wrestling / Columns

The Future of Justice: The Shield in 2014 (and beyond)

December 15, 2014 | Posted by Len Archibald

No CM Punk this week. He has made his mark, broken websites and has been probably the most searched or mentioned personality in the past month. He overshadowed Sting’s first ever appearance in WWE – which is earth shattering an event on its own. I’ve given my take on the matter, now I grab a bag of popcorn and witness anarchy unfold for a few years.

I also want to refer to a statement I made in the comments section about last week’s article:

So yeah. Today’s column…not exactly my best work. Between finding a buyer for my house, house hunting and the quick turnaround of the Punk/UFC situation (I had another article finished on Saturday morning), this was banged out in a couple of hours. Yep, I got Punk’s title reign count wrong and yep, I flubbed the whole horoscope thing-which I don’t believe in, by the way. And yeah-I admit I did not spend nearly enough time proofreading. So thanks to all who caught those. As much as I understand the oversaturation of Punk news stories, I would be remiss if I didn’t make some noise about it. There was no column from me last week so I was already behind the…8 Ball (CHEAP 411 POP!) I wanted to approach the scenario from a different angle and focus on the recognized path and pattern modern wrestlers have taken to gain mainstream exposure outside WWE, with Punk’s foray into UFC as the catalyst. Enjoying the conversation and debate, though! Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts!

Finally – NXT Takeover: R Evolution…best WWE show of the year? Man, it’s made a strong case.

With the passing of Survivor Series and the approach of the 2015 Royal Rumble, WWE finds themselves in a bit of a lull. With The Authority definitively defeated and silenced for the foreseeable future, the fans have been treated with a weird “resets” of sorts as WWE storylines adjust to the lack of an actual authority figure on either Raw or SmackDown – the first time WWE has not had an active authority figure as the crux of main event storytelling in over a decade and a half. RAW feels longer than normal and everyone seems to be stuck in a holding pattern. The only bit of forward momentum that is obvious is the renewed faith in Dolph Ziggler and the mysterious “split” of the Wyatt Family with each member in their own defined rivalry. Even those set up to be “The Future” of WWE, The Shield are just kind of “there” – most know that all three have each been given their respective shot to prove themselves and are positioned to be atop the new totem pole but it’s just a matter of seeing who gets to the top first. Most are sure it is Roman Reigns as he has been clearly positioned to be perceived as The Next Big Thing (hmmm…) and with his 2014 Slammy for Superstar of the Year it is all but certain that he will end up in the Main Event of WrestleMania 31 whether we like it or not. It cannot be denied, though that Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins have made stellar convincing cases for themselves to earn the right and headline the biggest pro wrestling spectacle in the world.

Everyone could make a case for each of the Hounds of Justice and no one would really be wrong (no, seriously.) Reigns has “the look” and the overall aura WWE covets and who has made them the most money; cool and handsome with a simple and recognizable moveset (not a case of MOVEZ.) Ambrose has most organically connected to the audience with his unique “lunatic fringe” persona and shocking most that he could play a compelling babyface with a heelish edge. Seth Rollins has done the unthinkable, actively working harder than anyone else to emerge as the #1 slimeball…in a world where it SHOULD be WWE Champion, Brock Lesnar. The Sheild’s 2014 break was considered rushed by some, but had a strange logic because the trio had beaten EVERYONE and there was no other current direction. The end of the year has arrived and Seth Rollins is main eventing Pay Per Views against John Cena. Dean Ambrose is slotted in (arguably) the second most important issue in WWE while Roman Reigns waits in the shadows, calmly awaiting for the December storm to clear so he can easily ascend to the throne in the new year.

