15 Ups & 13 Downs For WWE In 2017

10. The Shield

The Shield Entrance
WWE.com

Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose's reunion was flawless. The latter was obviously wary of his former partner's motivations after his long stint in Triple H and Stephanie McMahon's pocket, and 'The Kingslayer' was desperate to prove his altruism. This manifested through numerous failed attempts at coming together, with the two knocking each other back on a weekly basis, only to unite in the face of a shared enemy, finding their long lost cohesion in the process.

Roman Reigns re-entered the picture soon after, and a full-on Shield reunion finally went down on Raw's October 16th episode. They've remained together ever since, and while an ill-timed virus derailed their TLC plans, WWE's greatest modern stable regained their momentum with a great trios match against The New Day at Survivor Series, though Dean Ambrose' recent arm injury is another major hiccup.

The Shield's reunion hasn't been perfect, as there are times when Rollins and Ambrose feel like Reigns' sidekicks. Regardless, their coming together was very well told, and they've been a huge hit with the fans - even Roman's getting a few cheers these days.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.