Roman Reigns is the top dog in WWE but what’s next for him is uncertain.
Reigns has taken the wrestling world by storm ever since his “Tribal Chief” character took off. He is without a doubt WWE’s biggest star but we’ve been seeing less of the “Head of the Table” lately.
The Undisputed WWE Universal Champion signed a new deal with WWE that will see him take fewer dates. He’s even missed a few SmackDown tapings as a result of the new terms.
What’s Next For Roman Reigns?
(via WWE)
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter has reported that WWE hasn’t made a final decision on who the next challenger will be for Roman Reigns.
The initial plan was to have Reigns face Riddle and Randy Orton this summer but those plans aren’t set in stone.
The report also notes that WWE still hasn’t decided on whether or not to use Roman for Money in the Bank on July 2, or save him for SummerSlam later that month.
There has been a lot of chatter online on whether or not Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar will be attending this year’s WWE Money in the Bank event.
Both Roman and Brock were featured in the advertisement for WWE Money in The Bank set for July 2.
After announcing that the show will be moved from Allegiant Stadium to the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Reigns and Lesnar were removed from the ad.
This has led some to speculate that two of WWE’s top attractions won’t be featured at MITB this year.
Will WWE’s Heavy Hitters Appear?
(via WWE)
Dave Meltzer took to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter to report that as of now, the status of Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar for Money in the Bank is up in the air.
Meltzer had initially reported that Reigns was on tap to face Riddle and Randy Orton this summer. The order in which he would face them was said to be interchangeable.
Now, it’s unknown if that’s still the plan. Riddle has said on WWE TV that his feud with The Bloodline isn’t over and he called Roman Reigns a “Tribal piece of trash.”
Dave also reported that WWE knew that reaching 50,000 tickets sold wouldn’t be feasible when MITB was scheduled for Allegiant Stadium.
With that said, the company was hoping for 30,000 tickets sold but it seems that number wasn’t going to be attainable either.
Roman Reigns may have spent the past two years telling fans to acknowledge him, but the reigning Undisputed WWE Universal Champion had no choice but to recognize a young fan at a recent WWE Live event.
In a video posted on Instagram and later shared by WWE on BT Sport, Reigns can be seen confronting the young fan, whose glare shakes the “Head of the Table” to his core.
Reigns can be seen watching the fan in fear much to the delight of the crowd.
Returning to the ring, the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion responds with a glare of his own.
This 2-year-old really has @WWERomanReigns shook to the core 😂😂😂
WWE fans can expect to see more of their favorite Superstars on both Raw and SmackDown as the brand split is considered to be finished.
In 2016, WWE reintroduced the brand split, five years after merging Raw and Smackdown’s rosters into one collective.
According to Bryan Alverez who spoke on Wrestling Observer Live, WWE is doing away with the brand split, and fans can see more Superstars appear on both brands.
“They haven’t officially said anything, but the brand extension is essentially done. Half of the Raw crew is going to be on SmackDown Friday. Cody’s going to be there, I think Seth is going to be there. They’re just going to do whatever.”
Bryan Alvarez
Andrew Zarian followed up on this, saying that a WWE source told him that while the company doesn’t plan on officially announcing the end of the brand split, there will be far more crossover going forward.
Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, and Kevin Owens have all been advertised for this Friday’s SmackDown though it’s unclear if they’ll appear on the broadcast.
In addition to this trio, Roman Reigns is also able to appear on both Raw and SmackDown due to his place as the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.
The Usos are also able to appear on both Raw and SmackDown after unifying both brands’ tag team titles following their win over RK-Bro last week.
Roman Reigns says he does not expect to be working many more live events moving forward.
As we’ve been covering, Reigns will be working a lighter schedule for WWE in the months ahead. He’s also been talking about a future when he’s not a full-time WWE Superstar.
At Sunday’s live event from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Reigns defended the Undisputed Universal Championship against Drew McIntyre in the main event. Reigns was victorious.
After the match, he broke character and showed appreciation to the fans for supporting him.
