I write a wrestling column every Monday and Friday for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. I also give analysis on CineSport throughout the week.
Today, I gave my thoughts in this 2 minute video on how big of a splash a CM Punk WWE return would be right now considering The Shield could use a third member.
My column today talks about who would be a realistic and good option to join The Shield. The following is an excerpt:
One of the toughest creative aspects of professional wrestling is how to debut someone.
You can have the best character in the world, but the packaging, presentation and timing needs to align. Right now, WWE has an opening for what is an instant credibility position in a top storyline.
Seth Rollins left The Shield to join Evolution. Evolution has three members, and The Shield is down to two. It's clear this feud between the two factions is going to continue through the summer. This means The Shield needs a third guy to even the odds.
I've read social media all week as people discuss whether The Shield gets a third member, and who they would like it to be. WWE.com even had an article this weekend with six potential names that could fill the spot.
NXT Champion Adrian Neville, Big E, Dolph Ziggler, Cody Rhodes, John Morrison and WWE World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan were the six names listed in the article. I think it would be fair to say none of these six are a remote possibility. None of them make sense, and WWE wouldn't spoil the shock of whoever will be the third man by putting it as a possibility in an article on the company website.
The third man needs to be someone never seen on the main roster. This is part of what worked for the original three members of The Shield. All three came from NXT. They had no past failed gimmicks, no matches or anything else on the main roster to be judged by.
NXT can be seen by more people now with the WWE Network, but for the most part the two are still treated as separate brands/companies. There is some crossover with main roster guys making appearances on NXT, but with separate storylines and titles.
The only guy who isn't in NXT who would be the perfect big surprise is CM Punk. Not just because it would be a major return given how he left, but there are a lot of little factors and pieces of history which make sense. I talk about these in the latest video for CineSport which you can view above.
Assuming it wouldn't be CM Punk, there is one guy who makes the perfect fit:
CLICK HERE for who the best choice would be to join The Shield.
