[2014-04-08-WWE-Main Event] The Shield vs Wyatt Family

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Timbo Slice]

Great match. Depending on how you like your match layouts, you might put this above the Raw match (For instance, I think OJ would probably like this match a bit more than the Raw match) as this was really all about the in-ring action and not really about the chaos. It's weird to see the Shield go over clean as a sheet here, looking actually somewhat dominant during the stretch run when only six weeks ago they were being put on equal footing, but they're definitely poised for big things. Work is great, but it's not as chaotic as the first two matches, which really gave it a different feeling. Tag team heat segments are starting to become my favorite thing in the current era of WWE because all these guys do them so well, and there's some great stuff with Ambrose in peril here.

[RWOOD]

This is the best match Ive seen between these six so far this year. They have all been excellent in my opinion.

Echoing what was said above, the focus on the in-ring is great here. Little to no brawling in this one which makes the high flying things like Harpers topé look like something fancy, at least until Seth hits the ring for his set.

 

I like the booking of this match, too. Everyone loves clean finishes and this one made sense because (I think) Harper and Rowan should be booked to look slightly incapable when Bray is taken out. Shield were on *fucking* fire at the end of this with all of the highspots leading to Ambrose finishing it on the mat.

 

Love the selling by Ambrose at the end of the match. I think that works in a little bit of Wyatt protection.

 

Either way, Shield look like stars.

 

"Do I look like I'm faceless, baby?"

[bradhindsight]

With the Shield traditional babyfaces now, they work in two really good peril sequences with Ambrose absolutely being a star during his extended one. He was just awesome. There are so many unique exchanges and counters from both teams. The way the Wyatts carry themselves almost makes them immune to looking bad by taking a clean loss. Bray and Harper's facials were great. This built to their (as in the six of them) standard chaotic ending with the Shield finally getting a win. Great booking, everyone looked like a star.

 

I went **** here. Couldn't argue with higher either.

[ohtani's jacket]

I did like this more than the RAW match, but mostly because of Dean Ambrose's FIP performance. The Shield still leave me a little cold. Maybe I'm coming at things from the wrong angle, but where are the double and triple teams you'd expect from a well oiled trio? It just seems to be three individuals who hit the ring at different times, and I don't see what people see in Rollins. Was that even a submission he put on Rowan? Once through the combinations and then a finishing stretch was a bit hollow, but this isn't two out of three falls I suppose.

[Timbo Slice]

I think that's just the style. There aren't really a lot of big tandem signature moves in the WWE right now (which I'm with you on, it's weird). Hell, The Shield's biggest tandem move is something they do when they beat someone down, not even in the context of the match.

[bradhindsight]

Was that even a submission he put on Rowan?

 

Wasn't it essentially Hell's Gate - just dangling from Rowan versus being on the mat?

 

The flaw being (imo) that Rowan could have just used his left arm and pushed Rollins' leg out from his neck. On the ground, Rollins would have the leverage of the mat to prevent that.

[Stiva]

I think that's just the style. There aren't really a lot of big tandem signature moves in the WWE right now (which I'm with you on, it's weird). Hell, The Shield's biggest tandem move is something they do when they beat someone down, not even in the context of the match.

 

I've also wondered why they don't use the Triple Powerbomb as a finish. I think it's because their 6 mans usually end up with guys sprayed out all over the ring so getting those three guys in the ring at once doesn't really happen.

[Kevin Ridge]

This was really good. As much as Reigns is the big star in the making, I really enjoy watching Rollins and Ambrose. Glad they kept the Shield together for longer. Going against OJ as Rollins is starting to become one of my favorite guys to watch. Harper has really grown on me too. I love his crazy face. He is more believable to me in this role than Wyatt.

[Big Rob]

I thought this was pretty great, better than the Raw match they had a month or so back. Ambrose put on a pretty epic babyface in peril performance, I seriously thought it was the best Ricky Morton act anyone's pulled off in years, whilst still retaining his character's edgyness. As mentioned, it followed a more traditional structure than the first two matches as well, which is probably why I preferred it over the second match. Promo afterwards was pretty great too, with Reigns looking like a megastar and Ambrose's continued sell.

[Edwin]

I thoroughly enjoyed this too. Everyone was great in this match, specially Ambrose for all the previously mentioned reasons. I think it's worth noting his post match selling was excellent too. It really added to the beating he had taken and it added to his character too. I also loved Rollins highflying babyface offense.

 

As good as this was, this is the one I enjoyed the lest from the 3 and that's not necessarily a bad thing considering they're all top 10 WWE matches for the year until now. The EC match is easily my favorite of the 3 and deciding where you'd rank this one and the RAW match comes down as to what role you prefer Ambrose in since he's the one who's role changes the most in both matches. In the RAW match he's more of his usual wild man brawler and in this match he's the FIP. I personally prefer him more as the wild man brawler and that's why I gave the RAW match the nudge over this one even though the execution of the offense was a little sloppier than in this one.

 

Great match nevertheless no matter however you put it.

[supersonic]

I severely underrated this since it was thrown on this C-show at the last minute, rather than organically get built to a climatic, feud-ending gimmick match for Extreme Rules 2014. But on its own, this was off-the-charts shit, with all kinds of great cutting off from the Wyatts. Rollins was once again the star of this match, flying all over the place similar to Daniel Bryan. His selling was also excellent when the Wyatts got the heat on him.

Ambrose also had a segment in which the Wyatts got the heat on him, which was very good too. Every time Reigns was in the ring, he was a house of fire, perfectly suiting his role and protecting him. And the closing minutes were just crazy shit, bodies just flying everywhere, rapid changes in momentum, complete with tag legalities being remembered to make this truly polished unlike many trios matches on the indy scene styled like this one. The Shield get their win to build them up for Evolution, cutting a promo on them in which Reigns is the clear star, showcasing all the marketable traits he's been blessed with. ****

[xlynwoodx]

Very solid six man.  It was treated as more of a straight match and less chaotic.  I expected a crazy brawl to start, but instead Wyatt, Harper, Ambrose, and Reigns got on the apron as the bell rang and the match began.  I enjoyed Ambrose selling a lot more than Rollins.  Rollins was a little over dramatic for me where Ambrose felt more natural.  I really liked Harper here, his offense is always interesting, especially for a big man.  Reigns is probably the biggest "sure thing" in recent history, the crowd loses their shit every time he gets involved.  End sequence was great with guys flying all over the place, Rowan is the most logical guy to take the pin, he remains the least interesting to me.

I loved the promo after, their first since turning fully babyface.  Interesting to see how each of the guys changed their character slightly.  Ambrose selling the match was probably my favorite thing from the entire show.  I can picture Vince counting the dollars when Reigns is on the mic, the crowd just dying to chant his name.