Ambrose, not Reigns, should be pushed as the #1 babyface

[sluggo]

I know as well as the next guy that the WWE is building up Reigns as their next champion, but the more I watch the more I think sticking to that plan, at this point, would be a mistake.

I'm not saying Reigns isn't a great young talent or anything, I think he has a lot going for him and will be a WWE champion one day. But I also think, at this point, he is a bit of a 1 note act. His move set, while expanding, isn't very big at this point. His mic work is servicable but bland. I just think Reigns is going to need some more time to develop a character before he is/can be a real #1, carry the company, sell PPV's kind of guy. Again, this doesn't mean he has to get to John Cena level's of mic work and character and flash, I just think he needs more then what he has/is bringing right now.

I think the guy they should be pushing to the #1 spot right now is Dean Ambrose. Since the Shield broke up he's been very quick to figure out a character for himself, he stands out. As its been pointed out before he strikes the same nerve that a guy like Austin or Jake the Snake does, he should be a heel but the fans love him. He puts on great matches and most importantly, I think for the last month or two he has been getting the biggest and loudest babyface reactions on every show he has been on. Once he comes back from the "injury" that reaction should only be bigger.

If I had any say, once Reigns is done with Orton I'd spin him off into another feud or two with HHH underligns - maybe Kane, maybe Batista (depending on how he returns), maybe Rollins, maybe Cena if he joins HHH along with Nicki. I'd probably bring up the Ascension and put them on HHH's side include the Uso's on Reign's side (playing up the family angel) and build up to HHH vs Reigns at Wrestle Mania 31. I'd shift gears and give Ambrose the spot vs Lesnar for the title at Mania, and it gives them a natural program coming out of Wrestle Mania - Rollins will still be the money in the bank winner, and have to cash in before June, re-igniting their feud, which we know produces great matches.

[TolerancEJ]

Reigns is improving but I'm not convinced that WWE can have him ready by WrestleMania. I can see immediate promise with Ambrose and/or Rollins.

[Jack Raines]

Dave Meltzer seems to think Ambrose will be WWE's top guy eventually. It's just a matter of when they realize what they have with him.

[Deleted]

I would not be surprised if fans turn on Reigns by the Royal Rumble if they are not sold on him being "the guy".

Ambrose and Rollins have been tearing the house down with the former being one of the best talkers in the company and the latter being one of the best wrestlers...and the two are better at both than Reigns right now, in my opinion.

Throw in the eventual return of Daniel Bryan around the end of the year/early 2015, the "old guard" main event players and even a wildcard like Cesaro or Wyatt, and who knows how things at the top of the card will play out. If The Rock commits to coming back, that can change everything as well.

But as we saw this year with Batista, fans will not be afraid to revolt. If greasy hair, an arm day-everyday physique and 3 moves of doom don't cut it, then Roman Reigns may end up watching the main event from the locker room.

[RKing85]

if Bryan is in the Rumble and Reigns wins it, the fans will turn on him in a second, even though it wouldn't be his fault.

If the WWE was smart, I think Ambrose would be the way to go to. But they are going to give Reigns every change to succeed.

[Jack Raines]

Vince Russo agrees.

www.pyroandballyhoo.com/ambrose-thr-guy/

If you were watching RAW last night, what you witnessed was MAGIC. I can’t say enough about both Rollins and Ambrose delivering when the company rolled the dice and put them in that main event slot. Those guys were just SICK, off the hook, FREAKIN’ RIDICULOUS! Whereas for the first time Rollins made me sit up and pay attention, Dangerous Dean rose to a whole other level right before our very eyes on national TV.

In watching the product from afar, it appears that Roman Reigns is just a link above Ambrose on the WWE food chain, but, after last night—I just don’t know. Whereas Roman both LOOKS and CARRIES himself as a Champion, I feel if they allow him to just “simmer” a bit more, it will no doubt benefit both him and the company in the long run. When the bell rings, Reigns is an ANIMAL. EVERYTHING he does looks GREAT. However, when the action stops and he has a mic in his hands—there you can see a glimpse of his shortcomings. But—that just takes time, 95% of the roster has to work at developing their promo skills—Reigns is not different. And, in time he will get better, I have seen improvement already, but, my gut tells me—don’t rush this dude–just let it organically transpire on its own.

Ambrose on the other hand? THE GUY IS THERE. And, look at the problem that the WWE has on its hands at the moment: you have Brock the Champ, a HEEL Cena if you get your heads out of your coolas, a returning Daniel Bryan, Batista coming back from hiatus, Reigns AND Ambrose. ARE YOU FREAKIN’ KIDDING ME?!!! Right now you’re looking at the 77′-78′ NEW YORK YANKEES! The possibilities are amazing! Which way do you go? That is the question that every member of the creative team has to be asking themselves. Well . . . maybe not, considering the Stephanie McMahon/Brie Bella angle opened last night’s show.

Look, if you know anything about “booking”, you know this–-GO WHERE THE PEOPLE TAKE YOU. Stop for a second, and LISTEN. What are the people telling you? What are your viewers telling you? What are your ticket buyers telling you? After last night it is crystal clear to me. Right now–DEAN AMBROSE is your guy. Whether you like it, or not, the audience is speaking, and at the end of the day . . . they are the only ones that matter!

[Rob Tonkinson]

If they keep booking Ambrose to be like Mick Foley, in that you have to basically kill him to get rid of him and even then he keeps coming back, then he'd definitely be a viable opponent for Lesnar.

