The road to this match began with a significant shift in The Shield’s alignment. Up until early 2014, the trio of Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns had operated as ruthless enforcers—heel mercenaries who dispensed their own brand of “justice” to anyone they deemed worthy of attack.
However, tensions arose when Kane—then serving as The Authority’s Director of Operations—ordered The Shield to attack beloved commentator Jerry “The King” Lawler . The Shield refused the order. In a dramatic turn, they instead attacked Kane, cementing their transition to fan favorites .
The Authority, led by Triple H and Stephanie McMahon, responded by forming an alliance to punish The Shield. Kane recruited The New Age Outlaws—Road Dogg (Brian James) and “Bad Ass” Billy Gunn (Monty Sopp)—to join forces against the rebellious trio . The veterans, who had been allied with The Authority in the months prior, eagerly accepted the task of “teaching the young guys a lesson.”
The feud culminated in the announcement of a Six-Man Tag Team match at WrestleMania XXX. While some fans had hoped for a more high-profile opponent for The Shield—such as a rematch with The Wyatt Family—the match was positioned as a clear “new school vs. old school” showdown .
⚡ The Entrances: A Visual Spectacle
The match took place during the second hour of WrestleMania XXX .
The New Age Outlaws made their entrance first. The veteran duo walked to the ring with their characteristic swagger, representing The Authority and looking to prove that experience could overcome youth .
Before they could even begin their typical pre-match banter, The Shield’s iconic entrance theme interrupted them. The Hounds of Justice emerged not through the traditional entrance ramp, but through the Superdome crowd . All three members wore black ski masks over their faces, adding an outlaw mystique to their entrance as they made their way through the sea of 75,000-plus fans in New Orleans .
Once The Shield entered the ring, Kane’s signature pyro exploded, signaling the arrival of The Authority’s Director of Operations. Dressed in his “Corporate Kane” suit and tie rather than his traditional wrestling attire, Kane marched to the ring to complete the heel team .
💥 The Match: A 2-Minute, 56-Second Squash
From the opening bell, this match was designed to showcase The Shield’s dominance. With the first hour of WrestleMania having run long, the match time was reportedly cut down—but The Shield made every second count .
Dean Ambrose started the match against Kane, immediately setting a fast pace .
Key Sequences:
- Roman Reigns tagged in early and took control against Kane, demonstrating his power advantage
- Reigns took out both New Age Outlaws and Kane in rapid succession
- Reigns delivered a double dropkick from the floor to both Outlaws simultaneously
- Road Dogg ate a Superman punch from Reigns
- Kane attempted to turn the tide with a chokeslam attempt on Reigns, but Seth Rollins intervened with a leaping attack off the top rope, breaking it up
- Rollins then leaped to the floor, taking out Kane
- Ambrose prevented a Fameasser attempt on Reigns, sending Road Dogg into the barricade
- Reigns delivered a Superman punch to Billy Gunn
- Ambrose and Rollins ran the ropes and simultaneously leaped onto the Outlaws on the floor
- Reigns speared Kane, then delivered a double spear to both Outlaws at once
The Finish:
The match’s defining moment came when all three members of The Shield set up their signature Triple Powerbomb. In an impressive visual, they delivered the powerbomb to both Road Dogg and Billy Gunn simultaneously—a “Double Triple Powerbomb” that sent the Outlaws crashing to the mat .
Seth Rollins covered Billy Gunn for the pinfall, securing the victory .
| Winner | Method | Time |
|---|---|---|
| The Shield (Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns) | Pinfall (Rollins pinned Billy Gunn) | 2:56 |
📊 Match Analysis and Significance
Critical Reception:
The match was widely described as a “squash”—a decisive, one-sided victory designed to make The Shield look unstoppable . Wrestling observers noted that while the contest itself was nothing exceptional, The Shield brought energy and excitement that made even a short match entertaining .
Bleacher Report noted that Kane, Road Dogg, and Billy Gunn—all near the end of their in-ring careers—”realized who they were in the ring with and allowed The Shield to do the bulk of the work” .
Key Statistics:
- Match Length: 2 minutes, 56 seconds
- WrestleMania Record: This was The Shield’s second consecutive victory at WrestleMania, having defeated Randy Orton, Sheamus, and Big Show at WrestleMania 29 the previous year
Notable Spots:
- Reigns’ double spear on both Outlaws simultaneously
- The double Triple Powerbomb to finish both Outlaws at once
🔚 The Aftermath
The victory solidified The Shield’s position as top babyfaces on the Raw brand. Rather than disbanding or turning on each other—a storyline that had been teased in the months prior—The Shield remained united .
Immediately following WrestleMania XXX, The Shield transitioned into their next major feud. They began targeting Evolution—the legendary stable of Triple H, Randy Orton, and Batista—setting up a series of matches at Extreme Rules and Payback 2014 .
The New Age Outlaws, meanwhile, faded from regular in-ring competition following this loss, with the match serving as one of their final WrestleMania appearances .
✅ Legacy
While not the longest or most technically complex match on the WrestleMania XXX card, this contest served its purpose perfectly: it gave The Shield a decisive victory on the grandest stage, allowed them to showcase their signature moves in rapid succession, and reinforced their status as the most dominant young faction in WWE.
For fans watching live in the Superdome and around the world, the lasting image remains Roman Reigns spearing both Outlaws at once, followed by The Shield delivering their devastating double powerbomb—a moment that captured the explosive energy that defined The Shield’s legendary run .