20 Best WWE Matches Since 2000
17. The Shield Vs. Team Hell No & Ryback (TLC 2012)
The Shield's initial debut was one of the most memorable in modern WWE history, and this, their first match, was just as impactful. The PG Era isn't exactly known for its chaotic, unpredictable gimmick matches, but this took the TLC format back to its roots, and produced the kind of all-out war synonymous with the stipulation prior to WWE's PG dilution.
Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose, and Seth Rollins ran afoul of almost every major babyface in the company throughout their early run. At TLC 2012, they collided with Kane, Daniel Bryan, and Ryback. Each man played their part perfectly, and while the faces were given time to shine, The Shield looked like a very well-oiled unit. This was their first match as a trio, but their teamwork was slick and flawless, and they systematically demolished their opponents with expect efficiency.
This wasn't a slow-burning, psychological masterpiece, but one of the best all-action spotfests you'll ever see. The Shield took their opponents out one by one, and though Ryback was able to push Rollins off a ladder and through four tables towards the end, it wasn't enough. Reigns and Ambrose isolated Bryan and powerbombed him through a table for the 1, 2, 3. Their threat was already well-established, but at TLC 2012, The Shield legitimised themselves as in-ring competitors.