For me, the individual lives of The Shield has been 2014’s most compelling long-term storyline (not to be confused with Daniel Bryan’s rise to WrestleMania XXX as the best overall story of the year.) Each of the former Hounds of Justice has found their niche, their individual callings and have at different moments during the year shown absolute flashes of brilliance to make a case for why they deserve to main event WrestleMania 31. It has been a race that begun in 2014 when Roman Reigns set a new benchmark in Royal Rumble eliminations and firmly established himself as the favorite – and has waited on the sidelines from injury to be met with rising backlash as “The Chosen One”. After dominating the early part of 2014 with big event wins over The Wyatt Family and Evolution that established The Shield as of the greatest factions in history, Seth Rollins broke away from the pack and made a shocking turn to the darkside. The betrayal has given the former Tyler Black new life as he has embraced his inner-douchebag with gleeful aplomb, culminating in his win at Money in the Bank 2014 and cementing a near certainty that he will be considered The Man in WWE at some point in the near future. Rollins penchant for rarely being in a bad match no matter his opponent and doing his best to outwork everyone he can on the WWE roster has made him WWE’s utility-man and maybe even their MVP. Not to be forgotten – because he simply won’t let us – is Dean Ambrose, the loveable anarchist of sports entertainment. Yes, that was a wild oxymoron, one that suits “The Lunatic Fringe” well as Ambrose’s random musings, his sociopathic stoner behavior and violent showmanship; his most recent ambulance reveal to current foe, Bray Wyatt was a defining moment for him in my eyes. All the while, Ambrose’s cult following has only increased exponentially, rising his stock as a populist choice to sit atop the WWE mountain. Who will make it to WrestleMania 31 and guarantee their place among the greats of WWE heading into WrestleMania 40? It looks clear…but is it?

THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK

Call a spade a spade: Roman Reigns is destined for greatness in a way Alberto El Patron may kill for. A member of the famed Anoa’i family, who could be solely famous for granting the world the infinite awesomeness and box office attraction THE ROCK – if not for the several other Hall of Fame talent within as well. The Wild Samoans, Yokozuna, Rikishi, Umaga and The Usos all bear the Anoa’I name and have done so proudly in their own way through entertaining fans, winning championships and paving new ground for professional wrestling along the way. The long road stretching out the family’s history has been brushed, cleared and maybe even paved with gold for Reigns, who upon his 2010 arrival to WWE was immediately placed on the “future stars to watch” list. Roman Leakee started out on his back, losing battles to Richie Steamboat, Idol Stevens and Wes Brisco, before earning his first win over Fahd Rakman in FCW. Roman found himself embroiled in tag team matches and battle royals until 2012 when he pinned Florida Heavyweight Champion Leo Kruger (who is now being upstaged by a bunny) during a tag team match on the January 8 episode of FCW television.

The first major twist in Roman Leakee’s career occurred almost a month later, when he defeated Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins in an all but guaranteed future WrestleMania Triple Threat match and rose to become the #1 contender to the FCW Florida Heavyweight Championship. After losing his shot, Roman found himself with a brief FCW Tag Title run with Mike Dalton before FCW was rebranded as NXT. On Halloween 2012, “Roman Reigns” stepped into the limelight and made short work of CJ Parker. Eighteen days later, Reigns was helping Ambrose and Rollins to Powerbomb Ryback through a table at Survivor Series 2012. Throughout the 20 month run of dominance The Shield, Reigns was positioned as the quiet muscle – he didn’t have much to say other than the trademark “Believe in the Shield”, but his explosive fits of offense quickly impressed many. Reigns’ “Superman Punch” has turned into a crowd-pleaser with its graceful leap and powerful impact. His Spear has been built to be a match-ender, and has become one of the better users of the move. If one of the “Big Names” are going down – Punk (sorry), Cena, Sheamus, Big Show, Mark Henry, The Undertaker, Randy Orton, The Rock – Reigns has usually been the one to initiate it and finds himself standing tall in the middle of The Shield’s fallen.

