The Shield is not only one of the best stables of the 2010s, it is perhaps one of the best stables of all time. They left their mark on WWE and the industry as a whole, surpassing expectations time and time again.
From their debut at Survivor Series 2012, until their final separation in 2019, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose had many memorable moments, and delivered several fantastic matches. They were able to achieve greatness against a variety of opponents, which made them stand out even more. Without further ado, below are The Shield's 10 best matches, according to Cagematch.net ratings.
10 Vs. The Usos (Money In The Bank 2013) - 8.06
On the kickoff of Money In The Bank 2013, WWE Tag Team Champions Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins faced off against The Usos. This was the perfect way to kick off a PPV - all the performers did an excellent job and, as a result, the match was epic.
Fast-paced action, cool spots, and several near-falls gave way to an amazing ending. After almost 15 minutes, The Shield managed to defeat The Usos to retain the titles and continue building momentum.
9 Vs. The Wyatt Family (Main Event 2014) - 8.13
On April 8, 2014 on WWE Main Event, Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins joined forces to face Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper and Erick Rowan.
The first few minutes of the bout were a bit slow, but gradually the match became more exciting and intense. In the final minutes, the bout became chaotic and brutal. All six men involved did a great job, but if there was anyone who stood out above the rest, it was Dean Ambrose, who sold his injuries excellently and made the cover to win.
8 Vs. Cody Rhodes & Goldust (Battleground 2013) - 8.17
This was undoubtedly the best match of Battleground 2013. The in-ring action was excellent, but it was the storytelling that made this match exceptional.
The simple fact that Dusty Rhodes was at ringside was great, but on top of that he performed a Bionic Elbow on Dean Ambrose that had even the most jaded fan cheering. Reigns and Rollins were destroying Goldust and Cody, but the latter managed to turn things around and pick up the huge win. Fortunately for The Shield, their tag team gold was not on the line.
7 Vs. The Bar (No Mercy 2017) - 8.30
At No Mercy 2017, Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins and The Bar (Cesaro and Sheamus), collided in a truly remarkable Raw Tag Team Championship match. Cesaro was the man of the match, putting in yet another stellar performance. However, that was not enough to defeat Ambrose and Rollins, who retained the titles.
This wasn't just a highly rated match in general, it was arguably the best bout of the night. That's saying something, as Roman Reigns and John Cena faced each other that same night.
6 Vs. Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntyre (Hell In A Cell 2018) - 8.49
At Hell In A Cell 2018, Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre completely stole the show. They delivered a mind-blowing match, in which Ziggler and McIntyre managed to retain the Raw Tag Team Titles after an extremely intense battle.
Later that night, the fierce battle between The Shield and Ziggler and McIntyre continued as Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman faced off inside the cell. In fact, it was more fun to watch what was going on around the cell than inside it. The end fell flat though, as Lesnar took out both men, ending the bout in a no-contest.
5 Vs. The Wyatt Family (Monday Night Raw, 2014) - 8.53
On the March 3, 2014 episode of Monday Night Raw, the Shield faced off against the Wyatt Family in a Six-Man Tag Team match that fans loved from start to finish.
Clearly there was a lot of chemistry between the two teams, as every time they entered the ring they put on a great show. This time, it was a very intense and dramatic confrontation, with Seth Rollins' shocking decision to abandon his teammates, who were subsequently dismantled by the Wyatt Family.
4 Vs. Evolution (Extreme Rules 2014) - 8.80
Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins faced off against Batista, Randy Orton and Triple H at Extreme Rules 2014. The idea is simple, when there are so many high-caliber superstars in the ring, the bout is guaranteed to deliver in spades.
The match started at a slow pace, but as time went on it ended up getting more intense and exciting. It built to the final minutes when all hell broke loose. There were jaw-dropping spots and all the men involved did an excellent job. Seth Rollins' high-flying moves in particular, were breath-taking.
3 Vs. Team Hell No & Randy Orton (Friday Night SmackDown 2013) - 8.86
This match took place on the June 14, 2013 episode of Friday Night SmackDown. Team Hell No (Daniel Bryan and Kane) and Randy Orton made a legendary combination to defeat the three members of Shield for the first time ever in a six-man tag team match.
It was 13 minutes of non-stop action with an unforgettable finish. Seth Rollins jumped from the top rope to attack Daniel Bryan, but Randy Orton took the opportunity to hit him with the RKO, and then Bryan performed the Yes! Lock to force Rollins to tap out.
2 Vs. Team Hell No & Ryback (Tables, Ladders & Chairs 2012) - 9.29
At TLC 2012, Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins made their in-ring debut against Daniel Bryan, Kane and Ryback in a Tables, Ladders and Chairs match. This is arguably one of the best debuts in wrestling history.
Obviously, this bout featured violence and brutality at its finest, and that's precisely why the fans loved it. There were insane spots and the booking was perfect. In short, this match was a masterpiece. In the end, the Shield claimed their first victory.
1 Vs. The Wyatt Family (Elimination Chamber 2014) - 9.30
According to Cagematch.net, The Shield's best match was against their bitter rivals, the Wyatt Family at Elimination Chamber 2014. Certainly, this six-man tag team match was spectacular, and featured some of the most thrilling action fans had ever seen.
It was a perfectly paced bout, which had several great spots, with brilliant storytelling and superlative performances from each performer. When all those factors combined, the result was a wrestling classic worth watching again and again.