Cincinnati's own Dean Ambrose is apparently very unhappy with the creative direction of his character, and has informed the company he is leaving after Wrestlemania. He has turned down a contract extension with a pay raise, claiming that his frustrations are not about money. Below is an excerpt from the PW Torch article that broke the story.

 

Dean Ambrose, a main event wrestler for WWE since debuting with The Shield in 2012, has given his notice to WWE that he will be finishing up when his current contract expires at the end of April, according to three PWTorch sources. He broke the news to management this weekend, including directly in a meeting with Vince McMahon, after being offered a new contract and a raise weeks ago.

He is expected to finish up shortly after WrestleMania, although it’s possible WWE would write him out of storylines sooner. This could explain why he was rather unceremoniously eliminated from the Royal Rumble on Sunday night and did a clean job to Seth Rollins on TV on Raw last night.

Sources tell PWTorch that Ambrose has been long frustrated with the creative direction of his character and reached a breaking point recently. He’s indicated to WWE management this weekend he’s not interested in negotiating further and made it clear this isn’t about trying to get more money. One of his colleagues on the roster, when asked tonight about Dean’s demeanor lately and if there were any signs of discontent, said “he’s pretty much impossible to read.” He added, though, that Dean “hates hokey sh–” and, since so much of his character has been portrayed as hokey in the last few years, he’s not surprised that would have built up frustration leading to a breaking point.

 

 

https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2019/01/29/dean-ambrose-leaving-wwe-shortly-after-wrestlemania-when-his-contract-expires-in-april/

I think he'll kill it on the independents. I wish more guys in his spot would do the same.

I think he'll kill it on the independents. I wish more guys in his spot would do the same.

 

I was never a huge fan of Ambrose's character, but I'm not sure that he is fully to blame. He doesn't seem much like the lunatic he's billed as. I'd like to see what he can do without Vince McMahon's control.

This is a sad day for sure, I love Dean Ambrose, at least good guy/independent Dean Ambrose. His recent switch to heel has been about as bad as it gets, a total disaster from my standpoint.

 

As much as I hate to say it, good for Dean Ambrose, I think it is the right decision to leave the WWE.

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com @ seanRossSapp

WWE has confirmed to media that Dean Ambrose won't be staying with WWE after April.

WWE statement on Dean Ambrose: "Dean Ambrose (Jonathan Good) will not be renewing his contract with WWE when it expires in April. We are grateful and appreciative of all that Dean has given to WWE and our fans. We wish him well and hope that one day Dean will return to WWE.”

WWE statement on Dean Ambrose: "Dean Ambrose (Jonathan Good) will not be renewing his contract with WWE when it expires in April. We are grateful and appreciative of all that Dean has given to WWE and our fans. We wish him well and hope that one day Dean will return to WWE.”

 

In other words, we (the WWE) messed up and we know it.

In other words, we (the WWE) messed up and we know it.

 

Pretty much.

This is why we miss WCW. When there were two major companies, we waited in anticipation to see when they would show up.

This is why we miss WCW. When there were two major companies, we waited in anticipation to see when they would show up.

 

I agree the monopoly WWE has is ultimately bad for the fans and many of the performers.

This is why we miss WCW. When there were two major companies, we waited in anticipation to see when they would show up.

 

The new company, All Elite Wrestling, is trying to set itself up as a late-90's WCW. They have some quality start-up money & name recognition with Chris Jericho, Cody Rhodes, & The Young Bucks. What is missing is a legitimate TV contract. If they get that, WWE will have some competition.

Ambrose, who wrestled under the ring name Jon Moxley prior to WWE, released a "trailer" of sorts last night shortly after midnight. His contract with WWE expired on April 30th. In the trailer, Moxley escapes a prison (WWE), is pursued by a big dog (Roman Reigns), but escapes and is training for a return to the ring.

 

I watched the video, was the Doberman's name Roman?

I watched the video, was the Doberman's name Roman?

 

I think just the image of a big dog trying to keep him in the prison...most people are seeing that as Reigns, since Romans very publicly talked about how he was going to try & keep Ambrose in WWE.

Something else about the video that people are pointing out...toward the end, when Moxley walks past the Viper room, there is a picture of dice showing the numbers 2 & 5. AEW, the new promotion, is holding its first pay-per-view on the 25th of May in Las Vegas.