Reigns’ solo rise was quick: after keeping a 148-day stranglehold on the WWE Tag Team titles in 2013, Roman stood out as sole survivor of his team at a traditional Survivor Series match – eliminating four people in the process. From there, Reigns rode a wave of momentum going into the 2014 Royal Rumble. Between Batista’s impending return, the near riotous backlash of Daniel Bryan’s place in the card and John Cen and Randy Orton embroiled in their never-ending feud for the new WWE World Heavyweight Championship, Reigns needed to make a greater play for more support from fans. As tensions rose within the ranks of his faction, Reigns was given more airtime to speak his mind and show off his cool demeanor. Roman has a swagger (not Jack) about him that is undeniable and his never-care demeanor only serves to emphasize his explosiveness in the ring. Reigns would quietly boast his placement as the future King leading up to the 2014 Royal Rumble among his Shield brethren, and was making a solid case for himself as a believable contender.

Despite the backlash of Reigns’ ring work, his performance in the 2014 Royal Rumble stands out as a testament of how far he has improved as a “sports entertainer” and an indicator of what the future of WWE holds. Reigns lasted an impressive 33 minutes and set a new record by eliminating 12 participants, eclipsing Kane’s 2001 benchmark of 11. Reigns lasted until the final two, as he and Batista squared away for the right to headline WrestleMania XXX. In lieu of the overwhelming and vocal fan dissatisfaction of Daniel Bryan’s non-involvement of the Royal Rumble, fans placed their faith – loudly – in the youth and new blood that Reigns represented against the status quo and transparency of Batista’s immediate insertion into WWE’s main storyline at their biggest show of the year. If there was ever a night that “made” Reigns as a serious singles competitor, his losing effort at the 2014 Royal Rumble hammered a legitimate point: Roman Reigns is here and he is going to the top and there is nothing anyone can do about it. I find the parallel of Reigns’ first foray into the final two of the Royal Rumble to be eliminated by Batista – a position John Cena found himself in – a delicious piece of WWE history repeating itself. Cena is now THE MAN in WWE and has been for the past 10 years, and now Reigns finds himself next in line.

Reigns’ stock instantly rose after his record-breaking performance and was quickly placed at the top of those who industry minds consider the future of professional wrestling. As time wore on, and throughout The Shield’s continued near flawless run, Reigns was positioned to stand out apart from Ambrose and Rollins. Reigns made the pinfall to end a MOTYC against The Wyatt Family, a WrestleMania squash to make short work of The New Age Outlaws and Kane, and career-defining six-man victories over Evolution. It is clear that the WWE machine are hedging their bets on the rise of the Roman Empire and that clarity has sparked the ire of those who feel the rise is coming too quick and at the expense of hotter and more “talented” superstars – namely Reigns’ own former stablemates. The expected fan backlash towards the “pretty boy” and “the hoss” that has been manufactured to create impactful sports entertainment spectacle instead of an organic technical wrestling masterpiece was vocally emphasized even further after his singles feud with Randy Orton after the initial Shield split.

Immediately after having a chair smashed on his back by his former friend, Reigns was thrust into the WWE World Heavyweight title scene; even though Triple H should not had a reason to, the man Michael Cole calls “The Juggernaut” was nevertheless inserted in the 2014 Money in the Bank ladder match for Daniel Bryan’s vacant WWE World Heavyweight Title. After failing the capture the title there, Reigns received another opportunity at Battleground 2014 in a Fatal Four Way Title Match. Reigns critics used any possibility to show that his inorganic break in his stable that he was physically ready to meet the demands of a credible WWE Main Event talent. Reigns’ explosiveness was easily highlighted in the manic nature of six-man tag team action, but could he fare and capture the audience’s imagination during the “pauses” of a professional wrestling exhibition, where he needs to show vulnerability, personality and a basic understanding of when to perform basic takedowns, throws or taunts where a match makes sense?

Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose was embroiled in a blood feud in the meantime, and had launched themselves into the imagination of fans during the spring and summer of 2014, with seemingly tons of psychology to spare. While a vocal contingency of fans felt WWE did not give due credit and treat their battle as the main focus of their programming, there were few detractors remaining by the time the final act of their first encounter had reached its climax. Bray Wyatt’s random insertion into the feud and pulling Ambrose away from obtaining revenge soured many, but the two former “brothers” proved within a short span of four months they could convince the world that they were also main event mainstays. There also seemed to be a cosmic justice as Ambrose’s and Rollin’s climb was accomplished by Reigns suffering a hernia injury in September that has put him out until now. WWE took their chance to show what one of the three could accomplished as a standalone face. With him out of the picture, the fans were given a true glimpse into who could act as WWE’s future #1 slimeball.

