Dean Ambrose Turns Down WWE Contract, Will Leave In April
WWE release official statement on Ambrose's future.
Reports hit yesterday claiming that Dean Ambrose had told WWE management he wanted to leave the promotion when his contract expires after WrestleMania. The company have now confirmed those reports, with a short statement published on their official website:
Dean Ambrose (Jonathan Good) will not be renewing his contract with WWE when it expires in April. We are grateful and appreciative of all that Dean has given to WWE and our fans. We wish him well and hope that one day Dean will return to WWE.
No further details are known at this time, but it's understood that Ambrose was frustrated with his current creative direction, and could not be persuaded to change his mind even with the offer of a raise.
His next move is likewise unknown, and indeed, whether he will even stay in wrestling. If, as many will be predicting, he chooses to throw his beanie in with All Elite Wrestling, it'll prove a major coup for the upstart promotion.
After several years touring the indies under the name Jon Moxley, Ambrose joined WWE's developmental branch in 2011. He made a dramatic main roster debut as part of The Shield at Survivor Series 2012, and has since went on to become a Grand Slam champion in the promotion.
As ever, we'll have more news on this story as it breaks.