Dean Ambrose (now known as Jon Moxley) was reportedly unhappy with the direction of his character in WWE. He felt his storylines lacked depth and didn’t reflect his true wrestling persona.
Ambrose disliked the over-scripted promos WWE required. He wanted creative freedom to express his thoughts naturally, but WWE’s tightly controlled environment didn’t allow that.
Years of constant travel, live shows, and pay-per-view commitments led to physical and mental burnout. Ambrose wanted more control over his time and career pace.
WWE offered him a lucrative contract extension, but Ambrose declined it — proving his decision wasn’t about money but artistic freedom and self-respect.
Ambrose’s heel turn against Seth Rollins after Roman Reigns’ leukemia announcement was heavily criticized. He reportedly found the storyline “distasteful” and against his values.
Leaving WWE allowed him to join AEW as Jon Moxley, where he regained full control over his promos, character, and in-ring storytelling — something he always wanted.
Contrary to rumors, Dean Ambrose was not released or fired — he chose not to renew his WWE contract. His exit was mutual and professional, marking a new chapter in his wrestling career.