WWE Intercontinental Champion Big E has revealed that there were initial talks of him being the fourth member of The Shield at Survivor Series 2012.
In the main event of the elimination spectacular, CM Punk defended his WWE Championship against John Cena and Ryback in a Triple Threat Match which saw Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose make their main event debut as the impactful Shield.
Setting upon Punk’s challengers, the trio ploughed Ryback through the announce table which allowed the champion to pin a fallen John Cena to retain his strap.
However, The Shield weren’t the only NXT stars ready to be called up and one month later then NXT Champion Big E – who had defeated Rollins for the gold on the black and gold brand – was called up to stand alongside Dolph Ziggler and AJ Lee in a scene similar to the trio’s debut when he ambushed John Cena.
However, Big E has now taken to his WWE 24 documentary to reveal that there was a point in time when WWE considered rolling both debuts into one and having him as the fourth member of the popular faction:
“My first feeling of getting called up was 2012. I was doing loops. Any collective period of days is a loop. It’s Roman [Reigns], Seth [Rollins], Dean [Ambrose], and me. There was some thought of bringing all four of us in together as a group. Obviously, that changes, they go on to international fame as The Shield. I was told, ‘You’re going to be with Dolph and AJ, on your very first night, you’re going to attack John Cena.’ I’m thinking, ‘Man, this is it.'”
While Big E would continue to play two parts on two seperate brands, his niche came when he broke away from the stoic bodyguard to form The New Day with Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods.
Currently, the WWE Intercontinental Champion is locked in a rivalry with Apollo Crews over his strap as he looks to WrestleMania 37 and a truly momentous clash that will help to solidify his status as a singles entity.
Credit for the interview: WWE 24
h/t for the transcription: Fightful