Roman Reigns’ WWE Future
Once again, Reigns let people know he does not plan on being a full-time WWE Superstar for much longer.
“I honestly don’t know if I’m going to be doing too many more live events like this, on a Sunday, going forward.”
– Roman Reigns
The fans began jeering when Reigns spoke about his career wining down. He continued, but Reigns added, “So, this could be my last one and I want y’all to know that it was very special for me and I had an incredible time.”
You can see footage of Reigns’ comments below:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd5rN4Vj7P1/
Reigns is expected to wrestle far fewer dates in the months ahead. He’s not retiring, but he will be cutting back on live events and even premium live events.
The Tribal Chief is not scheduled to compete at the upcoming WWE Hell in a Cell show. He is, however, scheduled to work Money in the Bank, SummerSlam and Clash at the Castle.
It appears the next direction for Roman Reigns has been revealed.
Reigns is the current Undisputed WWE Universal Champion but he doesn’t have a one-on-one feud at this time. He’s been propping up The Usos on their journey to become Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions.
With that said, WWE may have clued us in on the next singles match for the “Tribal Chief.” On the May 13 episode of SmackDown, Riddle of RK-Bro nailed Reigns with a knee to the jaw to close the show.
Next Three Opponents For Roman Reigns?
(via WWE)
Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter is reporting that there is talk of booking Roman Reigns against Riddle at Money in the Bank on July 2.
Reigns is expected to win that match and go on to face Randy Orton at WWE Summerslam on July 30.
Then there’s the big stadium show in Cardiff, Wales on Sept. 3. Right now, the word is that Reigns will finally collide with Drew McIntyre one-on-one at WWE Clash at the Castle.
Reigns reportedly signed a new deal with WWE for fewer dates. As a result, he isn’t expected to have a match at the Hell in a Cell premium live event on June 5.
MJF has been the talk of the town and in 2024, he’ll be the biggest story in wrestling.
Maxwell Jacob Friedman is a top heel in AEW and even though he’s a star now, the 26-year-old hasn’t even scratched the surface. Many see Plainview’s finest as a major player in the industry for years to come.
While AEW has its golden goose for now, things could change in 2024. That’s when MJF’s contract with the company will expire. Reports have claimed that MJF is a bit unhappy with Tony Khan after a chat regarding taking media interviews without permission.
While that ultimately could turn out to be nothing, Maxwell has teased testing the market both on and off-air. It’s left many wondering if MJF will be making the big jump to WWE.
If he does, here are five WWE superstars who would be perfect opponents for him:
The Miz
(via WWE)
You knew this was coming, so might as well get it out of the way now. If WWE signs MJF, he’s bound to have a program with The Miz. Wrestling fans have long made comparisons between the two.
It makes sense. After all, both characters have a sense of entitlement, enjoy the finer things in life, and think they’re better than everyone else.
Heck, CM Punk even referred to MJF as a “less famous Miz” during their AEW feud.
MJF and The Miz have actually exchanged pleasantries. Back in late 2021, Maxwell appeared on SiriusXM’s Throwing Down with Renee & Miesha and he expressed his belief that Miz is “tremendous” as a performer.
Miz returned the favor, telling Peter Rosenberg that MJF is no copycat. Miz also said he feels MJF has done a great job in a short period of time.
Kevin Owens
(via WWE)
When you think of Kevin Owens, you don’t think of the prototypical WWE superstar.
KO is so good that he ended up being a Swiss army knife for Vince McMahon’s empire. You can put Owens in any role and he’s going to succeed.
For a feud with MJF to work, however, there’s no doubt that Owens will have to play the babyface role. Maxwell would thrive in this situation being the snotty, rich brat running down the hardworking Owens who was never meant to grace the cover of GQ Magazine.
As a heel, Owens has a way of making the audience hate him. As a face, he’ll make the WWE Universe love him. He’d be the perfect good guy in this feud.
This would be a home run.
John Cena
(via WWE)
This one is a bit tougher to pull off since John Cena is a busy man these days with Hollywood.
With that said, this would be a fantastic rivalry.
