X

Dean Ambrose's Injury Might Save Jason Jordan's WWE Career

Tom Clark@tomclarkbrX.com LogoFeatured ColumnistJanuary 5, 2018

Jason Jordan and Seth Rollins
Jason Jordan and Seth RollinsCredit: WWE.com

WWE is now without a top star because of Dean Ambrose's recent triceps injury on Monday Night Raw. It seems as if The Shield reunion was just not meant to be as Ambrose's exit came not long after Roman Reigns' return from illness.

But as the company moves ahead without The Lunatic Fringe, Jason Jordan is in the right place at the right time.

Jordan was already being positioned high on WWE's flagship program. His storyline connection to Kurt Angle opened the door for Jordan, and he has been a constant presence on Raw since his debut. But now that Ambrose is out, Jordan is getting even more of an opportunity to shine.

He has the third Shield founder to thank for that.

Seth Rollins and Jordan are now WWE Raw tag team champions, which means JJ is enjoying a bigger spotlight. He's not only running with Raw's best, but he's also now wearing championship gold as well. That may not seem like a big deal to some, but it's surely important to Jordan; he's working with the elite of WWE and earning his spot.

JJ's placement with Rollins proves WWE has faith in the younger Superstar, and it also shows expectations are high.

Each Superstar is an investment, and that's especially true of the upper-card guys. Those talents are the ones who receive the most focus and are trusted to carry the bulk of the program. They get the main event spots that others don't get, and the company relies on them to always be on their game.

Jordan is now among that small group of Superstars, and it's clear WWE believes he's capable of much more on the road ahead. Jordan has every chance to succeed here and no excuses if he fails. WWE is paving the way for him to get over in a big way, but he won't have to do it alone.

Rollins is now part of shaping Jordan's immediate future.

JJ has a great opportunity now because he can learn at the side of Rollins, one of WWE's top guys. Rollins came up through the business in Ring of Honor, and he brought that experience to NXT. When he arrived on the main roster with The Shield, Rollins was more than ready.

He became the top heel in the company when he split from Ambrose and Reigns. Rollins was Triple H's chosen one, the man who carried The Authority every week on Raw. He's worked all of WWE's top guys from John Cena to Brock Lesnar to a Hall of Famer in Sting. Rollins has been the measuring stick by which others are held, and Raw is his program, just as SmackDown Live belongs to AJ Styles.

Now, Jordan will benefit from working with Rollins.

The key for Jordan is to keep his head down and work. He must listen to Rollins and other veterans around him when it comes to how he carries himself in the ring. Jordan has all of the physical attributes necessary to become a top guy, but it's his ring psychology that needs the most work. He will now get an opportunity to improve beyond what anyone could have expected thanks to Rollins.

Rollins is a team player and is likely up to the challenge. His partnership with JJ may last a few months or a few weeks. But as long as the two men are working together, Jordan will keep getting better, and that's definitely a good thing.

Jordan's critics could not agree more.

Jordan has received more than his share of hate since all of this began. When fans look at him, they see a guy who was elevated before he was ready and before he deserved it.

He is a tremendous athlete, but that does not mean he's a lock to get over with the crowd, and he's reminded of that every time he's booed out of the building. Fans hate him because he's been given a huge opportunity, yet no one seems to care. He's not a respected babyface, and he's not a despised heel.

Jordan is just kind of there.

However, he's proved he can handle the pressure. He's in a world much bigger than him, but he's adapted to it as well as he could have. He's been in the ring with some of WWE's heavy hitters, and he's always stepped up. But he must make that all-important connection to the WWE faithful if he is to make it. 

Ambrose's absence was exactly what Jordan needed to get on track.

What once appeared to be an experiment that fans wanted to see fail has now gained new life. Jordan's WWE career is even bigger than before, and things can only get better from here. If he stays healthy and if he keeps improving, there's no reason why Jordan can't continue on the path WWE has chosen for him.

Jordan is right where WWE wants him, and now it's up to him if he can make the best of it.

          

Tom Clark can regularly be seen on Bleacher Report. His podcast, Tom Clark's Main Event, is available on iTunes, Google Play, iHeart Radio, Windows Phone, Amazon Android and online at boinkstudios.com