Dean Ambrose, real name is Jonathan Good, grew up watching hours and hours of professional wrestling footage. His childhood might have played a role in toughening him up for a career in the ring. Good has described growing up in a crime-and poverty-stricken area of Cincinnati bouncing among government housing units while studying the techniques and business of his favorite sport.

“By the time I was 14 or 15, I was completely obsessed with wrestling,” Good said. “For me there was no football or basketball or any other sport.” Good had one goal by the time he was reaching the end of high school, and that was to break into the sport, he said. ” I had a feeling from early on that I was uniquely (set up) for this,” Good said. As long as I can remember this is the only thing I saw myself doing.”

After spotting a flier on a telephone post seeking amateur talent, Good sought a place under the tutelage of trainer and wrestling promoter Les Thatcher, he said. He initially could not begin training because he was too young, but he found odd jobs with ring and concession crews at independent wrestling events that let him stay close to the action until he hit the minimum 18-year-old threshold to begin training.

Good worked his way up the ranks and leagues under the ring name Jon Moxley before getting his shot at the big time in 20011, which he said was always the focus of his efforts. “It’s that single-minded dedication… that gets you through the early bumps and bruises,” said Good, who added that he did not give himself much time to enjoy the accomplishment because of one prominent thought: “Now it’s time to get to work.”

Good talking about performing in front of a live crowd at a WWE event said, “You’ve got to strike a nerve (with the audience)… you never know what  it’s going to be.” Whether it’s collaborating, feuding or spectating, Good said there is always one goal in mind for everyone involved at a live WWE event. “You’ve got to have fun,” Good said. “When you’re having fun in the ring, it’s that much more fun for the audience.”

Source: A article by David Dinsmore in the Evansville Courier & Press