Since the moment he debuted on WWE TV as one-third of The Shield, Dean Ambrose has received comparisons to various superstars. But the one that stands out as the most spot-on is his similarity to Rowdy Roddy Piper. Piper is a true legend who revolutionized the business as heel in the early 1980s as a key cog in building the machine of Hulkamania, and when he turned face he was nearly as popular as his former rival. He had an undeniable manic energy that was enrapturing, twitching and spazzing out during promos that would run the gamut of soft-spoken to unbridled lunacy and back within a matter of seconds. Ambrose has a lot of those same traits and his character is reminiscent of Hot Rod in all the best ways. Their promo styles are very complementary and its obvious The Lunatic Fringe has taken some inspiration from Roddy. Also take into account that everyone had Dean picked to be the breakout heel from The Shield when the trio disbanded, but hes been on fire as a face despite horrendous booking something nobody saw coming. His anti-authority rebellious character is analogous to Piper who, even as a good guy didnt change his diabolical and villainous tactics in any way, just who he was using them on. Another guy Ambrose is analogous to is Brian Pillman in the latter stages of his career. Theres a lot of Loose Cannon in Deans character as well. In fact, you could basically call Dean Ambrose the second coming of The Rowdy Cannon Roddy Pillman.
Brad Hamilton is a writer, musician and marketer/social media manager from Atlanta, Georgia. He's an undefeated freestyle rap battle champion, spends too little time being productive and defines himself as the literary version of Brock Lesnar.
