Lunatic on the Fringe of 'Mania's Main Event?: Making the Case for Dean Ambrose

Should the "Lunatic Fringe" Dean Ambrose headline WrestleMania in a WWE World Heavyweight Championship match with Triple H? It's not as crazy as you might think.


Roman Reigns clashing with WWE World Heavyweight Champion Triple H in Arlington, Texas is as sensible as it gets. The matchup carries history, it carries motive and--in a factor that matters especially for WrestleMania--the two competitors have yet to touch in a singles match. So along with that desirable build, we'll have a fresh and unprecedented feel to the contest. 

But what if the WWE opted for a swerve? 

What if, instead of traveling the anticipated road of sending Reigns Triple H's way, Dean Ambrose unexpectedly earns that very spot in the upcoming triple threat bout at WWE Fastlane? Would an Ambrose vs. Triple H main event be worthy enough for what will be a record-breaking crowd at AT&T Stadium? Perhaps...

Anti-Authority Ambrose

Although his past encounters with The Authority aren't as detailed and voluminous as Roman's, Ambrose has racked up a fair share of opposition to the company's brass. Additionally, the nature of Ambrose's character is certainly tailor made for some friction between himself and one of the industry's most influential shot callers. 

Let's take his battle with former champion Seth Rollins, for instance. Remember back in May when Ambrose was arrested under the watch of Triple H on Monday Night Raw? Sure you do. And do you remember when he crashed The Authority's beatdown of his buddy Reigns later that night by emerging through the stage with an NYPD paddy wagon? Undoubtedly, this was some of the best television the company had to offer in 2015. 

By the way, this type of segment had to have rung some bells with the older viewers. Ambrose utilizing a sizable vehicle to spoil plans for suits. Kind of sounds like...hmmm...oh yeah, something Stone Cold Steve Austin would do.

Officer Ambrose reporting for duty. (Credit: WWE.com)

But we digress. 

Unfortunately for Ambrose, his crusade to swipe away the title from Rollins did not end up as a successful one. Thanks to his slight shortcomings in the blowout ladder match at WWE Money in the Bank soon after, accompanied by some help from Triple H's goons in Kane and J&J Security, Dean never realized the dream of officially sporting the crown jewel of sports entertainment around his waist.

Add that lengthy battle to Ambrose's constant commitment to undermine The Authority as Reigns' sidekick, along with his standing as the runner-up to Triple H in the 2016 Royal Rumble, and we have ourselves some credible backdrop to a potential WrestleMania meeting.

Plausible Contendership

Speaking of "credible," is Ambrose a legitimate challenger to a 14-time world champion in Triple H? It wasn't too long ago that the Lunatic Fringe was coming up empty in many of his pay-per-view appearances. Why should be believe he has an actual chance of winning here?

In the overall scheme of the title situation, there are just two (healthy) superstars on the roster that can pass as conceivable threats to The Game. With studs and former WWE champs John Cena, Randy Orton, Daniel Bryan and Seth Rollins all out, the depth of the company's contendership is frighteningly thin. Outside of Reigns and Lesnar, any challenger to the current title holder would be considered a heavy long shot to serve as champion.

Well, that underdog mentality could ultimately be the beauty behind an Ambrose run for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Just as it was for Daniel Bryan, although be it from different circumstances, a David trying to knock down the door of a Goliath may be the scene a stage like WrestleMania is again pining for.

Again, Reigns vs. Triple H is beyond rational. Then, as rumored, adding Shawn Michaels and The Rock into the mix would be even more intriguing. It makes sense to the umpteenth degree. 

Is it, however, something the crowd in Texas on April 3rd will get behind? Will it have that electric and special atmosphere when Reigns and Triple H are set to lock up? Or, based off recent lukewarm reactions to Reigns, will the match go over in a lull of sorts?

Who knows? The fans could side with Roman, they could stay neutral for the most part or maybe they turn on him completely. While the flack Reigns receives from live crowds is largely unwarranted, there's no stopping the collective voice of 100,000+ people. What we do know, however, is that those fans will overwhelmingly take Ambrose's side over Triple H's in this potential matchup.

Can another underdog triumph at the expense of HHH? (Credit: WWE)

Having an unimpressed and irked audience setting the vibe for the closing scene of such a spectacle may not be the optimal mood we're looking for. The same prospect reared its ugly head when Batista was out to mix it up with Randy Orton at WrestleMania XXX. Knowing their fans would be tentative in getting emotionally invested into the main event, they called an audible for Daniel Bryan (obviously white hot at the time) to be thrown into the fold. This decision gave fans a clear choice to root for and the results were excellent.

By no means is Ambrose's current situation comparable to Bryan's in 2014. Bryan was as over with the Universe as it gets. But in terms of going to the well for someone the crowd will undoubtedly get behind, Ambrose is credible enough.

The Aftermath

So what happens if the WWE decides to take this detour?

For starters, the decision in an Ambrose/Triple H bout could go to both routes. If you want to go off the air on a high note, Ambrose wins. 

Perhaps Ambrose finagles his way into making this a No Disqualification match, recruits the help of some foreign objects, Reigns and/or The Rock and sneaks one out to the excitement and shock of many. Ambrose is a future headliner, a current cash cow and would, for all intents and purposes, sit just behind Reigns and Lesnar in the proverbial WWE power rankings. Again, it's not as if Hornswoggle is going over here.

Or...The Authority continues to reign supreme. Triple H puts the kibosh on a storybook ending and carries the gold until the time is right. And since Ambrose is Intercontinental Champion, Hunter threatening to run a monopoly on major titles in a unification stipulation would garner even more heat towards the COO. Either way, the fans watching at the stadium and around the world will be heavily invested. (But let's just go with Ambrose.)

Now, what about Reigns? When does his big title run begin? He is, after all, the future face of the franchise.

Appropriately enough, the future face becomes the face by besting the current face. So yeah--to be the man, you got to beat the man. And the man right now is not Triple H. The man, of course, is John Cena. 

A future feud with Cena could be the very momentum Reigns needs. (Credit: WWE)

Cena has been the face of the WWE for around a decade now and there's no question that Reigns is the next in line. If you want the torch (and title) to be passed properly, if you want folks to get behind Reigns, if you want to make the next mega star of the industry--Reigns has to get through the polarizing figure that is John Cena. That match, which could occur at the upcoming SummerSlam or even next year's WrestleMania, is certain to generate a ton of buzz given the right build. 

But in the meantime, maybe it's Ambrose's time. Maybe, just maybe, we need a little craziness atop the WWE.