7 Top WWE Superstars who were demoted to kickoff shows

#1 All three Shield members competed on WWE kickoff shows

When you consider that Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins’ original run as The Shield only lasted for 19 months, it is interesting to look back and see that all three Superstars were booked in WWE pay-per-view kickoff matches midway through their time together as a faction.

In July 2013, Reigns and Rollins retained the WWE Tag Team titles against The Usos at WWE Money in the Bank in a match that is arguably the greatest kickoff show match of all time.

One month later, the Tag Team Champions were left off the WWE SummerSlam card entirely, while Ambrose retained the United States Championship on the kickoff show against Rob Van Dam after losing the match via disqualification.

All three men went on to become WWE World Champions – Reigns and Rollins in 2015, and Ambrose in 2016 – and it looked as though none of them would ever have to participate in a kickoff show match ever again.

That was, of course, until Ambrose was demoted to the kickoff show at the last minute at WrestleMania 33, where he retained the Intercontinental Championship against Baron Corbin.

The SmackDown Women’s Championship six-pack challenge was originally due to take place on the kickoff show, but WWE switched that match with Ambrose vs. Corbin due to backlash from fans on social media.