Dean Ambrose v Seth Rollins v Roman Reigns (Battleground 2016)
Battleground was not exactly the avenue the world thought we would get this mega showdown. Ever since the Shield split, these three men were headed for battle; it was assumed it would be saved for one of WWE’s bigger shows instead of a B-level show with very little hype. Still, it was a fantastic triple threat match that saw WWE’s former dominant faction go to war over the WWE Championship.
The chemistry was undeniable for this match, and the hype of the Shield triple threat was enough to make this the highlight of the night. Dean Ambrose had just won the WWE Championship and had Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins hot on his heels.
The finishing flurry of each man hitting their finish was a nice touch, and created ambiguity of who would be walking away with the strap. In the end, both Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins failed to capture the championship, and Reigns once again failed to pin Rollins.
Roman Reigns v Seth Rollins (Royal Rumble 2022)
A few years passed before Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns tangled, but that didn’t hinder any animosity the two men had. The babyface/heel dynamic shifted by 2022, with Roman Reigns deep into his Tribal Chief character. Seth Rollins posed a significant threat to his reign, and Rollins’s entrance using the old Shield theme song was brilliant.
The match was the exact quality that we have come to expect from these two. The built-in history told the story, as did Reigns’ inability to put Seth Rollins away. The World Champion threw everything at Seth Rollins, but the Architect kept coming.
Roman Reigns’ frustration was evident, and it led to the champ holding onto a submission too long, causing a DQ finish. It was one of the better-told DQ finishes in WWE history that didn’t leave a bad taste in anyone’s mouth.
