Roman Reigns

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Roman Reigns served as the physical enforcer of The Shield, delivering the impact while his partners managed strategy. The trio quietly ended their association with CM Punk after the January 28 episode of Raw revealed that Punk and Paul Heyman had been paying them. They then feuded with John Cena, Ryback, and Sheamus, defeating them at Elimination Chamber on February 17, 2013. At WrestleMania 29 on April 7, they defeated Sheamus, Randy Orton, and Big Show. The Shield's undefeated streak in televised six-man tag team matches ended in a disqualification loss on the May 6 episode of Raw against The Undertaker, Kane, and Daniel Bryan. Reigns and Rollins lost the WWE Tag Team Championship to Cody Rhodes and Goldust on the October 14 episode of Raw after interference from Big Show. At Survivor Series on November 24, Reigns won a traditional Survivor Series match for his team. At TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs on December 15, The Shield lost to CM Punk in a 3-on-1 handicap match. The accidental spear by Reigns on Ambrose occurred on the December 2 episode of Raw. The next night after the Royal Rumble, The Shield competed in a six-man tag team match against Daniel Bryan, Sheamus, and John Cena, which they lost via disqualification after The Wyatt Family interfered.

In Their Own Story

The arena lights dimmed as The Shield emerged from the crowd at Survivor Series on November 18, 2012, attacking Ryback and allowing CM Punk to pin John Cena. Roman Reigns stood silent, his presence the physical threat. At TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs on December 16, they defeated Team Hell No and Ryback in their debut match. On the January 28 episode of Raw, it was revealed that Punk and Paul Heyman had been paying The Shield. At Extreme Rules on May 19, Reigns and Rollins defeated Team Hell No in a tornado tag team match to win the WWE Tag Team Championship. At the Royal Rumble on January 26, 2014, Reigns entered at number 15 and eliminated 12 competitors, a record later broken by Braun Strowman in 2018, finishing as the runner-up after Batista lastly eliminated him.

Reader's Guide

Leati Joseph Anoaʻi, known by his ring name Roman Reigns, made his main roster debut on November 18, 2012, at Survivor Series as a member of The Shield alongside Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins. The trio attacked Ryback during the triple threat main event for the WWE Championship, allowing CM Punk to retain the title. They declared themselves The Shield, vowing to rally against "injustice" and denied working for Punk, but routinely emerged from the crowd to attack Punk's adversaries. At TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs on December 16, The Shield defeated Team Hell No (Daniel Bryan and Kane) and Ryback in their debut match. On the January 28 episode of Raw, it was revealed that Punk and Paul Heyman had been paying The Shield and Brad Maddox. The Shield then quietly ended their association with Punk and began feuding with John Cena, Ryback, and Sheamus, defeating them at Elimination Chamber on February 17, 2013. At WrestleMania 29 on April 7, they defeated Sheamus, Randy Orton, and Big Show. On May 19 at Extreme Rules, Reigns and Rollins defeated Team Hell No in a tornado tag team match to win the WWE Tag Team Championship. They retained the titles against The Usos at Money in the Bank on July 14 and The Prime Time Players at Night of Champions on September 15. At Battleground on October 6, Cody Rhodes and Goldust reclaimed their jobs by defeating Rollins and Reigns in a non-title match. Reigns and Rollins lost the titles to Rhodes and Goldust on the October 14 episode of Raw after interference from Big Show. At Survivor Series on November 24, The Shield teamed with Antonio Cesaro and Jack Swagger to defeat Rey Mysterio, The Usos, Rhodes, and Goldust in a traditional Survivor Series match, with Reigns winning for his team. At TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs on December 15, The Shield lost to CM Punk in a 3-on-1 handicap match after Reigns accidentally speared Ambrose. At the Royal Rumble on January 26, 2014, Reigns entered at number 15 and eliminated 12 competitors, finishing as the runner-up after Batista lastly eliminated him. The next night on Raw, The Shield competed in a six-man tag team match against Daniel Bryan, Sheamus, and John Cena, which they lost via disqualification after The Wyatt Family interfered.

Did You Know?

• Roman Reigns made his main roster debut on November 18, 2012, at Survivor Series alongside Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins, attacking Ryback during the triple threat main event for the WWE Championship.
• At the Royal Rumble on January 26, 2014, Reigns entered at number 15 and eliminated 12 competitors, a record later broken by Braun Strowman in 2018.
• Reigns and Rollins defeated Team Hell No in a tornado tag team match at Extreme Rules on May 19, 2013, to win the WWE Tag Team Championship.
• The accidental spear by Reigns on Ambrose occurred on the December 2, 2013 episode of Raw, not at TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs.
• Reigns won a traditional Survivor Series match for his team on November 24, 2013, teaming with Antonio Cesaro and Jack Swagger against Rey Mysterio, The Usos, Cody Rhodes, and Goldust.

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