WWE originally had a very different creative direction sketched out for The Shield. Every wrestling fan loves a good faction, and one of the most successful in recent memory (and arguably of all time) is The Shield, the riot vest-loving trio of Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose. Debuting at the 2012 Survivor Series event, The Shield were a justice-driven unit that refused to play by the rules, interrupting matches and dishing out exciting beat downs after making their way to the ring through the crowd. Thanks to their unique presentation, natural charisma, and explosive blend of personalities, The Shield were able to enjoy championship success and were involved in memorable storylines as both a face and heel faction.
Arguably the most memorable of these was, ironically, their breakup, which saw Seth Rollins betray his brothers by aligning with Triple H and the dastardly authority. Rollins would go on to enjoy considerable solo success, and remains a mainstay of Monday Night Raw today. Ambrose experienced highs and lows following the breakup of the Shield, but after hitting a creative dead-end with the company, moved to the upstart AEW where he's currently flying high. Roman Reigns enjoyed the biggest solo push of the trio, with WWE determined to make him the face of their company. Fans largely rejected Reigns for many years, as the only member of The Shield without indie wrestling pedigree. Only recently has the eternally wet-haired Samoan started to win over the masses.
Original plans for The Shield were quite different to what actually played out over the course of 2012 and 2013. The idea of a reckless trio of rebels running roughshod over WWE was the brainchild of one CM Punk, who was the company's biggest attraction at that time. WWE were looking to hook Punk up with a stable as part of a planned heel run, but Punk wasn't sold on their direction. Instead, he pitched a new, dominant, mercenary-esque faction comprised of hungry young talent from NXT and FCW. Building his lucky trio, Punk picked Rollins, who was NXT Champion at the time, and Ambrose, a hardcore specialist formerly known as Jon Moxley. But instead of Roman Reigns, Punk had his eye on another developmental talent by the name of Kassius Ohno.
Another stalwart of the independent scene, Ohno had built a reputation performing as Chris Hero outside of WWE, and big things were expected of the nimble powerhouse. According to Punk, the decision to go with Reigns over Ohno was entirely WWE's call, with the company wanting "their guy" in the group. It seems that Reigns had already been earmarked by WWE as a potential future star, and the company saw The Shield as a perfect vehicle for him.
The other major alteration WWE made to The Shield from CM Punk's initial outline was their allegiance. Punk pitched The Shield as his own personal hit squad and, sure enough, the early days of The Shield saw them directly targeting Punk's opponents, helping him to a series of major wins. However, that direct connection between The Shield and CM Punk was swiftly nixed. It was revealed that Punk's manager, Paul Heyman, had been paying for The Shield's services, and the trio were happy to oblige because of the supposed injustice they saw in the landscape of WWE. It seems that after witnessing fan reaction to The Shield's debut, WWE saw something in the team beyond being CM Punk's underlings.
Ohno was undoubtedly the more proficient and experienced wrestler at that time, and his presence in The Shield likely would've resulted in better matches. But such is the legacy and impact of The Shield, it's impossible to imagine anyone but Rollins, Ambrose and Reigns in those three slots, even if the latter was inexperienced at the time. The faction might've not enjoyed the same chemistry with Ohno in the mix. Likewise, it's easy to see why WWE chose to set The Shield on their own path earlier than intended. The group's potential was obvious from the very beginning, and being direct allies with CM Punk long-term could've hindered their rapid rise.