Predictability has dissuaded me from investing into much of anything WWE this year.

The big surprise moment of the year was having career jobber and constipation savant, Jinder Mahal, win the WWE Championship aka Secondary Belt. Mahal’s career record is 92–392. Mahal beat 13-time champion and future hall of famer, Randy Orton, for the belt. A+ storytelling.

While Mahal was busy in a storyline making fun of a Japanese man’s facial expressions, Vince plus esteemed members of the WWE writing staff were busy scripting ways to get Roman Reigns over (as they have been for the last 3 years). Somewhere in the sunken depths Stamford, Connecticut, a spirited young intern said, “I’ve got it! Let’s put The Shield back together! The fans love those guys!”

And now here we are. A telegraphed story where Dean Ambrose, Seth fuggin’ Rollins, and the indelible Roman Reigns have joined forces once again to terrorize Miz, Sheamus, and toothless Cesaro.

The Shield reuniting has reignited the nostalgia receptors and fans are rejoicing. I get it, but I also see it as a shortsighted reaction. The Shield have a grace period before the fan base as a whole comes around to the understanding that this is another ploy for Reigns to be cheered by fans.

What a bittersweet irony that, The Shield, is literally being used to shield Roman Reigns from constant boos and heat. There couldn’t be a more appropriate faction title.

What truly amazes me is how quickly fans can forget that they hated Roman Reigns.

He’s been booed by every live crowd this year. He was booed by every live crowd the year prior. The Rock raised his hand at the Royal Rumble, and the People’s Champ got booed for association.

All it took was standing next to Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins for years of built up frustration to be erased, for a temporary relief.

I, myself, came into The Shield run in its later stages, so I have no sentimental investment in the group, but I caught a few of their entertaining matches. I can see where the hype is. But even as their run winded down, the redundancy was becoming clear. The “make Roman look strong” movement was not so subtly peeking over the horizon.

When I watched The Shield, I found myself into the wrestling ability of Seth Rollins, and Dean Ambrose’s routine of flailing his body carelessly at people. Roman’s role was to hit a jumping sideways punch and a spear.

My issue with The Shield is what more do they have left to offer than a break from the current monotony? Instead, we’re reliving a previous monotony. The Vince McMahon goal is still the same one that CM Punk revealed so elegantly to Colt Cabana years ago. Make Roman look strong.

The WWE has been actively protecting Brock Lesnar’s F5 finisher for one reason. It’s for the third Roman Reigns coronation ceremony at Wrestlemania 34 for Reigns vs. Lesnar II. This will also be the fourth straight time Roman main events Wrestlemania.

“The F5 has finished every other superstar on the roster!” Michael Cole will exclaim.

Reigns predictably will kick out of the F5 mid-match. The crowd will count as if the ref would even think about counting to 3.

“OMG!!?!?! REIGNS KICKS OUT AT 2!!!”

If kayfabe is really dead, if fans of the business have more access than ever, than why don’t more fans see through the clearly transparent curtain?

But Mr. King, let me enjoy The Shield now why they’re still here, can’t you just enjoy the product-

Pause. I want a better product. The WWE has too much talent, too much potential, to be wasted rehashing a faction just to get one guy over. I rather see The Shield reuniting as a career death sentence to whatever potential was left with the hobbled Seth Rollins and the corpse of Dean Ambrose. Rollins and Ambrose’s WWE legacy will be the other guys in The Shield.

Rollins time spent as a top guy was spent as The Authority’s bitch boy. Meanwhile Ambrose was busy coming up short for a significant title run and reciting cringy scriptwriting.

I expect better than The Shield when I see Kevin Owens using Shane McMahon’s character to add more depth to his, while revitalizing the career of Sami Zayn.

Simply, The Shield reunion is not a positive move for the WWE in the long term if the end goal is still relying on Roman Reigns being over with the fans.

Reigns is a below average wrestler who couldn’t find charisma if he fell into the River Styx and took a charisma class with Dwayne Johnson, the Macho Man, and Ric Flair for the next 700 years. Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose are afterthoughts protecting Reigns from further incessant hatred.

And that, ladies and gentleman, has been you Shield returns review.