BUILDING STACKS OF MONEY

In viewing the WWE Network special about The Shield leading up to SummerSlam 2014, the writing was pretty much on the wall as to who was going to be which one of the Hounds of Justice would turn to the darkside first. For most of Seth Rollins’ run during his time in The Shield, he was positioned as having crowd-pleasing offense even though he showed a mean streak. During the teased breakup storyline that began in late 2013, Seth Rollins switched roles to the voice of reason as Ambrose and Reigns bickered and displayed cracks in the faction’s armor. The WWE Network special painted a different picture of an athlete with a clear chip on his shoulder and a narrow-minded desire to not only prove he’s the best, but to voice that at every possible moment. Sounds like a few former past great WWE Champions. Unlike Reigns, who entered WWE from another avenue of athletics (football), Rollins – previously known as Tyler Black on the independent scene – had been showcasing his ability to be an effective in-ring performer as soon as he could in his life.

After early starts in Scott County Wrestling (SCW), IWA Mid-South, and a one-shot deal in TNA, Rollins arrived in his first home in Ring of Honor in 2007 as part of Age of the Fall, a weird ode to Raven’s Flock with Jimmy Jacobs and Necro Butcher. Rollins first appearance in the promotion, where he was part of a 3-on-2 mugging over the Briscoe Brothers that culminated in Jay Briscoe being hung by Ladder Match rigging was so controversial ROH decided to remove the footage from the pay-per-view that was being taped at the event. Rollins had shown from the start that it was in his nature to run with two other rabid wolves, dominate and commit actions that would have fans talking. In a different direction than that of Rollins’ current WWE run, Rollins was the one betrayed as Jimmy Jacobs turned on him at ROH Final Battle 2008 after losing a number one contenders match to Austin Aries.

In this sequence of matches leading up to Final Battle, Rollins showed fits of brilliance in the ring, displaying flashy offense and natural in-ring charisma. His initial moments of conveying emotion outside of the ring may have been a little rough, but there was no denial that he did not have a passion for pro wrestling’s athleticism. This was heightened even further after an unsuccessful attempt to defeat ROH World Champion Nigel McGuinness that ended in a draw. At ROH Violent Tendencies, the former Tyler Black defeated Jimmy Jacobs in an intensely violent steel cage match to end their feud. Seth Rollins showed a dark side and edge to his in-ring persona that made several fans to sit up and take notice. Rumblings of his eventual departure to WWE rose throughout.

2009 and 2010 saw the eventual rise of Seth Rollins among the ranks of the greats of Ring of Honor, as he defeated Kenny King, Claudio Castagnoli (now Cesaro), Colt Cabana, Delirious, Chris Hero and Roderick Strong to win the 2009 Survival of the Fittest tournament that earned him a match for the ROH World Championship. He was also placed in the enviable and unenviable position of being the main focus of a company’s first live Pay Per View. At Final Battle 2009, Rollins took ROH World Champion Austin Aries to the limit in a 60 minute time limit draw that received mix results from critics because Aries spent most of the match running away and clinging on desperately to his title. Despite the mixed reviews about the story of the match, there was very little complaints about Rollins’ in ring talent and his potential to make it on the big stage. After winning the ROH Title in 2010 and a series of successful title defenses, Rollins completed a heel turn when news broke that he had signed a developmental contract with WWE. The now familiar chants of “sell out” were first heard during this period as he threatened to take the ROH World Championship with him to WWE, and refused to put the championship at stake in a match with Davey Richards. After losing the title to Roderick Strong in a No Disqualification match, Rollins reported with WWE…and was convinced in his mind that he represented the future of all professional wrestling.