When you think back to Cena’s feuds with the likes of AJ Styles, Roman Reigns, and others, he always brought straight heat on the mic. He and MJF would have some memorable verbal battles and the match would also likely deliver.
As he proved during his rivalry with Styles, Cena does a great job handling programs with stars who had been established in another promotion. He knows how to hit close to home with his words and sell the audience on the significance of the match.
If MJF ends up in WWE and Cena’s schedule allows for it, this match is a must.
Roman Reigns
Photo: WWE.com
Roman Reigns is easily the top star in WWE today.
Ever since transitioning to his “Tribal Chief” character, his stock has soared. Reigns has been such a dominant force that he’s running out of legit contenders on TV.
If MJF enters WWE and feuds with Reigns, fans will get the added bonus of witnessing Maxwell and Paul Heyman go at it on the mic. Much like Cena, Heyman knows how to make things more personal and he’d likely do the same for an MJF-Reigns storyline.
The idea behind Reigns’ character is that he thinks he’s in “God Mode.” All of the opposition are supposed to fear him but MJF is quick-witted and would greatly challenge the “Head of the Table” in promo battles.
The question is, will Roman Reigns be around in 2024 if MJF makes the jump?
Reigns has signed a new deal to take fewer dates and some question whether or not he’ll be on his way out of WWE sooner rather than later should Hollywood come calling.
Cody Rhodes
This one is a no-brainer.
There is simply too much history between MJF and Cody Rhodes to ignore. The two had been booked as best friends on AEW TV until Maxwell turned on Cody by booting him in the nether regions.
The two ultimately collided at the AEW Revolution PPV back in Feb. 2020. MJF emerged victorious, putting an end to their rivalry although it definitely felt like there was some unfinished business that would be addressed after some time passed.
Cody made the shocking jump to WWE at WrestleMania 38 back in April. For WWE to book a high-profile feud with two of AEW’s golden boys would probably be a huge feather in the cap of company officials.
There’s no doubt Cody would push for this to happen if WWE snags MJF and he’d likely get his wish.
There is no doubt that Roman Reigns is the top dog in WWE, but is the clock ticking?
The Tribal Chief garners all the attention whenever he’s out with The Bloodline. His presence oozes ‘superstar’ and the WWE Universe has indeed acknowledged him.
The ‘Head of the Table’ gimmick was a much-needed turnaround for Reigns. While WWE always viewed him as a main-eventer, the audience knew he was being forced on them for many years.
Back in the summer of 2020, Reigns turned heel and aligned with Paul Heyman. Eventually, he forced The Usos to join him and they formed The Bloodline faction.
Since then, Roman Reigns has become the top draw in WWE. He is the current Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.
While WWE has been enjoying the success of the “Tribal Chief,” it may not last much longer. Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio reported that Reigns has signed a new contract for fewer dates.
Prior to the news breaking, Reigns spoke to fans during a house show in Trenton, New Jersey and said that he was entering a new phase in his career.
It’s also been reported that Reigns could be missing the June 5 Hell in a Cell show. With Reigns having fewer dates and the potential of Hollywood knocking on his door in the not-so-distant future, it’s left many wondering who could be the one to replace Reigns when the time comes.
For the five stars named here, we won’t be including the likes of Cody Rhodes or Drew McIntyre. They have already been established as big stars who are in their mid-30s. Instead, we’ll be taking a look at talent on the rise.
Let’s dive into five potential WWE Superstars to replace Roman Reigns:
Gable Steveson
Gable Steveson was drafted to Raw
WWE has high hopes for Gable Steveson. The Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling is signed to a WWE contract. While Steveson hasn’t had a match yet, he’s already gotten physical, giving Chad Gable an overhead belly-to-belly suplex at WrestleMania 38.
Very few are doubting that Steveson can become a great in-ring performer given his amateur wrestling background. The real question is, can he captivate the WWE audience with his personality?
So far, Stevenson has been purely presented as an athlete but he’ll need more than that to thrive in WWE.
Time is certainly on Gable Steveson’s side. He will turn 22 years old on May 31. He’ll be hard at work in the ring and in promo classes behind the scenes before he becomes a regular on WWE TV.
