WWE: Why The Shield Reunion Only Benefits Roman Reigns

A Shield reunion in 2017 was cut short multiple times, between Roman Reigns short-term medical leave to Dean Ambrose’s injury the long awaited reunion seemed jinxed.  Instead of letting all three Shield members follow their own path, the group was reunited as a way to bring more interest to the Universal Championship and its title holder, Reigns.

Bringing Seth Rollins and Ambrose back together with Reigns is a good move to increase the Universal Champion’s popularity.  There is a proven track record of Reigns being unanimously cheered when surrounded by his brothers of The Shield.

Adding two of the most popular babyfaces on WWE Raw to Reigns’ side is a great move when just evaluating The Big Dog.  Unfortunately there is a give and take when booking three great talents together like this.

For one, Ambrose’s return has been somewhat overshadowed by the reuniting of The Shield.  You don’t agree?  Well, let’s just look at the obvious.

Ambrose’s return to one on one competition last week on Raw was one of his most impressive performances in a couple years.  Yet, despite the great match and crowd reaction, the story by the end of the night was how The Shield (not just Ambrose) teamed up to save Braun Strowman from cashing in.

The most recent edition of Raw saw Ambrose make quick work of Jinder Mahal, but the final seconds of the show saw all three members of The Shield on their backs as Strowman, Dolph Ziggler, and Drew McIntyre stood tall.  Then there is The Architect, Seth Rollins.

Rollins has been on a tear since the beginning of WWE WrestleMania season when he went back to being a singles superstar.  Since February of this year, it can be argued that Rollins has been the most popular babyface on Raw.

Whether we are talking about Ambrose or Rollins, they both instantly became sidekicks when The Shield reunited.  In any faction, it is the superstar holding the most prestigious belt (no offense to the Intercontinental Championship) that can usually be looked at as the leader.

Despite whatever storyline restrictions that were used to prevent Reigns from helping Rollins in the past, since Ambrose has returned we have not seen Reigns helping out his fellow brothers.  It has been Ambrose and Rollins that have been counted on to help Reigns, and help him protect HIS championship.

Then there is the elephant in the room, and that is the impending Ambrose heel turn on (most likely) Rollins.  Fans might be forced to wait some time for that considering that new Shield merchandise has been released, and most likely will follow the “Suplex City”/host city template.

Right now there is so much excitement with The Shield reuniting once more that it is easy to lose sight of the long game.  Fans know that Ambrose must eventually turn on Rollins, and holding off for now is fine.

But what happens in a month or two when the nostalgia of The Shield’s return wears off and the WWE Universe is still three months away from WWE Royal Rumble 2019 and any real chance at an Ambrose and Rollins feud beginning?  The fear is that Ambrose vs. Rollins could in some ways become Bayley vs. Sasha Banks.

A feud that sits in purgatory, because there is an obvious chapter in the story that is being delayed for a certain moment.  Now to be fair, Rollins and Ambrose’s popularity is through the roof, and neither superstar will not receive a major demotion.

Still it is difficult to claim that both Ambrose and Rollins’ characters are acting like main eventers when their job is to protect the castle, the crown that is the Universal Championship, and its king, Roman Reigns.