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Ever since the debut of the SHIELD in 2012, WWE has seen a consistent influx of multiple factions; often broken into three-man teams. Last week the SHIELD once more reunited to possibly wreak havoc in the WWE.
From top to bottom; RAW to Smackdown to NXT and 205 Live, the WWE has a litany of teams with different dynamics and experiences. The beauty of this is that WWE could just as easily see faction wars as it could see one rule the roost of their respective roster.
Another intriguing element is the positioning of the factions within their rosters. Some are a collective of main event talents, others pure tag teams and some can take over the WWE Universe at the flick of a switch.
Whether to deliver justice or to shock the system, here are the current factions of the WWE ranked accordingly.
10. The Club/Balor Club [AJ Styles/Finn Balor with Good Brothers (Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows)]
Not really in association in any which way, the two versions of The Club are disparate but could come together should a faction war come calling. Just as they were trudging along, Finn Balor and the Good Brothers got separated in the draft lottery.
Meanwhile, they've joined AJ Styles on Smackdown but nothing has really come of it. The closest things have been Styles being taken ahold of by his brothers while in a shouting match against Samoa Joe.
If WWE could pull it off like old times, they should send The Good Brothers onto RAW. Not only will it bolster the RAW tag division but give Balor the backup needed to contest the newly reformed SHIELD. It's a dream contest and would sell hard for the WWE Universe.
9. Lucha House Party [Gran Metalik, Kalisto and Lince Dorado]
It seemed at one point that the coming together of the Lucha House Party, signaled the imminent arrival of a trios championship on 205 Live. Of course, that never occurred. More importantly, WWE has failed to really utilize the Lucha House Party correctly.
The cohesive unit has been often dismantled by the disparate team of Drew Gulak, Brian Kendrick, and Jack Gallagher. While it was to put over the talented and on the rise Gulak, but this team deserves more.
A tag championship could do wonders for this lower ranked faction. Mired in the Cruiserweight ranks they can't do much else but battle it out with a mix of individuals not really united with one another. Till then keep partying with nothing to lose.
8. Sanity [Eric Young, Alexander Wolfe and Killian Dain/w Nikki Cross]
Oh, how the insane have fallen. A year ago Sanity, were the NXT Champions heading into the thrilling Takeover War Games main event. This is a team built to win with its brute might and unpredictability.
Yet in NXT as well as more importantly on Smackdown, Sanity has failed to make the required impact. It feels much like a retread of Wyatt Family's slowly drowning fortunes. Except here WWE isn't intent on giving Sanity even a modicum of a chance.
Here is a team that could shred through the tag team ranks. Sanity would have provided an interesting contest against the Bludgeon Brothers. Here we are though and Sanity is falling by the wayside maybe Nikki Cross can resurrect their fortunes.
7. British Strong Style [Pete Dunne and Moustache Mountain (Tyler Bate and Trent Seven)]
Even though a non-starter, British Strong Style holds above others because the little glimmer we've got of them promises they will explode across the new NXT UK Brand. Pete Dunne is slowly turning into the perfect anti-hero to lead the UK Division. While Moustache Mountain is clearly being set up to win the NXT UK tag titles.
With rivals all around including Zack Gibson above all, Dunne's going to need a bit of help from his Progress partners to take down incoming challenges. The trio have been successful over the British Progress brand, taking the punk rock wrestling show to new heights
The UK brand will do good to unite the British Strong Style at first to let fans find a tether to which to connect to the brand with. After which the NXT UK brand can have the trio as a power-hungry enemy for everyone else. Factions in power always create compelling drama, especially for a growing brand.
6. Drew Gulak, Jack Gallagher and Brian Kendrick
An alliance slowly formed out of necessity, each one of these men despite two of them being former champions floundered in 205 Live. Now under the leadership of Drew Gulak the shocking team of Kendrick and Gallagher have found purpose.
Gulak has always been great at leading level-headed faction of bruisers, just look at Catch Point in EVOLVE Wrestling without him. His turn from power point presentation joke to a serious grappler gives him a new edge with a chance he will soon capture the Cruiserweight championship.