Theory
(WWE)
At least for now, Theory is Vince McMahon’s golden boy.
The reigning United States Champion has been pushed on TV as Vince’s new “chosen one.” WWE officials are high on Theory as he seems to attract younger viewers to Monday Night Raw, something the company has struggled with.
Some fans are struggling with Theory’s rise, however. The concern is that he’s a bit too generic on the mic and in the ring, at least when working the WWE style. Some feel Theory is being held back by heavily scripted promos and needs to be unchained similar to what happened with Reigns.
This option would certainly be close to home for Reigns. Solo Sikoa is the younger brother of Jimmy and Jey Uso. He’s currently featured on the NXT 2.0 brand and it hasn’t taken him long to become a fan favorite on the show.
Being a member of the Anoai family certainly isn’t a bad thing when you’re a WWE superstar. At 29 years old, Sikoa isn’t the youngest guy on this list but he isn’t the oldest either. His size certainly fits the bill with WWE’s new initiative when looking to build stars.
If Sikoa develops fast enough, they may just have the perfect person to dethrone Reigns and possibly snap his brothers out of the mind control that the “Tribal Chief” has over them.
Madcap Moss
(via WWE)
Madcap Moss is in the midst of a babyface push. After winning the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal, Happy Corbin got jealous and the team ended up splitting. They had a one-on-one match at WrestleMania Backlash, which Madcap won.
While many within WWE feel Madcap has potential, he has some things working against him. WWE has had difficulty finding the right fit for Moss and even as a face, he has still retained his bad joke gimmick when he was with Corbin.
At the age of 32, Moss isn’t exactly a young prospect either. While he may not seem like the most appealing choice, don’t rule out WWE trying to tie the rocket ship to Moss’ back.
Bron Breakker
(via WWE)
To many fans, this is the only option.
Bron Breakker just looks like he was born to be a WWE main eventer. The son of Rick Steiner hasn’t had a lot of experience but he’s already been impressive in the ring.
He certainly stands out above the other green talent that fills up NXT 2.0. Breakker made his WWE TV debut back in Sept. 2021 and he’s already a two-time NXT Champion.
He’s got an intimidating presence, has great facial expressions when selling, is as intense as they come, and can hold his own on the mic.
To top it off, Breakker will be 25 years old this October. He has all the ingredients to headline WrestleMania one day. It’s up to WWE to maximize his potential.
Whether that means replacing Roman Reigns remains to be seen.
MJF can see himself having a “tremendous” match with WWE Undisputed Champion Roman Reigns.
Maxwell Jacob Friedman currently competes under the AEW banner, while Reigns dominates in WWE as both the WWE Champion and Universal Champion.
Despite this, MJF tells Brandon Walker (via the Barstool Rasslin podcast) that he thinks he’d have a “tremendous” match with The Tribal Chief, if they shared the ring.
“I would imagine. I think me and him would have a tremendous match. I think it would be a friendly competition. I would also love to wrestle Seth Rollins. I would love to wrestle The Miz.”
MJF Teasing a WWE Run
A match between MJF and Reigns certainly isn’t outside of the realm of possibility. MJF has been very open about the fact that his contract with AEW is set to expire at the beginning of 2024.
In fact, he’s even gone as far as saying that he’s willing to jump ship to WWE if Vince McMahon shells out the money. For now, MJF will have to play out his contract in AEW, as he’s currently locked in a feud with Wardlow.
“Now, if/when I were to go over there, I’d have me a ball, because I built my brand and established myself here. When I go over there, I’m not gonna have to deal with the same type of bullshit that poor Shawn Spears had to deal with”
– MJF on a potential WWE run
Reigns and The Bloodline, on the other hand, continue to wreak havoc on both the RAW and SmackDown brands now that Reigns holds both World Titles.
If Reigns and MJF ever do get to cross paths in the near future, it will certainly be a match wrestling fans will be paying very close attention to.
Would you like to see MJF and Reigns share the ring one day? Sound off in the comments!
