The Complete A-Z Of Wrestling In 2017
8. S - Shield
Unquestionably the gimmick and storyline WWE can honestly be most proud of this decade (despite CM Punk's believable assertions that he devised the concept), The Shield are as over now as they ever were as much because of the careful protection of the group the first time around.
Though always a transparent star-making vehicle for Roman Reigns (and to a lesser extent Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins) the reunification of the group was perhaps first posited earlier this year when Seth Rollins at long last atoned for being such a pr*ck in 2014. Refreshing honesty from a babyface, Rollins' contrition during his WrestleMania programme with Triple H laid the groundwork for his summer coming together with Dean Ambrose. With care and attention paid to the realistic emotional heft involved, fans uproariously got behind their collective spirit, particularly when they defeated The Bar at SummerSlam to heroically claim their first Tag Team Titles as a pair. Roman's rejoining months later was a thrilling formality.
Snakebitten in matches since, the trio haven't been able to work much together since reforming, but replanting the flag this year has done enough. Their regrouping reminded audiences that the flack jackets and dog-tags are always packed as long as all three sit on the same side of the heel/face divide.