Here is where the WWE Special comes into play: Rollins was considered by Triple H and several of the WWE agents, producers and trainers as a headstrong, stubborn athlete who spoke his mind bluntly and felt he had no need to change the style that got him noticed enough to be signed by WWE. Rollins and Triple H go into detail of moments backstage where they have butted heads – even with Triple H threatening to let Rollins go if he did not adjust his attitude (pun entirely intended.) Rollins pushed through his perceived arrogance to become the first NXT Champion. Rollins has received several comparisons with former great WWE competitors like Jeff Hardy and CM Punk (sorry), but the competitor he reminds me of the most in terms of attitude and talent is Shawn Michaels.

That is a HUGE comparison and I understand that. I am sure Rollins may appreciate and accept the challenge to prove my boldness correct. Shawn Michaels is arguably the greatest pound for pound professional wrestler/sports entertainer in history. He has done it all and has done it with the main spotlight on him. I believe Rollins carries the similar aura and brashness of 1994 HBK with the same desire to steal the show every night en route to his historic WrestleMania X Ladder Match with Razor Ramon. Even though Rollins has done everything he can to be an effective heel – and he has proven to do so with his non-stop reminders of his 2014 Money in the Bank briefcase win along with devastating acts of violence (Curb Stomp on cinder blocks) – Seth Rollins never phones in a performance and has earned admiration among hardcore fans who appreciate his athleticism, character evolution (forming the awesome J&J Security) and clear desire to be the top man in WWE. Rollins was the first to publicly respond to Vince McMahon’s “Brass Ring” comment and has been positioned to emerge as John Cena’s next great long-term nemesis.

Upon his initial arrival with The Shield, Seth Rollins was continuously pointed out by fans as perhaps the one of the three who would get lost in the shuffle of Roman Reigns’ destiny and Dean Ambrose’s weird charisma. Like Shawn Michaels, Rollins was first known as a performer who could go all out, but was criticized for maybe not having any other depth past “athletic cocky rookie”. Rollins has become the member of The Shield who has been the most consistent performer after the split, wholly dependable to fill out whatever slot needed in WWE storylines – similar to Michaels’ self-appointed role of “showstopper” in 1995 when WWE was in its darkest days creatively. Rollins and Ambrose put the entire weight of WWE on their shoulders as they headlined the 2014 Hell in a Cell event and delivered in spades in their first attempt 17 years after HBK and The Undertaker wowed audiences at Badd Blood 1997. There is even similarity in an other-worldly entity interrupting the blood feud as Bray Wyatt served as a detour parallel to Kane’s debut pulling The Undertaker’s focus away from his hatred of Shawn Michaels. Even though we seem to deride WWE for their long-term plans or lack of historical memory, there seems to be a clear plan of attack on how to present Seth Rollins to the WWE universe. Maybe he is The Architect; holding that Money in the Bank briefcase is a staunch reminder that he could upend any plans for WrestleMania 31 by becoming champion either before the event by shocking the world and earning his spot as the #1 heel in the company with a pre-WM cash-in – or by making ultimate headlines as he becomes the first superstar ever to cash-in and successfully win the WWE World Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania itself. I would not put it past WWE to consider this, as doing so over a newly crowned champion Roman Reigns would lend Rollins nuclear heat that would last a career. It would also elevate Rollins permanently along with Roman Reigns as the main WWE program in 2015 would focus on Reigns and Rollins competing over the title. But like all well-laid plans, anarchy can swiftly and abruptly lay waste to them.

ANARCHY IN THE U.S.A.

If there is one thing modern day WWE has shown us, it is to never underestimate the power of a great rebel and anti-hero. From the rise of Randy Savage and Jake Roberts, stars who entered their WWE careers as calloused heels that are too entertaining to ignore have risen through the ranks to defy expectations and earn a righteous following among the majority of fans. Steve Austin committed blasphemy and became the biggest moneymaker in WWE’s history. The Rock speaks in third person and talks down to EVERYONE – an ego-centric act that has brought The Great One to the status of Hollywood’s #1 action star. I feel we are seeing the second coming of the great babyface in the mold of Ricky Steamboat and Ricky Morton with Sami Zayn, and we just may be in the opening stages of witnessing WWE’s next truly great anti-hero with the emergence of “The Lunatic Fringe”, Dean Ambrose.

