Overlooked Feuds: William Regal vs Dean Ambrose

Wrestling fans around the globe rejoiced when following a banger of a match between Jon Moxley and Bryan Danielson at AEW Revolution, William Regal emerged to broker peace between the two. After being employed with WWE for over 20 years, Regal was cut loose earlier last year and became free to pursue other avenues. His first stop was Vince’s biggest competition, coincidentally in over 20 years.

Most fans are very familiar with the history between Danielson and Regal, with Danielson frequently crediting Regal as his true wrestling mentor, despite having trained under Shawn Michaels. The two have a rich history which has been made public to fans over the years. But some fans were slightly bewildered by the mention of the history between Moxley and Regal, unaware of their relationship's extent. Today we look at a feud frequently overlooked in Regal’s long career, but one that has laid the foundation for what we now see transpire on AEW television.

Around mid-2011, the former Mox was competing under Dean Ambrose's name in Florida Championship Wrestling, the precursor to what we now know as NXT. At the same time, William Regal was wearing many hats for WWE and FCW, including as a color commentator for the developmental brand. You may recall that Regal was still doing the same thing when FCW became NXT before becoming the General Manager of the brand for many years. The seeds between the two men would be placed almost immediately, with Regal continually heaping praise upon the Cincinnati-born brawler, frequently seeing flourishes of himself in the young upstart. 

The seeds were subtly planted beautifully from Ambrose’s debut in July 2011 until the end of October. Regal is a master at nearly every facet of the wrestling business, and his constant praise of Ambrose spots the same ruthless aspects. Most importantly, the ability to be a villain laid the groundwork for what was to come, something most people likely did not see coming, given his backstage roles and having been out of the ring for quite some time. 

Things would come to a head on the October 30th, 2011 edition of FCW TV, during the main event match between Richie Steamboat and Husky Harris, FCW figurehead Maxine would have to come out, with William Regal at her side to bring out most of the roster to break apart the two competitors. During the ensuing chaos, Leakee (yes, the future Tribal Chief himself) would toss aside Brad Maddox into Maxine as she entered the ring. While Regal was tending to her, Dean Ambrose attacked Regal out of nowhere. As the two separated, Maxine was seen smiling, and it was clear she intended for them to collide. The men would cut ensuing promos backstage that was both interrupted by an attack by the others, but it was Regal’s who truly set the stage.

“But there’s a reason that I like Dean Ambrose so much. And that is because I see a kindred spirit. That is because I see a man that I wouldn’t drag somebody that I didn’t like outside into a car park and set fire to him. Everybody else here in FCW would run away. But not Dean Ambrose. He’d come and stand next to me to warm his hands on the bloody flames. That’s why I like Dean Ambrose. And now I’m indebted to him. Because he’s awoken something in me, something that I haven’t felt for a long time. And I’m bloody glorious about it. I can’t believe that I can feel this way again. I was the most diabolical man in the history of this business. I’ve got a made mind that just works as a villain. True villains can’t pretend to be anything else. They are what they are…”

The following week the two would collide in the ring, wasting no time in giving Ambrose his wish to get the old villain in the ring. The two would go at it for nearly 15 minutes, both men shining (even though it’s still weird to see Ambrose/Moxley in wrestling trunks) before the wily veteran would get the win, demanding that Ambrose rises to his feet only to be met with a running knee attack.

Fast forward a few months, and we find ourselves watching a glimpse of the future of the entire wrestling business. During a Triple Threat match to determine the next contender for the Florida Heavyweight Title, Seth Rollins would face off against Dean Ambrose and Leakee. The future members of the Shield were all in the ring together less than a year before they would debut at Survivor Series and change the wrestling landscape for years to come. Despite all this knowledge we now know, the real story still managed to be Dean Ambrose’s obsession with William Regal. During the match, which was being called on commentary by Regal and Byron Saxton, Ambrose would lock the Regal Stretch onto Leakee, trying to win. Still, due to his inexperience with the hold, Leakee would get to the ropes causing a break, which Regal would mention on commentary. 

Saxton: “You gotta be kidding me! The Regal Stretch! Have you got into Dean Ambrose’s head that bad that he’s using your own moves?”

Regal: “I’m glad that I have. Good for him. It’s won me many of a competition, so good for him.”

Saxton: “This, this sick, twisted connection, yes, this sick twisted connection may earn Dean Ambrose a shot for the Florida heavyweight title.”

Regal: “The only problem is, Dean Ambrose is doing it not William Regal. Nobody would have escaped if I would have it done that way.”

Before and throughout the match, Ambrose would get up on the corner rope, face off directly with Regal, and exchange words. Ever the wordsmith, Regal would praise Ambrose, comparing Ambrose to being his version of Regal’s electric chair, capping it off with a quote for the ages.

“I know that that man is gonna be the man that eventually will be the end of William Regal. Have you ever faced such a, such a conflict in your life?”

In another glimpse of the future, Leakee would be the man who would win the match, as Regal would state that man will be a star within 12 months. Much like Paul Heyman with Steve Austin before him, Regal, while he may have been towing the company line at the time, certainly was not wrong.

As the months waned, and due to how FCW television was structured, it would be another nearly 9 months before the two would again come face-to-face in the confines of the squared circle. And what more fitting way for it to happen then as the final FCW match on the final episode of television, with two legends in, Dusty Rhodes and Jim Ross calling the action? It was perfect. 

Just like last time, the two would tear each other apart, and I will once again not attempt to give words, as it needs to be seen to be believed, but I will discuss the ending, arguably the best part of the entire story.

Regal was in a rough spot, bleeding from the ear, with the trainer entering the ring before several referees would enter the ring, with the match officially being called a No Contest. Ambrose would clear the ring of the referees and fellow FCW stars coming in to try and make the save before locking Regal in his Regal Stretch. What would come next would be the developmental equivalent of Shawn Michaels telling Ric Flair he loves him before ending their iconic WrestleMania match.

Ambrose stood in the corner, pulling down his kneepad, ready to deliver the knee trembler strike, with Regal getting to his knees. Regal would then look directly into Ambrose’s eyes and give him a small round of applause before turning his head to the side, inviting Dean to finish him off, an invitation that Dean would willingly take advantage of. Following the strike, as Regal lay motionless in the ring, the FCW roster would finally be able to separate Ambrose and get him to the back, as JR pontificated on whether this was the end of Regal’s in-ring career.

As we know now, this would not be Regal’s final match, but the uncertainty at the time was not beyond the realm of possibility. Looking back, these two men only competed in-ring on two occasions, through a feud built slowly over nearly an entire year, with sporadic direct promos. Yet here we are a decade later, still talking about it. Whether this is a credit to the performers or the booking is your personal choice. Still, one cannot deny how engaging and captivating the whole story was, and now, a decade later, we are finally seeing the proper follow-up in a different company. One has to imagine that one of these two villains will eventually turn on the other, but when and where remains the angle which will keep us coming back? 

After all, True Villains can’t pretend to be anything else. They are what they are…