WrestleMania 30 Match Preview: The Shield vs Kane & New Age Outlaws

A rejuvenated Shield takes on the authority figures in Corporate Kane And New Age Outlaws at WrestleMania 30 on April 6. Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns were teasing a break up for almost two months which however led to the Shield turning face and taking on the authority figures. While the match might be a setback to the much anticipated triple threat match between the trio, it is still sure to over achieve.

Given that the Shield had took on the team of Randy Orton, Big Show and Sheamus in the last WrestleMania, this match does look like a huge step in the wrong direction. Although their opponents are all accomplished stars who had achieved a lot in their prime, it is not up for discussion that all three are facing the twilight of their careers.

Build Up:

The team of Kane and Outlaws seems like a throwaway team. The whole match took only a couple of week to get set but it still looks compelling due to the presence of three upcoming talents and three experienced veteran, future Hall of Famers. All the six men have been performing to the best of their abilities and what looks like an undercard match may just steal the show at WrestleMania.

A few more weeks of build up would have only helped the match. While the outlaws are portrayed as the dear friends of triple H and therefore heels, their character was always somewhere in the middle as the tag team champs. Kane however has been good in his role of screwing the Shield.

The Shield is very fresh as babyfaces and therefore it would be intriguing to see how much reaction they can draw from the crowd at New Orleans. With the talent they offer, it should not be a letdown.

Shield’s Strength:

The Shield is brilliant as a three man tag team. Ever since their debut on the main roster, they have blown away their opponents with each and every performance. Week in and week out, they have moved from strength to strength and climbed the ladder in WWE. All the three members are very good in complementing their styles of wrestling and therefore make up a good team.

However off late, the egos of the members have been coming out. The shield have seldom teased of a break up. Would that be happening on the grandest stage of them all?

Kane and Outlaws’s strength:

Kane and Outlaws are veteran in ring performers. Though, they have been around for a while, they will face a very tough challenge in the Shield. It would be very hard to see the like of Road Dogg and Billy Gunn winning against much faster Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose. And while Corporate kane is big, he is not much intimidating in his new outfit. What this team has though, is experience. And that may well be the deciding factor on a big stage like WrestleMania.

In Kane and Billy Gunn, the team has two big athletes and Road Dogg adds a lot of charisma factor to the veteran team.

Predictions:

The Shield should come up their second consecutive victory at WrestleMania by beating the make up team of Kane and Outlaws. The way they win the match and what happens afterwards would be much more interesting.

Match Consequences:

The Shield got a new lease to life after turning face. Whether they would continue as a babyface team or whether the imminent split happens remains to be seen. A split would make much more sense. As the part timers like Lesnar and Taker leaves the main event scene, it would be great time to see the members of the shield given more air time as singles performers.

For Corporate Kane, this would mean another step towards the end of a long career. His immediate future would be linked more with what happens to Triple H in his match with Bryan. Whether we would see the big red monster once again before he hangs up the boots remains to be seen. And while the New Age Outlaws have been entertaining in their return, this may well be the end of their latest run.

Expected Ratings:

7/10