Coming into Raw, it seemed possible that Braun Strowman could only be slowed down, not stopped. Coming out of it, it’s looking more and more like a certainty. Not only did The Monster Among Men hold off an all-world effort from Finn Bálor, he and his “pack” made short work of The Shield after they posted bail and were released from police custody on their own recognizance ... albeit with a little help from some friends.

Bálor had been slotted into the match with Strowman after Acting General Manager Baron Corbin backed out of a challenge from Finn earlier in the night (Corbin cited his GM duties), but the former Universal Champion seized the main-event spotlight all the same, wearing down The Monster Among Men with an array of submissions. Strowman rallied to defeat Finn with a Running Powerslam, at which point the pack began to circle for another three-on-one mauling.

Enter The Shield, who rolled into the arena in a commandeered police van and made a beeline for their assembled foes. However, before The Hounds of Justice could make a move, a contingent of Superstars led by Kevin Owens — Elias, AOP, The Ascension, Jinder Mahal, Mojo Rawley, Drew Gulak, Sunil Singh and Mike Kanellis — bum-rushed them from behind, kicking off a numbers game attack that The Shield were powerless to stop. While Ziggler helped dispose of Seth Rollins by ramming the van door into his face and McIntyre Claymored Dean Ambrose on the ramp, Strowman downed Roman Reigns by clobbering him with the steel steps and driving him into the ground with a Running Powerslam. (The Shield would ultimately refuse medical attention.) With The Hounds of Justice in ruins, The Monster Among Men ended the show standing tall with Ziggler & McIntyre for the second straight week.

It used to be the only thing that could destroy The Shield was The Shield itself. Clearly, that’s no longer the case.

WWE's first Universal Champion clashes with The Monster Among Men in a match ordered by Acting General Manager Baron Corbin.