10 Wrestlers Who Gained Nothing From Becoming World Champion
7. Dean Ambrose
For many WWE fans, Dean Ambrose’s WWE Championship win was one of 2016’s most memorable moments. The last Shield member to win the big belt, ‘The Lunatic Fringe’ took the strap by winning the Money In The Bank ladder match, then cashing in his briefcase later that night. It was an exhilarating victory that should have cemented his status as a top guy, but while Ambrose made a hot start as champion, his stock gradually diminished throughout his run.
Dean took the belt to SmackDown following the 2016 Draft, and immediately entered a turgid feud with Dolph Ziggler. While this period should have been used to consolidate Ambrose’s status as WWE’s top babyface, it instead saw him drift into condescending heelish tendencies leading to a heatless match at SummerSlam, in which Dean was victorious.
After disposing of Ziggler, Ambrose started feuding with AJ Styles, and was eclipsed by his star power. The Ziggler feud had been so tiresome that Ambrose now felt like a second-class performer against the surging Styles, who eventually defeated him in September.
Dean’s reign lasted just 84 days, and while he currently holds the Intercontinental Championship, Ambrose’s star has fallen immensely since his MITB triumph.