A decade ago, Triple H, Batista and Randy Orton — alongside Ric Flair — embodied the past, present and future of sports-entertainment all at once. They adopted the name Evolution for that very reason, which at the time was bad ass, but, in the wake of the events in Chicago, feels like a cosmic joke.

At Payback, Evolution was the very thing that caught up with the collective of former World Champions, and it came in the form of three younger men in flak jackets and combat boots. In a No Holds Barred Elimination Match, The Shield beat the once unstoppable faction, sweeping their side completely in a lopsided three-to-zero victory that clearly illustrated which side adapted and which would perish.

Natural selection is never a pretty thing and that was certainly true here. When a match spills into the audience within the first minute of action, you know you’re in for a barnburner. And that’s what the rowdy Second City faithful got as WWE cameras struggled to keep up with three separate brawls in separate pockets of the arena — Reigns and Batista at the top of the entrance ramp, Ambrose and Orton at ringside and Rollins and Triple H slugging it out within an eyelash of fans.

Eventually the six Superstars took a second to breathe with each side manning their positions on opposite sides of the ring. There was a brief moment of strategic gamesmanship here — you could almost compare it to chess if chess was played by whipping the pieces at your opponent as hard you possibly can.

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Gallery:: Home > WWE.com > PPV > 2014 > Payback
Video:: Payback – Shield vs Evolution (Will be posted later)

After feeling the wrath of Evolution in a Raw Contract Signing gone south, an extremely focused and intense Shield reemerged, wondering just how crazy their Payback opponents are willing to get when two of the greatest factions in WWE history go head-to-head in a No Holds Barred Elimination Match this Sunday.

While many scenarios are possible in such an unpredictable free-for-all, The Hounds of Justice made one thing perfectly clear: At Payback, “The end of Evolution will be extinction.”

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Gallery:: Home > WWE.com > Smackdown > 2014 > May 30
Video:: The Shield predicted Evolution is headed for extinction

Michael Cole is in the ring to announce the contract signing. The ring is decorated with a black carpet. In the center is a conference table with three chairs on each side. The Shield makes their way to the ring. Dean Ambrose then takes the microphone away from Michael Cole, and Cole leaves the ring. Ambrose says tonight is historic because it’s the last time you’ll see The Shield and Evolution in the same ring on RAW. Roman Reigns begins throwing the chairs out of the ring. Ambrose says at Payback one team won’t just be eliminated from a match. Evolution will be eliminated out of this business forever. Seth Rollins asks who they’re really kidding with this nonsense. This issue has gone way past them sitting across a table from one another signing a silly piece of paper. Rollins says it’s time to rearrange this place and get down to business. Ambrose and Reigns finish throwing the chairs out, and Reigns throws the table out as well.

Rollins goes to sign the contract in the center of the ring, but Evolution’s music hits. Triple H says he wants everybody to be aware of what they’re witnessing. Triple H says if they sign that contract, it’s the last time you’ll ever see The Shield on Monday Night RAW. Triple H says it’s a shame. The Shield could have had it all. He’s a fair judge of talent, and you only have to look at the two guys next to him to know that. Triple H remembers looking at The Shield while the ink dried on the contract that allowed them to live their dream. Triple H remembers thinking that these guys could have changed it all. They’re the future of the WWE, and they threw it all away. Ironically, he’s going to watch the ink dry on the contract that will send them back to obscurity this Sunday at Payback.

Triple H asks them again if they want to sign it and ensure that Sunday is the last they’ll see of The Shield. Rollins opens up the contract, and he signs it. Ambrose signs it, and then Reigns does. Reigns tosses the contract at Triple H’s feet, who is standing at ringside with Randy Orton and Batista. Triple H signs it, Orton signs it, and then Batista signs it. The match is official.

