How Survivor Series Created WWE's Current Era of The Shield

When Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins emerged from the crowd at the 2012 Survivor Series pay-per-view and ripped championship aspirations away from Ryback by powerbombing The Big Guy through the announcers' table, few could have comprehended the significance of the moment.

On the surface, it looked like three talented, young stars making a first impression—much in the same way Nexus had two years earlier—with expectations being that they would be little more than a group of heels built up to be knocked down by John Cena.

Instead, The Shield would go on to become the first credible set of breakout stars in years—three explosive new stars that would dominate the industry for years to come. Now, some four years later, they will take to the squared circle in the main event of the show they shook to its core nearly a half-decade ago.

This is the story of their journey there, how that moment in 2012 impacted their acceptance among fans and their success in wrestling's premier company.

The Moment

The moment Rollins, Reigns and Ambrose interjected themselves in the main event of Survivor Series 2012, it became apparent to fans that their roles in WWE would be significant. Vince McMahon and his writing staff do not merely put stars in that position, especially new faces, without having substantial plans for them.

What was unknown at the time was whether their success would be limited in the way that Nexus stars such as Wade Barrett, Heath Slater, Justin Gabriel and David Otunga had been years earlier. After all, they exploded onto the scene and found themselves in the midst of a feud with Cena, only to be systematically picked apart, beaten down and left to wallow in the midcard.

That they were able to brutalize Ryback, a Superstar who had been so protected and guarded in the weeks prior, was an indicator that management believed that they could be a formidable villainous presence on the roster.

The explosiveness, intensity and aggression with which they approached their debut struck a chord with fans, many of whom were excited to see the stars inside a WWE ring. There was an energy surrounding them from the second they pulled Ryback out of the ring and to the arena floor that made them stand apart.

Whereas Nexus' debut felt orchestrated, The Shield's debut felt organic and real.

In the weeks that followed, anyone questioning their importance to the WWE product would have their fears addressed almost immediately, as the trio bowled over the competition. In short order, they defeated Daniel Bryan, Kane, Randy Orton, John Cena, Ryback, Sheamus and Big Show in numerous six-man tag team bouts.

They were dominant, a force unlike any fans had seen. Individually, they were impressive, but united, they were unstoppable.

The momentum they had coming out of Survivor Series, even with the hideous black turtlenecks they sported that night, helped them achieve greatness as a faction.

Immediate Impact

WWE was desperate for new stars in 2012.

Cena had been on top of the industry for six years, CM Punk was heavily overworked and veterans like Kane, Big Show and Rey Mysterio had exceeded their primes. Bryan was evolving, but with no credible stars around him, the next generation of Superstars was in doubt.

Rollins, Reigns and Ambrose brought a spark to the roster. They were young, energetic, hungry and motivated.

Ambrose was the loose cannon, a Superstar who made his name on the independent scene, cutting engaging promos and sacrificing his body in death matches. Rollins, on the other hand, was the golden boy of Ring of Honor, a flashy young star with the looks, skill and attitude to be a top star in McMahon's promotion.

Rollins was raw, athletic and punishing. He was a badass with a royal wrestling bloodline. What he lacked in experience, he made up for with his ability to explode off the screen with his power and surprising agility.

Together, they meshed, becoming a cohesive unit that defeated the industry's top stars. Fans bought them as a threat because WWE presented them as such—a novel concept that died sometime around the advent of the Attitude Era in 1997.

They became the exception to the 50-50 booking rule, a unique element of a boring, tired, stale WWE product.

Shaping the Current Product

Reigns, Rollins and Ambrose developed into strong single entities following their split in 2014.

Each has held the WWE World Championship at least once, and they are staples of the main event scene. The trio has gotten over with fans, for better or worse, because they had no choice but to.

Management positioned them at the top of the card, strapping the proverbial rocket to them and pushing them further and harder than it had any stars in recent memory. Their rise coincided with a renewed emphasis on NXT and the developmental system.

The first real exports from Full Sail University, they were proof Triple H could head a successful territory. The success they had on Raw and SmackDown not only led to increased presence for the stars of NXT, but also to its status as one of the staples of the WWE Network.

Their arrival also gave WWE its first opportunity to develop legitimate main event talent not named John Cena.

Since Rollins defeated Brock Lesnar and Reigns for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 31 in 2015, every pay-per-view world-title bout has involved one of the three competitors—proof of their stranglehold on the product.

Almost through 2016, that does not appear to be letting up, their influence over WWE television is apparent.