As for his compatriots, they act as great foils to current babyface champion Cedric Alexander and any challenges that will come Gulak's way. It's not an officially recognized trio, but it's done far better than they have.
5. Rusev Day [Rusev, Lana and Aiden English]
`An interesting unit that can act as a tag team, mixed tag team, manager and wrestler in any equation. At one point a few weeks back it seemed Rusev Day is done, but they are back. The beloved underdog team finally fan favourites in WWE's eyes, could do with a boost in either tag ranks or the mid-card.
Rusev has had the United States and WWE Title shot in the year but nothing really to show for it. His faction might be back but WWE could play a longer game in tearing them apart. Hopefully, that isn't the case as there's still a lot of mileage with the Rusev/Lana couple and English as Rusev's presenter.
Either way, the only way to elevate Rusev is to have him carry forward this momentum of the teams' reunion. If they don't, the popularity of Rusev Day already seems waning. Then once again WWE will have wasted the potential of a babyface powerhouse.
4. Riott Squad [Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan]
Of the two awkwardly introduced women's factions on RAW and Smackdown earlier this year, Absolution headed for the mainstream. Meanwhile their carbon copies Riott Squad felt like a bunch of thrown together individuals, to fill the women's ranks en route to the Royal Rumble.
Yet Paige's subsequent injury and the brand switch between the two has seen Riott Squad take a lead with visibility as mid-card female heels. Ruby's return from injury recently added fire back to the Squad. She's the glue holding them together with her skills, but much like their Absolution counterparts, the other two are improving as well.
A super faction might have done both good, yet the current trio is topping on their own. However WWE needs to tread with caution, Riott Squad can't continuously clash with the Boss and Hug connection for nothing. If WWE were to introduce Women's tag titles, this faction of women among others would be elevated another notch.
3. SHIELD
They'd be number one had they just not reunited. SHIELD has become synonymous with the current generation of WWE. This is a powerhouse team with each one of the men holding world championships and more between them.
Sure cynics can say the reunion is in place to get Roman Reigns over, but even then SHIELD is an intriguing unit. Their attack on Braun Strowman presents a wild angle if WWE is willing to double down. There's no doubt Braun might have the support of Lashley and Finn Balor; two men who've had their tangles with the group and Roman.
Meanwhile, Drew McIntyre and Dolph Ziggler lurk somewhere alongside the constable Baron Corbin. The reunion of the super faction in this climate provides tons of options. Among them is the idea of loyalty permeating across the three brothers until a potential explosive Ambrose heel turn.
A suggestion is WWE going all in on the three men and having them square off at Wrestlemania 35 to punctuate this era in the company.
2. The New Day
Breaking down the unbeaten Bludgeon Brothers, the New Day are now five-time tag team champions. From humble beginnings as stereotyped preachers of positivity to sensational heels and now uber babyfaces.
New Day should never break up and though currently tag team champions, eventually the team needs an elevation. New Day should get a singles title run, carrying it with the Freebird rule as a unit. It creates an interesting wrinkle for the mid-card or even the main event scene.
The trio is setting the world on fire, this year they competed against the ELITE proving that they've transcended the company in many ways. New Day can change the face of tag team wrestling once again if WWE wills it. When they do rise further, let's hope they will do so with enough power of positivity.
1. Undisputed Era [Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, Kyle O'Reilly and Bobby Fish]
Nothing is shocking the system like the current NXT championship stable Undisputed Era. Formed on the back of former ROH stalwarts coming to WWE, they've dominated since despite a few road bumps. Including recently Adam Cole's loss of the North American championship.
Even then Cole is a shining star and future world champion with just the right backing of former partners and friends. Bobby Fish while currently injured adds an intriguing veteran tag element to the group. Roderick Strong has become a fine addition forming an unbelievably stellar unit with the teams MVP. Kyle O'Reilly has raised his game to another level, impersonating NWO Hogan's entrance to perfection and stealing the show with his mat game in the ring.
The Undisputed Era could provide the perfect challenge for the newly reformed SHIELD or snatch away the tag team titles from the New Day. Either way they are all over NXT and will do the same when promoted to the main roster. Time to shock the system!