The irony in all this is when Ambrose was first noticed by those who felt he had a future in WWE, most believed the former Jon Moxley had all the tools necessary to be WWE’s next great superheel. Instead the eccentric anarchist from Cincinnati, Ohio came RKOutta nowhere and for a time challenged John Cena as the #1 babyface in WWE based on crowd reaction through his unpredictability in the ring, lack of concern for his body and dark sense of humor in his promo delivery – complete with slithering gestures – endeared him to new fans. Also ironic, is that Ambrose has done perhaps the least amount of work to evolve in WWE. Roman Reigns had to adjust while translating his athleticism from one industry to the next and Seth Rollins had to adjust his attitude (again?) from his length of time from within the independent pro wrestling community to WWE. Ambrose simply entered from the independents to the big leagues as himself and has not suffered many changes to the persona he debuted upon his arrival to the scene ten years ago in 2004 as a part of Les Thatcher’s Heartland Wrestling Association’s (HWA) roster.

Ambrose could be considered battle tested in the roughneck world of professional wrestling, competing in bloodbaths in HWA, Insanity Pro Wrestling (IPW) and Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW) for those promotions’ major titles. His time in CZW and eventually in Dragon Gate USA began turning heads of hardcore independent fans. Ambrose’s promo style was strange – his tone, volume and affliction changing on a whim with only one constant behind his words: unhinged. By the time 2010 arrived, Ambrose was considered one of independent wrestling’s premier promo men. Shortly after, Ambrose arrived in WWE under the Florida Championship Wrestling developmental banner…and had his first match against Seth Rollins. The two would feud during the summer of 2010 in a 15-minute Iron Man match, a 20 minute rematch and a second 30 minute rematch that all ended in draws until Rollins scored a pinfall in sudden death of the second rematch. Even then, Rollins and Ambrose’s run ins with each other forced promoters to pay ample attention as an entire episode of FCW TV was dedicated to hyping and showing the third match in the series.

The history between the future Architect and Lunatic Fringe did not end there, as Ambrose finally beat Rollins in a non-title match in the first round of the Super Eight Tournament to crown the new FCW Florida Heavyweight Champion, and costing Rollins his FCW 15 title by attacking Damien Sandow during his title match with Rollins, causing a disqualification in the deciding fall. Ambrose would later engage in the #1 Contender Triple Threat match with Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins for the FCW Title. Ambrose went face to face with CM Punk (sorry) at an FCW house show and was defeated in a 30 minute match that rose Ambrose’s stock tremendously. He would find himself in feuds with William Regal and had a memorable, if brief confrontation with Mick Foley at the WrestleMania 28 Fan Axxess, claiming that Foley needed to be held accountable for leading a generation astray. Ambrose’s first exposure to WWE main event talent had several of his fans salivating, as the anticipation for a promo tete a tete between The Lunatic Fringe and the Hardcore Legend began to boil. Unfortunately, nothing materialized and Ambrose was left in limbo until his main roster debut at Survivor Series.

Ambrose’s 351 day reign as United States Champion served as an early indicator of where he stood in the pecking order. As the first of The Shield to win singles gold, and to hold on to it for as long as he did showed tremendous faith from WWE brass for Dean Ambrose to act as the face of a division as its champion. His stranglehold on the title also acted as catalyst towards The Shield’s initial cracks, as Ambrose’s constant barbs about his singles dominance began to wear thin on his stablemates, most notably Roman Reigns. At that time, Ambrose went through a losing streak that troubled fans – not only continuing the trend of WWE secondary champions perception as not on an equal level as main event talent, but also “downgrading” Ambrose in the eyes of the casual fan.

