Every Original WWE NXT Black & Gold Roster Member - Where Are They Now?

3. Dean Ambrose

What was he doing at the time?

Making waves, sort of. 

He lost to Xavier Woods on a dark match for one of the first NXT TV tapings, but it was time for him to appear on main roster screens rather than developmental ones anyway. Having drawn a lot of attention to himself thanks to an online feud with Mick Foley that threatened to spill over to television before injuries and schedules got in the way, he was suddenly in a bit of demand. Some storyline aggro with William Regal kept him in everybody's good books, and by the end of the year he'd snared a dream role as the craziest corner of a brand spanking new "Shield" triangle. 

What is he doing now?

Whether heel or babyface, WWE "comedy" drained him of his love pro wrestling to the point where he was happy to walk away from the market leader before the new challenger brand had even had a show. His arrival with All Elite Wrestling was kept quiet until the night of Double Or Nothing itself, when he debuted in emphatic fashion to shake up a main event scene made up of Kenny Omega, Hangman Page and Chris Jericho. 

As of 2026, he remains the company's loyalest and most reliable headliner.