Triple H says The Shield will be nothing but a statistic. Reigns tells him to shut up and get in the ring to fight. Triple H throws his microphone away, and Evolution gets on the apron. The Shield prepares for a fight. The take some time before getting in the ring. A giant brawl breaks out between Evolution and The Shield! Triple H goes for a Pedigree on Ambrose, but he’s given a back body drop over the top rope. Rollins then counters an RKO by throwing Orton out of the ring. Rollins then takes Triple H and Orton out with a rolling senton over the top rope! Ambrose turns into a clothesline from Batista. Reigns then takes Batista out with a Superman Punch!

Reigns sets up for a spear, but Triple H hits him in the midsection with a sledgehammer. Ambrose and Rollins attack Triple H, but Orton soon drops Rollins with an RKO. Batista then spears Ambrose down. Reigns struggles to his feet as Triple H waits with the sledgehammer. Triple H then hits him in the face with the sledgehammer, and Reigns falls out of the ring. Triple H takes Ambrose and Rollins out with sledgehammer shots while Orton and Batista take apart the commentary table. They take their time before hitting a Triple Powerbomb on Reigns through the table! Evolution stands over him with a satisfied look on their faces.

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Gallery:: Home > WWE.com > Raw > 2014 > May 26

Nothing like a good loophole to even the odds: With only official personnel allowed at ringside for Seth Rollins’ rematch with Batista, Triple H exploited a technicality by installing himself and Randy Orton as special guest ring announcer and timekeeper for the contest … and Rollins countered by naming Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns as special guest commentators.

A brutish trip into the steel steps grounded Rollins for a long stretch and Batista capitalized, unleashing an elbow that sent the former WWE Tag Team Champion into a full flip. “The Aerialist” quickly took flight after being muscled into his enemies’ corner, forcing Evolution to interfere and kick off an all-out melee between the two factions that ended in a DQ win for Rollins when The Game clobbered him with a forearm. With the match over, The Shield was free to pounce on their foes, though Evolution was able to save face by rescuing Batista from a Triple Powerbomb.

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Gallery:: Home > WWE.com > Raw > 2014 > May 19
Screencaptures:: Home > Screencaptures > 2014 > Monday Night Raw > May 19

Batista wanted the big dog, and Batista got the big dog. Roman Reigns wanted a fight, and, well, he got one. Just not the kind of fight he was expecting. The former WWE Tag Team Champion had been more than holding his own against The Animal, despite attempted interference by the rest of Evolution, when Triple H pre-empted the Superman Punch by hauling Reigns out of the ring, ending the match via DQ. Chaos ensued and Stephanie McMahon sent a bevy of Superstars after the Hounds, though the men in black battled their way out of the scrum in high style. Dean Ambrose planted Fandango with Dirty Deeds atop a chair; Seth Rollins sent Curtis Axel onto the same steel with Peace of Mind, and a final Triple Powerbomb to Ryback – “Big Guy” out – put the night to an end. The hunt continues.

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Gallery:: Home > WWE.com > Raw > 2014 > May 12

Four go-rounds in, and each ride on the Shield vs. Wyatts carousel remains as much of a thriller as the WWE Universe is ever likely to see. Despite their numerous clashes, WWE’s two rowdiest factions still can’t wait to get their hands on each other; the six men began brawling before the bell even rang on their latest Authority-mandated clash. Once things settled into a groove, it was high-flying Seth Rollins and then now-former U.S. Champion Dean Ambrose who found himself isolated by The Wyatts.

The Hounds wisely unleashed Rollins at a decisive moment to equalize the match, and that he did (standing senton!!) until Harper cut him short and tagged in Bray Wyatt to follow up. The aerialist managed to hang tough and tag in Roman Reigns, but the big Hound’s rampage was thwarted by Evolution, whose interference allowed Bray to execute Sister Abigail for the victory. It was the post-match display that really left The Shield in tatters, as the Hounds suffered RKOs, Pedigrees and, ultimately, a Triple Powerbomb to Roman Reigns – adaptation at its finest.

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Gallery:: Home > WWE.com > Raw > 2014 > May 5