In spite of Dean Ambrose’s losing ways, he was still able to keep his unique persona and use that to bolster his image in the WWE Universe. Then Seth Rollins betrayed Ambrose and Roman Reigns. Ambrose’s face sold the shock of the betrayal beautifully just before he was viciously assaulted with a steel chair from Rollins like Austin going to town on The Rock at the climax of WrestleMania X-7. This was Ambrose’s time to shine as he was thrust into one of the few heated “blood rivalries” the WWE has engaged in some time. What happened after could have only been predicted by Ambrose’s most ardent fans as he used his off-kilter persona to create a wave of empathy as he did everything he could to make Seth Rollins’ life miserable during the spring and summer. Ambrose erupted a fiery promo against Rollins, detailing what he was going to do to his former “brother” that whipped the fans into a frenzy and justified those who compared Ambrose to competitors like Roddy Piper, Brian Pillman and Steve Austin. Ambrose was the main cheerleader during The Shield’s self-shot promos, and his intensity transitioned nicely (apart from random hot dog carts) as he found his own footing.

As Ambrose and Rollins feuded, the Lunatic Fringe’s following grew exponentially. With each appearance from June to October of this year, Ambrose’s crowd reaction became louder. With each action – interrupting Seth Rollins as he attempted to cash in MiTB, attacking his foe in the middle of a Pay Per View before their scheduled bout and later hopping out of a car trunk to cause more damage and even hopping on the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge bandwagon (“What? It’s for charity!”) Ambrose continued to endear himself to WWE fans. In the midst of this, fans vocalized their desire to see Dean Ambrose, and not Roman Reigns as the one to challenge Brock Lesnar for the WWE World Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania, as his following grew more organically. There is still time for a drastic change of plans – but Ambrose is currently embroiled in a feud with Bray Wyatt that has distracted his focus (can you distract someone’s focus away from someone who has none?) Despite the detour, Ambrose is currently enjoying the #2 feud in the company and it is really only a matter of time before the former Jon Moxley finds himself in a quest for the most prestigious title in WWE. Maybe Ambrose achieves the ultimate revenge and causes Seth Rollins to fail cashing in on a newly crowned WWE World Heavyweight Champion on Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 31? Maybe Rollins cashes in early on Brock Lesnar and he finds himself fighting against all odds as he faces off with both Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose in a hotly anticipated and oft-predicted Triple Threat Title match? Who knows? All that is clear is that if Ambrose is involved, it will be weird, random, violent and entertaining.

BELIEVE IN THE FUTURE

Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins have all – at various points in their WWE career – made compelling cases as to why each of them could be considered the future of the company. The Shield debuted as a unified unit designed to serve “justice” and have since broken off to create unique characters for themselves. The debate of who is the superior Shield member will always be debated. The 2014 Slammys was indicative of this: Dean Ambrose deserved to be voted as Breakout Superstar of the Year, but Seth Rollins broke out just as much – and arguably has gone further in his career at this point that Ambrose. It did not surprise many that Roman Reigns’ early 2014 performance and the backing of the WWE machine propelled him to Superstar of the Year, but Rollins was the more consistent performer of the three, and Ambrose allowed his stock to rise amongst the WWE Universe through sheer will. It is no surprise that Seth Rollins walked away with the most Slammys at the end of the night.

So the race is on for not only which of the three will reach status of WWE Champion first, but who will effectively act as the leader and face of WWE for the next decade. Roman Reigns seems poised and slotted to arrive there first, but Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins is hot on his heels. From their Survivor Series debut until today, all three have been highlighted at different points of their very young WWE careers to display how each could act as the #1 act in the company. Reigns’ cool interior and explosive offense, Ambrose’s eccentricity and anti-hero status and Rollins’ show-stealing attitude have each given weight and various reasons why each could realistically wind up in the main event of WrestleMania 31. It is a race for the future of sports entertainment – and a burden each seems ready to take on their shoulders. The three will always intersect in some way and seeing the evolution of each in 2014 has been one of the most delightful surprises of the year. One thing is certain; in some way by the time WreslteMania 31 has ended in San Francisco, justice will be served. Believe that.

Len Archibald is the former Executive Director of the Northwest Ohio Independent Film Festival, and is a current movie reviewer for WLIO in Lima, Ohio.

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