The Complete History of the WWE Championship - Part 20

Dean Ambrose (June 19, 2016 - September 11, 2016)

Dean Ambrose: Did not set the world alight as WWE Champion

Dean Ambrose finally won the WWE Championship at the 2016 edition of the Money in the Bank pay per view.

He would be the final member of The Shield to win a World Title, after Seth Rollins had done so at WrestleMania 31 in April 2015 and Roman Reigns that November at Survivor Series.

That fact is surprising, as back in 2012 and 2013, it was Ambrose who was pegged as the most likely of the Shield team to become a headline star.

With Hannibal Lecter inspired promos, an eerie presence and the most accomplished in-ring skills of the triumvirate, Ambrose was seen to be destined for singles greatness. Indeed, it was he who reigned as United States Champion for a year between 2013 and 2014, while Reigns and Rollins fought over Tag Team gold.

Ambrose's long awaited title win was memorable but his subsequent reign did not live up to expectations. It didn't help that his biggest feud as champion came against perennial mid-card act Dolph Ziggler, whom he defeated at SummerSlam.

Despite Ambrose's fine in-ring performances and his presence and dynamism on promos, his character often veered into goofy territory, which did not fit well within the World title picture.

Ambrose would never be considered for a WWE Championship run again and frustrated with the creative process in the company, he left WWE when his contract expired in April 2019. He is currently portraying a much more maniacal character under his old moniker, Jon Moxley in AEW to great fanfare.