Dean Ambrose Done With WWE: Next Stop AEW?

Dean Ambrose has officially finished up with WWE. The Lunatic Fringe faced off against Bobby Lashley on the Raw after WrestleMania 35, though the match never had a chance to begin. Ambrose came out after the program went off the air for one last crowd salute with his Shield brothers, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns. But then it was over.

The moment that so many WWE fans have been dreading has come and gone. Now speculation has once again ramped up online that Dean is headed for AEW. Supposedly, Ambrose has a very generous offer on the table that would see him make more money than both Reigns and Rollins.

It’s just a rumor right now of course, which means Dean may be no closer to signing with Cody Rhodes’ company than he was before. But the idea of Ambrose joining AEW has brought up some interesting points.

The first has to do with Dean’s identity. If he does eventually become part of AEW’s roster, then he will no longer be Dean Ambrose, the slightly warped yet courageous, wildcard of The Shield. Those days would be long gone. 

Ambrose would probably become Jon Moxley once again, a man that lives life on his own terms, independent of everyone else. He would finally be free of the WWE machine and that freedom would provide more control than he’s had in eight years. He would no longer be overproduced or given angles developed by writers that didn’t understand pro wrestling. Ambrose would be surrounded by men and women that share his passion for the business. 

Watch Dean’s final bow on Raw!

More importantly, he would finally get  the chance to face off against a variety of new opponents in a new environment. Kenny Omega, Hangman Adam Page and Pentagón Jr are just three top talents that Moxley could step into the ring with and surely tear the house down. But what kind of matches would he have?

That question raises another point that deserves attention. Because while he may be John Moxley once again, the former WWE champion would not be the same Jon Moxley that longtime CZW fans remember. AEW’s TV deal is reportedly happening with TNT, a mainstream network that caters to a nationwide audience, just as the USA Network, WWE’s current TV home, does. Much like USA, TNT would undoubtedly have a level of standards that AEW would need to adhere to. 

This means that the blood-and-guts Jon Moxley of old would not be welcome in 2019. While that star was bloodthirsty and dangerous, the new version would need to conform to what his new company asked of him. He’s proven with WWE that he doesn’t need to work strictly hardcore anymore. He’s a much more evolved talent now than he was then.

So what kind of style would he work? Would the man formerly known as Dean Ambrose combine  hardcore elements with his brawling style? Or would he play it straight down the middle and work just a basic match? Perhaps the better question is, can he succeed without his Shield brothers around him?

Watch Dean’s last match with Lashley!

Dean Ambrose has had one WWE Championship reign and he was often criticized during that run. Some fans felt that he had become complacent since winning the gold. Those same fans felt that he wasn’t strong enough to carry a storyline as a solo character. They wanted wacky, fun-loving Dean Ambrose and that character just didn’t seem comfortable with a title around his waist.

It does seem to be a possibility that the returning Jon Moxley could get lost in the shuffle of AEW. But perhaps that won’t happen because Cody Rhodes already has something in mind for his new arrival. The fact is that Jon definitely bring something to the table and talent recognizes talent. It could very well be that Moxley would not only fit in with AEW. He may even rise to the top sooner rather than later.

But if the AEW rumor proves true, then WWE expects Dean Ambrose to return in six months. Supposedly he’s going home and will think about the AEW offer in the meantime. Even though nothing has been confirmed in regard to the AEW story, the fact is that this just doesn’t feel like the end for Dean Ambrose. Considering he’s done it all in WWE, what would be the benefit of returning?

Of course there’s no way to know where Dean’s head is right now. He rarely gives interviews and he hardly ever appears out of character. He doesn’t do social media and that’s likely not changing any time soon. Dean values his privacy and that’s understandable.

So the only thing fans can do is wait to see how this all plays out. There’s been speculation that WWE will introduce a new Shield member and that Superstar will essentially take Dean’s spot. However that seems not only unlikely but also unnecessary. The only one who really knows what will happen with Dean Ambrose next is Dean Ambrose himself and when the time is right, everyone else will know as well. Just how long that will take, is anyone’s guess.

 

Tom Clark can regularly be seen on Wrestling Rumors. His podcast, Tom Clark’s Main Event, is available on iTunes,YouTube, iHeart Radio, boinkstudios.com and live every Friday at 12pm EST on Wrestling Rumors Facebook Live