Examining the Potential of The Shield Members Should They Split

Since their dramatic arrival in November 2012, the members of The Shield have taken the WWE by storm. Their interruption in the Survivor Series pay-per-view—to allow CM Punk to pick up the victory and retain his WWE Championship—was the start of one of the best stables to hit the company in recent years.

They have been rewarded with championships themselves along the way—indeed, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns' Tag Team title reign was one of the best of the last few years, and it helped to reinvigorate the tag division.

Dean Ambrose himself has become one of the most interesting Superstars on the roster and has provided some thrilling matches for the crowds in attendance.

Almost one year removed from that dramatic beating it dished out to Ryback at Survivor Series, the WWE is now teasing that The Shield could be coming to an end. The trio's infamous backstage promos made a return on Monday's edition of Raw, but tension between United States champion Ambrose and the powerhouse Reigns was teased.

Could this be the beginning of the end for The Shield?

It would certainly add another twist into "The Authority" angle, given that the stable has acted as Triple H's security and enforcers since that storyline began.

If the members of The Shield are to go their separate ways, what does the future hold for each of them? Could they hold their own as singles competitors, or are they destined to fail?

Dean Ambrose

If any member of The Shield looks best equipped to make it on their own, it is without doubt Dean Ambrose. Ambrose has been the U.S. champ since May 19, when he defeated Kofi Kingston at the Extreme Rules pay-per-view. That reign does not look like it will ending any time soon, despite the efforts of Big E Langston.

Ambrose-Langston looks to have all the makings of a great rivalry. It is brute power versus technical excellence.

What singles out Ambrose from many others on the roster, however, is his excellent work with the mic. The majority of The Shield's promo work is carried out by Ambrose—and he can certainly talk. He has become a credible heel, and you could certainly see him heading up the card, rather than down, in the future.

The Ambrose vs. Daniel Bryan match on Raw two weeks ago was a glimpse into the future, and a glimpse into what WWE Championship matches could look like a few years down the line. That would certainly be a match—and a rivalry—worth watching.

Seth Rollins

When The Shield arrived in the WWE last year, Seth Rollins was the member of the group people were most excited about. He was the inaugural NXT champion when the title was launched in August 2012, defeating the likes of Curtis Axel (then Michael McGillicutty) along the way.

Rollins is well known to wrestling fans and has a track record of success in NXT, Florida Championship Wrestling and other companies.

Unfortunately, Rollins appears to have faded into the background whilst being a member of The Shield. It his tag team partner, Roman Reigns, who seems to take the spotlight in their matches, and Ambrose is naturally a more expressive character on screen.

Perhaps Rollins' best chance of being a success in WWE would be to stick with Reigns. They are a very good tag team and have the potential to regain the titles and become one of the best pairings in recent years.

It is just too hard to envisage Rollins as a successful singles competitor, something that seemed unthinkable a year ago.

Roman Reigns

The case of Roman Reigns is an interesting one. When he arrived with The Shield, he seemed like the the member of the group who would struggle the most should it split.

However, Reigns has grown and grown into a great Superstar in the last year. He naturally possesses the size, but he has become stronger in the ring and stronger with his promo work.

He has become exciting to watch, and the double spear he put through his relatives The Usos on Monday night was fantastic. It was a timely reminder of just what Reigns can do.

But would he work as a solo Superstar? You would like to think so. If The Shield does split, Reigns could be the one who turns face, which would open up plenty of new doors for him—if he is booked correctly.

As well as being related to The Usos, he is also a relative of The Rock. If the latter returns for the upcoming WrestleMania program, there could be the potential of a family stable between all four.

Or he could remain heel and stay as Triple H's enforcer and bodyguard. He plays the role so well, and it would be even more impressive if he could do it on his own.