The WWE and its fans will again get a chance to see another hardcore title match on Sunday night when Dean Ambrose takes Seth Rollins’ WWE World Title into Money in the Bank and attempts to keep the strap in a ladder match.
There hasn’t been a performer in the WWE who has had as much momentum as Ambrose since the company decided to fire up the rivalry between the former Shield members again. This was an obvious attempt to excite the fans until Brock Lesnar returns from his “indefinite suspension” following WrestleMania.
Personally, I would rather see Ambrose chase Rollins all over the country, seeking the belt and waging war with his former BFF. It is also my opinion that if the company decides to give the title to Ambrose outright, it had better have a plan that keeps Ambrose in character without sacrificing his popularity, which has reached its zenith so far. Taking any momentum away from Ambrose and from the angle he and Rollins are working right now could be more damaging in the long run.
In this case, the idea I presented to you earlier in the week about Ambrose winning the title match, then dropping the WWE World Title to Roman Reigns – should he win the Money in the Bank Ladder Match – would truly be best for business.
This may sound odd, but not every WWE superstar is meant to wear gold. It does not mean they are not worthy. It just means the character they portray is not conducive to playing the role of leader of the band. They are much more important to the business as a challenger rather than the lead dog.
Over the years, this has been a common theme among wrestling promotions. The top “face” would challenge Ric Flair or Dory Funk, Jr or even Harley Race when they were the top draw in the NWA. They would try as hard as they could, only to come up short.
Barry Windham chased Flair before he joined the Four Horsemen. David Von Erich chased Race early in his career and then set his sights on Flair before he passed away. The Funks would challenge the top contender in Tennessee or Missouri or even Florida before walking away with the title in tow.
The point is, Ambrose like stars of the past, do not have to wear the top belt in the promotion to be a true champion. And in this case, giving such a distinction to Ambrose might hurt – in fact it would hurt -his status.
It was explained to me years ago that the wrestler who chases the belt is often viewed on a higher level than the one holding the title. It is much harder to keep the belt than it is to attain it, but once a wrestler has the belt (after working to grab it), part of the momentum is lost.
John Cena’s act has been the same for over a decade, but he is at his best when he chasing rather than being chased. The same could be said for Randy Savage years ago and Sting and to some degree, Hulk Hogan. Fans are more supportive of the chase. They want the wrestler to gain glory and once the glory happens, they tend to back off a bit with their support. Ambrose cannot afford this kind of setback. He is white-hot right now.
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