At the minute, I think they have to keep Bryan away until after WrestleMania, keep some spotlight on him but keep him away, just because you don't want to run into that issue of last year and the fans revolting and I reckon some will do that if he's in the Rumble regardless of who wins. Besides, imagine that Raw after Mania pop he'd get and then start building for him getting the title back at Summerslam.

This sort of reminds me of 2005 when they pushed Cena and Batista, to me, they put everything on Batista, the Rumble win, the main even of WrestleMania but Cena always felt like he was going to be the bigger draw.

[chrisarrant]

I think if you had to choose a #1 babyface today between Ambrose and Reigns it would need to be Ambrose as otherwise you'd face the Ryback situation. But Reigns has more of the raw potential than Ambrose does in WWE's eyes, and they have time to build him -- ala the Rock in his 1996-7 period.

[TolerancEJ]

Reigns has the look and size that Vince loves. That's about 90% of the equation. Let's wait & see the situation at Royal Rumble.

[wigsf3]

Unless the crowds show up in grey wife beaters, Ambrose is not going to get the big push.

[TolerancEJ]

Better to wear Ambrose's tank top, instead of Luke Harper's. At least Ambrose seems to wash his occasionally. lol

[Doug Lyons]

For anyone who thinks that anyone other then reigns is headlining mania next year. As much as I like Bryan and Ambrose, I'm tired of listening to people complain. I'm tired of listening to fans hijack every show. Roman Reigns has the look, he can be very marketable and I think the IWC should just give this guy a chance. I lost interest in Bryan after the hell in a cell show last year they waited too long to pull the trigger on him but that's my opinion and I may be in the minority. Ambrose we can sit on, I like the direction things are heading but I believe the only guy who should beat Brock Lesnar for the title is Roman Reigns.

[groovyphoenix]

Aug 20, 2014 17:56:47 GMT -5 Doug Lyons said:

For anyone who thinks that anyone other then reigns is headlining mania next year. As much as I like Bryan and Ambrose, I'm tired of listening to people complain. I'm tired of listening to fans hijack every show. Roman Reigns has the look, he can be very marketable and I think the IWC should just give this guy a chance. I lost interest in Bryan after the hell in a cell show last year they waited too long to pull the trigger on him but that's my opinion and I may be in the minority. Ambrose we can sit on, I like the direction things are heading but I believe the only guy who should beat Brock Lesnar for the title is Roman Reigns.

While I hear what you're saying about the "higjacking" fans have paid their ticket and can do whatever they want, that's the beauty of paying, so long as they don't get involved in the matches physcially WWE doesn't care what the fans do, but that is also the poblem, when you have day in and day out fans clamoring for something to be done with Wrestler X... Then maybe just MAYBE the WWE should listen and not pull another Zack Ryder, instead of being to prideful and saying "No we won't push what the fans want and maybe make money" Vinnie mac is a very prideful man that seems to have the attitude of "If I didn't create it, I'll kill it" and he can kill it, he's killed Ryder even though the guy had done 90% of the work to get himself over!

[Doug Lyons]

Aug 20, 2014 22:25:16 GMT -5 groovyphoenix said:

Aug 20, 2014 17:56:47 GMT -5 Doug Lyons said:

For anyone who thinks that anyone other then reigns is headlining mania next year. As much as I like Bryan and Ambrose, I'm tired of listening to people complain. I'm tired of listening to fans hijack every show. Roman Reigns has the look, he can be very marketable and I think the IWC should just give this guy a chance. I lost interest in Bryan after the hell in a cell show last year they waited too long to pull the trigger on him but that's my opinion and I may be in the minority. Ambrose we can sit on, I like the direction things are heading but I believe the only guy who should beat Brock Lesnar for the title is Roman Reigns.

While I hear what you're saying about the "higjacking" fans have paid their ticket and can do whatever they want, that's the beauty of paying, so long as they don't get involved in the matches physcially WWE doesn't care what the fans do, but that is also the poblem, when you have day in and day out fans clamoring for something to be done with Wrestler X... Then maybe just MAYBE the WWE should listen and not pull another Zack Ryder, instead of being to prideful and saying "No we won't push what the fans want and maybe make money" Vinnie mac is a very prideful man that seems to have the attitude of "If I didn't create it, I'll kill it" and he can kill it, he's killed Ryder even though the guy had done 90% of the work to get himself over!

I agree with the Ryder thing but why do you think they took so long with Bryan. They want to do things on their own terms not the fans. Stupid business decision yes but it is what it is. On that premiss Reigns will be the next star but at least they're keeping Rollins and Ambrose hot and come mid 2015 we'll have 3 brand new stars on top of what we already have (which isn't much). I think if we let this happen on their terms eventually the people will get what they want. When Reigns beats Lesnar you have a few interesting programs to go to. Cena, Bryan(if healthy), Ambrose and Rollins. In a Reigns/Ambrose program who do you turn?

[Rob Tonkinson]

Aug 20, 2014 17:56:47 GMT -5 Doug Lyons said:

For anyone who thinks that anyone other then reigns is headlining mania next year. As much as I like Bryan and Ambrose, I'm tired of listening to people complain. I'm tired of listening to fans hijack every show. Roman Reigns has the look, he can be very marketable and I think the IWC should just give this guy a chance. I lost interest in Bryan after the hell in a cell show last year they waited too long to pull the trigger on him but that's my opinion and I may be in the minority. Ambrose we can sit on, I like the direction things are heading but I believe the only guy who should beat Brock Lesnar for the title is Roman Reigns.

I don't think that people aren't giving him a chance, I think people are just acknowledging that fans are starting to get more behind Dean Ambrose as the top babyface than Reigns. Reigns has the look, but I don't think he cuts great promos yet and his offence isn't the best yet either.