Dean Ambrose Thanks Fans, Reminisces About His Favorite Shield Match After ‘Raw’ Goes Off The Air

The Raw after WrestleMania is known for raucous crowds, high-profile returns, and an overall atmosphere of unpredictability. Last night’s show technically fit the bill, but with the recent spate of NXT call-ups, the hotly-anticipated show was light on debuts. The “most highly sought-after free agent of all time” Lars Sullivan joined Monday Night Raw; former indie favorite Sami Zayn returned to lecture the WWE Universe about toxic environments; Kofi Kingston and Seth Rollins met in a “winner take all” title match; and The Undertaker made a surprise appearance, ultimately deciding that he did not want to “walk with Elias.”

The most memorable moment from last night’s show, however, took place after Raw went off the air.

It’s been widely reported that original Shield member and former WWE Champion Dean Ambrose is leaving the WWE. While many fans hoped that Ambrose’s impending exit was part of a storyline, it appears that the Lunatic Fringe’s departure is legit. (Then again, this is pro wrestling, so you can never be 100% certain about anything.) On last night’s episode of Raw, Ambrose faced Bobby Lashley in a bout dubbed his “final WWE match.” The encounter ended with Lashley choke-slamming Ambrose through a table — which is not an ideal end to his WWE tenure — but putting someone over on your way out is one of the many unwritten rules of professional wrestling. While that may have been Ambrose’s last appearance on Raw for the foreseeable future, fans in attendance received one last glimpse of the Lunatic Fringe.

After Raw went off the air, Seth Rollins orchestrated a Shield reunion, calling both Ambrose and Roman Reigns to the ring so that fans at the Barclays Center had the opportunity to bid farewell to the WWE stalwart.

“That title being around my waist tonight doesn’t happen without Dean Ambrose,” Rollins said. “I learned so much from this man, and it breaks my heart to see him go, but I love you so much my friend.”

After a chorus of “please don’t go” chants, Ambrose addressed the crowd, expressing his love and respect for Rollins, Reigns, and wrestling fans. Dean also talked about his favorite Shield match, the trio’s Barclay’s Center debut at TLC 2012, and noted how on that night Arn Anderson referred to them as “two indie schmucks and a football player.”

“What makes the building is the fans, and there are no fans in the world like you,” Ambrose said. “Without you there isn’t any us. Screw this building; the important thing is the people who fill it, and that’s you, so we want to thank you once again.”

The farewell fittingly concluded with a classic Shield fist bump.

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