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The Shield has easily been one of the most popular factions in the history of the WWE and can easily be grouped with the likes of Evolution, D-Generation X, and maybe even the nWo and The Four Horsemen. So, you get it. They were kind of a big deal and now they're back together.
The trio of Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns have reunited for yet another run as The Hounds of Justice and their popularity hasn't died on even remotely in the three and a half years since they broke up the first time around. That's because they are one of the greatest stables in the history of the WWE.
So, without any further ado, here is our list of 5 reasons why The Shield is one of the greatest factions of all-time:
#5) They became popular in an era without big factions
If you ask people when factions were most popular in the WWE, they will most likely point you to the Attitude Era where the likes of D-Generation X, The Corporation, and The Ministry of Darkness ruled the roost. It was easy to get a group of guys over during that time.
But, when The Shield came to power, there weren't any real big groups that had succeeded. This era has seen the likes of The Nexus fail miserably despite a strong start but Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns ensured they didn't fall victims to the same circumstances.
#4) The fans never turned on them
No matter how good a faction has been through the years, it seems like a large number of them outlive their welcomes and end up getting on the bad side of professional wrestling fans. Even the nWo and The Four Horsemen weren't untouchable.
But, The Shield played things to perfection. They reached the top of the mountain quickly but then decided to end things before the fans got sick of them. Seth Rollins' betrayal three years ago has set the stage for some huge expectations now that they have reunited.
#3) They were main event talent even without a World Title
Almost all the great factions over the years have had a leader who is usually in the World Championship picture. Evolution had Triple H while DX had both "The Game" and Shawn Michaels. The nWo had Hulk Hogan while The Four Horsemen had Ric Flair.
But, not The Shield. Neither of the three members of The Hounds of Justice was in the consideration for a World Championship until after they split to go their own separate ways. And, despite this situation, they were often the most popular segment on the entire show.
#2) Their undefeated streak
One of the key reasons for The Shield's success if just how well they were booked. In fact, a huge reason for their popularity is their dominance after making their debut at WWE Survivor Series 2012.
The Hounds of Justice went undefeated all the way until May of the following year before suffering their first loss - and that was a DQ loss. It's this impressive run that laid the foundations for their greatness.
#1) No weak link
Almost every faction in professional wrestling has had a weak link. Right from The Four Horsemen to the nWo, to DX to The Nexus. If a group were big, they usually had one bad member. Not The Shield, though.
All three of Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns were equally impressive and equally important to the success of the group and that is a very rare thing in a faction.
