Watch CBS News

WrestleMania: Dean Ambrose Doesn't Think WWE Is Burying Him

Before he climbs the ladder at WrestleMania 31, Dean Ambrose is on the Turnbuckle Weekly with Chuck Carroll.

Dean Ambrose on Turnbuckle Weekly with Chuck Carroll

Listen to more pro wrestling interviews on Turnbuckle Weekly.

Listen to Human Podcast Machine with Taz, former wrestling world champion.

At WrestleMania XXX The Shield was still a thing. Nay. The thing. The dominant trio of Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns cruised to an easy win over Kane and the New Age Outlaws.

This year things are different. After Rollins attacked his teammates last June, the faction has splintered into three separate pieces.

Reigns controversially won the Royal Rumble and will square off against Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship. As his luck would have it, this Sunday's match has become one of the most anticipated in WrestleMania history thanks to Lesnar's announcement on ESPN that he is officially retiring from UFC and had re-signed with WWE.

Read more from the world of Pro Wrestling.

Meanwhile, Rollins has become the self-anointed future of pro wrestling as Mr. Money In The Bank. WWE has devoted a ton of time on television building his match against Randy Orton — arguably too much time.

And then there is Ambrose. The wild man finds himself buried in a crowded match for the Intercontinental Title. Granted, it's a ladder match (they rarely disappoint at WrestleMania) but he's just one of seven competitors and definitely not getting the same top billing as is Reigns and Rollins.

So is there sour grapes?

Not in the least. He told me he's just waiting for his time. This is a long road and he's not going to push his luck with WWE just yet. He'll be there for a while.

I had the opportunity to catch up with Ambrose ahead of WrestleMania 31.

Buy WWE tickets for an upcoming event.

You're going to want to hear this… all of it.

- How somebody prepares for a ladder match

- How he wants to bring an old school (Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon) feel to the WM31 match

- How hard it is to be innovative after so many ladder matches

- The wacky "who has the belt" storyline building to the match

- His message for critics who say he's not getting equal billing as Rollins and Reigns

Chuck Carroll is former pro wrestling announcer and referee turned sports media personality. He once appeared on Monday Night RAW when he presented Robert Griffin III with a WWE title belt in the Redskins locker room.

Follow him on Twitter @TheChuckCarroll.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.