7. Dean Ambrose
For the first few months after The Shields arrival on the main roster it wasnt entirely clear which of the three members would be positioned as the groups captain. Every New World Order needs its Hollywood Hogan, all Horsemen their Nature Boy, and it was inevitable that one of the three would shine a little brighter than the other two and assume the on-screen responsibilities of leadership. That it was Dean Ambrose that received the nod from the front office should not have surprised anyone that had followed industry scuttlebutt since his 2011 debut in WWE development territory Florida Championship Wrestling. In the two years since, Ambrose has collected some impressive references: Mick Foley agreed to work an (ultimately aborted) angle with him when he was still a lowly trainee in FCW, and when CM Punk visited the Tampa-based promotion it was Ambrose he chose as his opponent, later singling Ambrose out again when asked to name the under-card performer most likely to make it big. He has attracted equally admiring attention from outside the company, industry commentators noting in his build, promo delivery, and quiet intensity a likeness to Jake Roberts in his prime. In terms of his prospects for advancement, much will depend on how WWE handles the eventual disbandment of The Shield. Despite their consistently strong showings and recent alliance with Triple H, that time may not be as long in coming as audiences might expect. With the Wyatt family arriving on the scene, the decision might well come down from management that WWE only has need for one trio of bad guys on the roster (no, 3MB dont count) and that The Shield, having just about exhausted their reserves of potential programs, are the better candidates for the split. As noted elsewhere in this article, Ambrose is the most likely candidate for the role of catalyst and a consequent push in heeldom as a singles star a la post-Rockers Shawn Michaels. How he adjusts his act to best suit his new circumstances will be critical to his chances; see, for example, how Triple H dropped the long tights (long associated with mid-card performers) and swapped his polo shirt and slacks for denim and leather when he graduated to the main event at the turn of the millennium. The Triple H comparison is especially relevant given that the bosss son-in-law has supposedly taken a shine to Ambrose. For all his in-ring abilities and effective promo work, Dean Ambrose might well count that as the trump card in his climb up the ladder. It certainly worked out well for Sheamus.