repeated attempts at penance have been ignored. Ambrose is hesitant that these actions are genuine at all, considering how monumental and unexpected the initial betrayal was in the first place. Both men are correct, and it is this narrative dynamic that allows fans to see a complicated situation from both sides. Trust is a difficult bridge to repair and even in the world of professional wrestling it wouldn’t make sense for these long-time enemies to immediately go back to being friends. This story required a slow burn and that’s exactly what the WWE is delivering.

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