On WWE’s European tour, The Shield and The Undertaker deservedly dominated the entire week. This culminated in a SmackDown main event showdown between Dean Ambrose and The Undertaker that truly delivered the goods both as a singles match and in its aftermath:
CB’s Slant: Make no mistake about it, Dean Ambrose holding his own against Taker in his first high-profile one-on-one match is absolutely huge in terms of sustaining backstage confidence in the group. After all, if you can go with Taker in the ring and he gives his seal of approval, it can do wonders for your career in WWE. Just ask CM Punk, who was in a similar position a few years back during his first feud with the Deadman.
Then, after the match — which Ambrose lost via submission to the Hell’s Gate — The Shield did exactly what they should have done and simply beat down Taker in a three-on-one attack that included an awesome SPEAR by Roman Reigns through the barricade and ended with The Shield’s patented Triple Power Bomb on the Deadman through the announcer’s table. Dean Ambrose may have lost the match, but as a unit The Shield were the clear winners as SmackDown faded to black.
This was the perfect write-off for Taker — who can now rest up until WrestleMania season next year (or perhaps come back around SummerSlam if he chooses to do so) — and the ultimate launching pad for The Shield for the rest of this year.
If you didn’t already, it’s time to believe in The Shield, and I have a feeling that any remaining skepticism backstage has now been alleviated … with a little bit of help from The Undertaker.
That’s all from me — CB.
