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Views from the Hawke’s Nest: Destruction of The Shield – Disc 2

August 1, 2015 | Posted by TJ Hawke

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Views from the Hawke’s Nest: Destruction of The Shield – Disc 2

Ambrose says the feud with Regal will always be one of the things he is most proud of.

FCW
July 1, 2012

Dean Ambrose vs. William Regal

While I ever-so slightly prefer the first match between these two, this was absolutely a fitting “part 2″ of their in-ring feud. Regal goes right back after Ambrose’s left arm which the commentators explained had been rumored to have never fully heeled after the first Ambrose/Regal match. Ambrose, again, is forced to get a bit desperate in his attempt to survive this beating. The difference is that he finds an opening in the match that allows him to nearly knock Regal out instead of just merely delaying the inevitable. Ambrose sends Regal into a ringpost, and Regal is never the same after that. In a delightfully bizarre finish, Regal actually gets in the last blow (running forearm) of the match, but Regal is so out of it that he’s not able to get back up on his feet. This was technically ruled a “No Contest,” but it was clear that Ambrose was the better man on this night. The post-match angle confirmed it as Regal looked impressed with Ambrose and literally applauded his effort…only for Ambrose to knock his head off with a Knee Trembler. This whole feud was just great professional wrestling. (****)

NXT
August 29, 2012

Seth Rollins vs. Jinder Mahal

This was the finals of the NXT Gold Rush Tournament to crown the first NXT Champion. This was an oddly solid match, as both guys working to impress. If they kept the back injury Rollins suffered, it could have been even better. As it is, the match is something both men can be proud of and suitable start to the history of the NXT Championship. Rollins won with the Curb Stomp. Jinder showed me something in this match that I did not know he had: talent. (***)

NXT
October 31, 2012

Roman Reigns vs. CJ Parker

This was a really dull squash. No ifs, ands, or butts about it. You would never know that Reigns would go on to find success in the WWE after this match. (1/4*)

Rollins complain about the TLC match getting no MOTY hype because it happened in December. Heavy shot at Melty.

TLC
December 16, 2012

The Shield (Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, & Roman Reigns) vs. Daniel Bryan, Kane, & The Ryback

This match benefits greatly from how random the match is and that the match is worked as if to create as much chaos as possible. Everyone is put into a position to succeed and made to look as talented as possible (even Kane!). They work it like a street fight and don’t have to force any climbing situations. They manage to make The Shield both look dominant and violent, but clearly vulnerable enough that they can one day be taken down. That can sometimes be key in pro wrestling. The Shield eventually won after putting Bryan through a table. This was a fantastic match and an even better debut for The Shield. (****1/2)

They skip months ahead and show us this match. What the heck. There were definitely some good trios matches in between TLC and this PPV.

Extreme Rules
May 19, 2013

Kofi Kingston(c) vs. Dean Ambrose [United States Championship]

This was fine. Kofi excels in a handful of situations. Those situations usually involve quality bases who can toss him around and take his wacky offense. Ambrose is no Cesaro, and the match never really excelled as a result. They made the most of the styles clash though. Ambrose ended up winning with the bulldog driver after avoiding Trouble in Paradise. (**3/4)

Team Hell No (Daniel Bryan & Kane)(c) vs. The Shield (Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns) [Tornado Tag for the WWE Tag Team Championship]

This was a high-energy affair where the action never let up. It is not the kind of match you necessarily think of when you think of The Shield because of the Texas Tornado rules. It is a significant match I suppose though because it was their only tag team title win. The Shield pinned Bryan with a torture rack/diving knee drop combo to win the belts. (***)

Money in the Bank
July 14, 2013

The Shield(c) (Roman Reigns & Seth Rollins) vs. The Usos (Jimmy & Jey Uso) [WWE World Tag Team Championship]

This is the kind of tag team wrestling that defined what The Shield could bring week in and week out to the company. There was great action and great tag team psychology that combined to slowly build the tension in the match until the hot finish. The Shield won this very fun match after give an Uso a buckle bomb and a spear. The WWE could have a filled a half dozen discs with tag matches like this from The Shield. (***3/4)

Survivor Series
November 24, 2013

The Shield (Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose, & Seth Rollins) & The Real Americans (Cesaro & Jack Swagger w/ Zeb Colter) vs. The Rhodes Brothers (Cody Rhodes & Goldust), Rey Mysterio, & The Usos (Jimmy & Jey Uso)

If I was watching this on a compilation of Survivor Series elimination matches, I would greatly appreciate it for telling an unusual story for this kind of match. The babyfaces eliminated three heels with relative ease, and then the heels (Rollins & Reigns) became the underdogs. On a compilation of The Shield though, this match stands out as being an odd duck for being such a cold match for a team known for having hot matches. Reigns ended up being left alone against Goldust and Rey, but he managed to pin both clean to win the match. You can skip this one. Felt like a propaganda inclusion to make Reigns seem like a bigger deal. (**1/4)

Watch some Shield matches for free!

The Shield vs. Rey Mysterio & The Usos

The Shield vs. Goldust & Cody Rhodes [The big title change]

Watch Ambrose for free!

Jon Moxley (Dean Ambrose) vs. Brodie Lee (Luke Harper)

Jon Moxley vs. B-Boy

Jon Moxley vs. Drake Younger [Dog Collar Match]

Watch Rollins for free!

Tyler Black (Seth Rollins) vs. Bryan Danielson

Tyler Black vs. Claudio Castagnoli

Tyler Black & Jimmy Jacobs vs. Bryan Danielson & Austin Aries

Tyler Black vs. Jimmy Jacobs [Cameo from Mick Foley]