The Shield's "Final Chapter" takes place on Sunday evening, and after that, it's likely we won't see Dean Ambrose anymore with his contract expiring.

When Ambrose leaves WWE, it's anybody's guess what the next chapter will hold for "The Lunatic." Ambrose has been linked to joining AEW, though other companies will surely look to make enticing offers to him as well.

Interestingly, Dave Meltzer said on Wrestling Observer Radio (h/t Ringside News), that Ambrose is unlikely to join AEW. Not only that, but it's also possible that Ambrose retires from wrestling - or that he could even return to WWE in the future:

"He’s had so many farewells it’s not even funny...It’s different. My gut is that they don’t expect him to go to AEW. They expect him to come back and they wanna make it a big deal and when he’s ready to come back he’s happy to come back and the fans see him as a big star.

He’s burned out and he’s unhappy. If he’s unhappy then whatever he’s unhappy about probably isn’t going to change. If he’s burned out and needs a rest then he’ll probably come back."

Meltzer also added that he's "heard people" mention that Ambrose will retire, but he find that unlikely at his age (34 in December).

Related: Seth Rollins Says He Thought The Shield Would Last "Forever"

Pro Wrestling Sheet first reported that Ambrose was unlikely to come back to WWE, with one superstar saying that he grew tired of portraying the "hokey" character. Mike Johnson of PWInsider later reported that the former WWE Champion also rejected a five-year contract that would have paid him more than seven figures a year.

WWE pushed hard to try and get Ambrose under contract, but ultimately, the former WWE Champion decided it was time to move on. The company has given him a handful of farewell matches and moments, and it's all coming to an end on Sunday. Ambrose has enjoyed a remarkable seven-year run on WWE's main roster, and he should be a Hall of Fame induction in the future. But at the end of the day, Ambrose had to do what was best for his career and more importantly, himself.

What This Means

As Meltzer said, it's hard to envision Ambrose retiring this early in his career. Having dealt with a torn triceps injury for almost a year, and with so much mileage on his body, it's posisble Ambrose takes a long hiatus from wrestling. But retiring is hard to imagine, although if he doesn't go to AEW, it's anybody's guess where he will wind up.

Next: Smart Marks Of Wrestling Podcast: WWE Superstar Shake-Up