5 Factions that could challenge The Shield

This Sunday the Shield is set to face The Miz, The Bar, Braun Strowman, and a revitalized Kane in a 5-on-3 TLC match at WWE Tables, Ladders and Chairs. After years of keeping the Shield reunion in their back pocket, and with Brock Lesnar and John Cena set to miss the TLC pay per view, the WWE has called upon the Hounds of Justice to headline the very show they debuted on five years ago.

There is no reason for the Shield to lose this match despite the odds being stacked so heavily against them. The WWE has not pulled their reliable black-clad rabbits out of the hat just to job them out and kill their mystique.

The question now is what does the Shield do after they dispose of their formidable opponents at TLC? The best thing to come out of the Shield's 2012-14 run was the faction wars against the likes of Evolution, the Wyatt Family, and (even though they weren't a "faction") the Rhodes Family.

There are plenty of factions in the WWE right now that could wage war with the Shield, including groups that can be assembled to challenge the unstoppable trio of Ambrose, Rollins, and Reigns. These five factions would put on incredible contests that could rival the classic 6-man tag matches that made the Shield famous

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# 5 Bray Wyatt, Sawyer Fulton, and Wolfgang

Bray could create a new Wyatt Family to feud with The Shield

Right now Bray Wyatt, as Sister Abigail, is set to face Finn Balor, as the Demon, at TLC in what can most rationally be explained as a match pitting two men suffering from Jekyll and Hyde syndrome. If the dumpster fire that was the House of Horrors match at Battleground didn't permanently kill Wyatt's singles career, which it did, then him portraying Sister Abigail and jobbing out to Balor's Demon persona definitely will.

Wyatt was at his best when he was the cryptic, charismatic cult leader of the Wyatt Family, and that is what he must return to. Wyatt has a long history with the Shield, having feuded with them collectively as a team, as well as each member individually.

The Wyatt Family was the only team to go undefeated against the Shield in 6-man matches, but with Luke Harper and Rowan on SmackDown Live, and Braun Strowman having established himself as a main eventer, WWE must form a new Wyatt Family.

Sawyer Fulton, standing 6'8" could be used as the enforcer. Fulton hasn't been seen on NXT in a long time. Although he is green, being in a faction should cover up his weaknesses. All he has to do is snarl and look menacing while Bray cuts all the promos. Wolfgang, from the WWE UK Tournament, would also fit into the newest Wyatt Family incarnation.

Wolfgang has the backwoods brawler look that Harper and Rowan had, along with excellent in-ring talent. With Bray as the mouthpiece, Fulton as the muscle, and Wolfgang as the technician, the Shield would have their hands full trying to defend their yard.

#4 Balor Club

Image from Cagesideseats

At this point, Indy fans should take a moment of silence for the men formerly known as Doc Gallows and Machine gun Karl, as their careers are now dead in the water.The former Raw Tag Team Champions were last seen singing the Honky Tonk Man's theme song with Elias on Monday Night Raw before jobbing out to the team of Jason Jordan, Apollo Crews, and Titus O'Neil. It may seem too late to align the good brothers with their former Bullet Club leader Finn Balor, but in actuality, the timing couldn't be better.

There is no reason for Balor to lose his upcoming match at TLC, so what will he do with that momentum? It is sometimes difficult to remember, based on how poorly he's been booked, that Balor was the inaugural Universal Champion when he defeated Seth Rollins at Summer Slam over a year ago. Balor suffered a dislocated shoulder during the match and had to vacate the title 24 hours later.

Since his return, Balor has continuously stated that he wants his title back but has yet to be given a match. That may change after TLC. When Brock Lesnar returns with the championship, Balor could be next in line for a title shot. He can lose clean and the frustration would be enough to turn him heel and assemble the Balor Club, saving Gallows and Anderson from mid-card purgatory. Balor Club vs the Shield is a dream match that sells itself, as many fans have been fantasy booking it since all three men first set foot in a WWE ring.

#3 Samoa Joe and the Authors of Pain

The Hounds of Justice could put on classics against the Monsters of Samoa

Samoa Joe is not currently aligned with the Authors of Pain, but it is a match made in heaven. With all three men being Samoan, and with AOP no longer the NXT Tag Team Champions, they can be called up to the main roster and form a powerhouse faction with Joe. Joe is currently off TV with an injury, but he can return with Akam and Rezar by his side.

Some may feel that the Authors of Pain are too green to be pushed into a rivalry with established main eventers such as Joe and the Shield, but the veteran status of these men will instantly establish AOP on the main roster. Joe and the Shield are also good enough to disguise the weaknesses of AOP, and with Joe's abilities on the mic, AOP won't have to say a word.

Imagine the Shield in the ring, getting jumped by Joe, Akam, and Rezar, being demolished in the ring and left for dead. The Shield would seek vengeance on their monstrous attackers, leading to a match that would surely help WWE's suffering ticket sales. The only question is...how will this clash of titans end? Will it be the Shield's patented triple powerbomb or AOP's Super Collider?

#2 SAnitY

SAnitY could recreate the magic of the Wyatts-Shield rivalry, and improve upon it

When I look at SAnitY, I am reminded of the Wyatt Family...before WWE ruined them. The current NXT Tag Teams Champions are one of the most formidable factions in all of WWE right now, and a match between them and the Shield would be an instant classic.

With Eric Young as the charismatic, calculating leader, and Alexander Wolfe and Killian Dain as he deranged henchmen, along with Nikki Cross roaming the outside, SAnitY is a force to be reckoned with.

The Shield protect WWE from injustice, meanwhile, SAnitY just likes to cause chaos. Thereby, the battle line has been drawn. SAnitY will march down to the ring in their hoods and masks, while the Shield descends upon the ring in their black tactical vests. The exchanges between all six men would be extraordinary, the tag team manoeuvres would be impeccable, and with Nikki Cross being the wildcard outside the ring the Shield would find themselves outnumbered.

In a situation such as this, it would be best for the NXT call-ups to come out victorious over the hounds of justice and beginning a program with the Shield would elevate SAnitY to a whole new level.

#1 The Undisputed Era

The Undisputed Era would live up to their name with a win over The Shield

This dream match won't be happening anytime soon, as there is a time limit set on the current Shield reunion, and the Undisputed Era are clearly going to be running NXT for quite some time. Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, and Kyle O'Reilly would be the best possible trio to challenge Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns.

The Undisputed Era has shocked the system in NXT, leaving a trail of bodies everywhere they go. They have assaulted security guards, competitors, gotten involved in singles matches, UK matches, and even women's matches. Literally, nobody is safe from Cole, Fish, and O'Reilly.

If the Undisputed Era try to come up in the main roster in the future and pull the same stunts, then the hounds of justice will surely come together once more to put an end to it. Much like the Shield, the Undisputed Era has no weak links, no cracks in the armour, and they operate well as a unit. If you take any one member from the Shield and pit him against any one member of the Undisputed Era, then you are easily looking for a four-star match.

This is a six-man tag team match that could main event any pay-per-view, and would singlehandedly sellout an arena. The Undisputed Era may have a fourth member by the time they get called up though, as they have been seen trying to recruit Roderick Strong. While it is hard to see a perennial face like Strong aligning with a group of heels like the Undisputed Era, they could still recruit more men. Perhaps the Undisputed Era will be an army by the time they step foot inside the Shield's yard.