The Shield vs. the Wyatts and the Breakdown of Classic Heel vs. Babyface Angles

WWE Fans were treated to what many consider to be the best match of 2014 thus far. That match took place at the company's Elimination Chamber pay-per-view on Sunday, February 23 between The Shield and the Wyatt Family.

The bout was the result of heat that had been building for several weeks between the two factions. A second match occurred on the March 3 edition of Raw and was arguably even more entertaining than the first encounter.

But despite how much this rivalry has impressed WWE fans, it actually represents the very real breakdown of the classic heel-versus-babyface angle in the company.

The concepts of good versus evil and right versus wrong have driven professional wrestling storylines for years. The best examples have existed in every major promotion and have proven to be top angles in the industry.

The egotistical and power-mad Four Horsemen feuding with working-class hero "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes in the NWA is a prime example. The corrupt and dangerous New World Order using gang warfare on everyone that crossed its path in WCW is another one. Triple H turning his back on best friend Shawn Michaels and trying to end his career in WWE is yet another example of the classic heel-versus-babyface storyline.

In every instance, the roles of good and evil were clearly defined. And despite the fact that fans could choose whichever side they wanted to support, the scenario of the antagonist versus the protagonist did not waiver; each promotion presented the characters accordingly.

But that is not the case with the Wyatt Family versus The Shield.  In this case, traditional pro wrestling storytelling has been ignored. There is no babyface in this equation, no hero for fans to rally behind.

At some point, the need to book this match perhaps far outweighed the need for WWE to present it in the traditional good-versus-bad fashion. Both factions have been red hot and have captivated the imaginations of the WWE faithful since their individual debuts.

The Shield are without a doubt one of the most dominant heel groups in WWE history. Their teamwork is without equal, their intensity is on another level and their ability to bring the house down separates them from many of their peers.

Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose are three of the best performers in WWE today. They deserve the accolades that are given to them as much as they deserve to be talked about among those who will likely carry the company forward into the future. The Shield have all the tools to keep succeeding on a high level in WWE for years to come.

credit: wwe.com

But they are heels in every sense of the word. They blindside their opponents, triple-team Superstars and brag about what they do with the whole world watching. As Superstars, The Shield may be the future, but as characters there is nothing even remotely redeeming about them.  

Unlike The Shield, Bray Wyatt and his family have slithered into WWE with very little need for dominance. Their goal is to mentally destroy their opponents, to tear them down and then attack at the most vulnerable spot.

Bray uses theatrics to psych out Superstars, to keep them guessing and at his mercy. The combination of Bray with Erick Rowan and Luke Harper makes the Wyatt Family one of the most intriguing and entertaining acts in WWE.

But all three men are heels; there has been no question about this at all among fans. They are booked against babyfaces and use heel tactics during their matches. They want to tear down the heroes in WWE, including Daniel Bryan and John Cena. Again, there is nothing even remotely redeeming about their characters.

credit: wwe.com

So despite the fact that both the Wyatt Family and The Shield are rule-breaking factions bent upon destruction, WWE chose to pit them against each other. And while fans marvel at their matches and cheer their efforts in the ring, the fact is that they shouldn't.

Truth be told, fans should not positively respond to this rivalry whatsoever. The matches should be booed in their entirety from start to finish, with neither side being applauded for their work. The Shield should not be cheered for standing up to the Wyatts, and the crowd should not explode when the teams begin battling it out in the ring.

And WWE is doing nothing but confusing the issue by presenting this war as a straight-up traditional feud.  

In fact, when both factions first crossed paths, the unexpected result perhaps should have been a combination of all six men. If that was not feasible, at the very least both factions should have just smiled, shook hands and then berated the crowd. That moment alone would have kept fans from having to choose sides and view the rivalry as nothing more than a typical heel swerve.

Some may argue that times have changed. Pro wrestling, especially WWE, focuses much more on the pure athleticism of the Superstars and less on the traditional concept of good versus evil. Indeed, the modern age of the antihero is alive and well in WWE, with the most recent example being CM Punk and even Randy Orton before him.

Fans know who they want and what they want to see. Many of those fans likely accept the heel and face personae for what they are and then immediately move on to the match itself.  The whole point is the wrestling after all; it could be that the idea of right versus wrong is an outdated notion.

But the truth is its still there. It is still being utilized and is the backbone of any sports entertainment presentation, especially WWE. This is why John Cena continues to shake hands and hug kids at ringside though he is booed out of the building: He is still a babyface. It's also why Batista no longer shakes hands and now suddenly hates every fan in the crowd: He is now a heel.

And it's why The Shield were constantly used as enforcers by Triple H to hold the very popular Daniel Bryan down. That same Daniel Bryan was also held down by the Wyatt Family, who wanted to brainwash him in their way of thinking.

In all of the aforementioned examples, fans have a clear-cut definition of right and wrong, good and evil. The Superstars in question have roles to play and usually play them very well.

But in the case of The Shield versus the Wyatt Family, those traditional concepts have obviously been pushed to the side. Both teams should be hated despite what they do, and nothing short of a complete group turn should change that.

And while that issue can certainly be debated, the fact is that fans are getting their money's worth with The Shield versus the Wyatts. Maybe that's the only concept that truly matters at all.