The Best and Worst Moments of The Shield's Reign as Tag Champions

The Shield's recent reign as tag team champions did not match its promise when the group first left Extreme Rules with each member carrying a championship. 

Championship defenses were few and far between. Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns' role as champions eventually took a backseat to their duties as hired mercenaries for The Authority. 

But despite a predominately underwhelming run as tag team champions, the Shield's tenure was not without its moments. 

Whether it was a strong title defense or a meaningful storyline that furthered the tag team division, many positives can be drawn from Rollins and Reigns' time as champions. 

Moments, for better or worse, are based on how they succeeded or failed in advancing the importance of the tag team championships.

Best: The Shield Wins the Tag Team Championships at Extreme Rules

From WWE.com

All three members of the Shield walked into Extreme Rules as strong favorites to win their first championships. 

The idea of Extreme Rules signing off with each of the three members carrying a championship was stimulating for both casual and hardcore fans to say the least. 

After a United States championship victory by Dean Ambrose over Kofi Kingston, it was up to Rollins and Reigns to go over in a Tornado Tag Team match. 

Against the popular Team Hell No, comprised of Daniel Bryan and Kane, Rollins and Reigns were able to score the pivotal victory for their first reign as tag team champions. The win cemented the Shield as the premier stable in the WWE. 

The Shield had been presented as a threatening band of outsiders, making their run as triple champions appear significant

Worst: The Shield Appears on WWE Preshow to Take on Usos

From WWE.com

Rollins and Reigns had a strong match against the Usos at WWE Money in the Bank. Problem was, the match was booked to be on the lowly WWE pre-show. 

This was the first time any member of the Shield was relegated to pre-show duty after routinely main-eventing on TV and or pay-per-view. 

Given how good the match was, it could have benefited both the Shield and the tag team division had it been positioned appropriately on the main card. 

Instead, this brilliant back-and-forth contest was seen by a portion of the WWE's pay-per-view audience on YouTube. 

Best: The Shield Defeats Randy Orton and Daniel Bryan at WWE Payback

From WWE.com

Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns were made to look like major players as they defended the tag team championships against top stars Daniel Bryan and Randy Orton. 

Bryan and Orton have appeared in the main event of the past two pay-per-views and will do so again at Hell in a Cell in their third WWE championship match in less than two months.  

Still, the babyface dream team was unable to overcome the Shield. The well-oiled machine was able to overcome budding storyline tension between Bryan and Orton. 

The match alone made the tag team championships look like big league titles as two elite wrestlers had teamed up to vie for them. Winning the match was infinitely effective in putting over both the Shield and the tag titles. 

Worst: Rollins and Reigns Defeat the Prime Time Players at Night of Champions

From WWE.com

A victory over the Prime Time Players could have meant something if there was a strong conflict leading into the match. 

But the match was manufactured after The Prime Time Players went over in Tag Team Turmoil on the Night of Champions pre-show. 

Just looking at the field during an unheralded throwaway match on "Not Night of Champions" was a disappointing reminder of what the tag team division could be. 

WWE failed to capitalize on the growing momentum the Prime Time players had. The one-off match did nothing for either party involved. The tag team division went back into its hole immediately following this match. 

Best: The Rhodes Dynasty Beats the Shield at WWE Battleground

From WWE.com

WWE Battleground was panned for how it ended. The generally lackluster pay-per-view was almost saved by its lone bright spot, which came during an emotionally driven tag team match. 

Goldust and Cody Rhodes' jobs were on the line and their only means of survival was to defeat the Shield. 

The Buffalo crowd was into the wonderfully told match more than anything else on the show. And although the tag team titles were not at stake, this set the stage for an ultimate title change on Raw that has once again made the division a point of emphasis. 

New tag team champions Goldust and Cody Rhodes will now defend the tag team championships against both the Usos and the Shield at Hell in a Cell. 

The Rhodes Dynasty's involvement with The Authority stable have vicariously made the tag team championships more of a top title. 

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