10 Times WWE Failed To Make Dean Ambrose 'The Guy'
4. Having Him Lose His Championship Match To Roman Reigns
This was a clear moment for WWE to get behind Ambrose and push him as their most trusted competitor. Seth Rollins was forced to relinquish the WWE title due to an unfortunate knee injury, leading to a tournament to crown a new champion in his stead. The final was held at that years Survivor Series, with Ambrose in one corner, and who else but Reigns in the other. But, who would the chairman decide to back?
That was a rhetorical question even before the bout took place; of course Roman won (LOL!). In fact, this was Roman's first time capturing the strap and what set into motion the eventual and previously mentioned 'Mania match with Triple H.
The loss marked Ambrose as the last former member of The Shield to be able to capture the WWE championship, as if the point of Dean being the least competent of the three hadn't already been hammered home. How the mighty had fallen since the genesis of the trinity.
Dean would go on to capture the gold eventually, but would have been taken more seriously in the eyes of the WWE Universe if he won it back here, solidifying him as a force to be reckoned with in the upper echelons of the business.