Roman Reigns is not scheduled to compete at Hell in a Cell, WWE’s next premium live event.
The reigning Undisputed WWE Universal Champion recently signed a new deal with the company. Reigns will work a lighter schedule, including fewer live events.
Reigns was a late addition to the WrestleMania Backlash card, which took place this past weekend. On the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer said the upcoming Hell in the Cell show is the first example of Reigns getting more time off in the coming months.
“He’s off the Chicago show, which is the next pay-per-view on June 5.”
Dave Meltzer
“Roman Reigns is not gonna be on every pay-per-view. He’s off the Chicago show, which is the next pay-per-view on June 5 (Hell in a Cell.) He will be doing pay-per-views this summer.
“He’s not gonna be doing a lot of dates and from what I understand, the shows he’s gonna be on, sooner or later, they’ll start advertising him. So the dates will be known, it’s not like they’re gonna put him on TV without advertising him.”
Reigns has been removed from thr Hell in a Cell promotional artwork, which backs up this report.
Meltzer said that while Reigns will be on more shows than Brock Lesnar, it is “not appreciably more.” WWE Hell in a Cell 2022 will take place at the Allstate Arena, in Rosemont, Illinois.
The Tribal Chief’s new contract
Reigns’ new lucrative deal with WWE will see him work fewer dates and has been compared to Brock Lesnar’s contract.
Speculation about Reigns’ future began last week when he appeared at a WWE Live event in Trenton, New Jersey, and told fans “I honestly don’t know if I’ll be back here again.”
Though many saw this as Reigns teasing retirement or an extended hiatus, it was later reported that he has signed a new contract which will see him work fewer dates.
Reigns is still being promoted for WWE stadium events, including Money in the Bank and Summerslam, but has no TV appearances confirmed past June.
WWE Hall Of Famer Booker T has two names on his mind when it comes to who he’d like to see dethrone Roman Reigns.
Booker T took to his podcast, “The Hall Of Fame,” to discuss the matter. Booker named both Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre as the stars he’d like to see take Reigns down when the time is right.
“I’ve got to go with Cody Rhodes. Drew McIntyre, like I said on the kickoff show, being a part of that six-man with RK-Bro, keeping himself real close to the body. Making sure he stays close to the championship.
“It’s good for Drew McIntyre. Letting everyone know, man, I am not far from this picture. But, the guy that’s got the hot hand, the guy that’s got the rocket on him is Cody Rhodes.
“I say you run with that, man until it cools off. I don’t think that’s going to be for quite some time.”
Roman Reigns became the Unified WWE Champion when he beat Brock Lesnar in the main event of WrestleMania 38 earlier this year. Reigns entered the match already holding the Universal Title, taking the WWE Championship from Lesnar when it was all said and done.
Now, “The Tribal Chief” rules over both RAW and SmackDown as a dual champion. As for Rhodes, he made his return to WWE at WrestleMania 38, taking on Seth Rollins as his surprise opponent selected by Vince McMahon.
Rhodes came from All Elite Wrestling (AEW) where he remade himself into “The American Nightmare,” leaving gimmicks such as Stardust in the past. Now, Rhodes is back with World Title aspirations on his mind, and a matchup against Reigns would certainly be a great one for fans to enjoy.
Finally, McIntyre is a former World Champion in his own right. He topped Lesnar in the main event of WrestleMania 36 to become the WWE Champion during the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, McIntyre is also on a path back to the World Title, however, he might soon be making a pit stop for a feud with Tyson Fury first.
Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns is not being advertised for any appearances on TV or at live events past June.
PW Insider reports that the latest event Reigns is being advertised for is the June 24, 2022 edition of WWE SmackDown, which will take place at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas.
After June, Reigns is being advertised for Premium Live Events including Money in the Bank on July 2, Summerslam on July 30, and Clash in the Castle on September 3.
The “Tribal Chief” will return for two WWE Live events October 1-2, in Saskatchewan, and Survivor Series on November 26.
On Wrestling Observer Radio, Bryan Alverez asked, “so basically he’ll be gone for 10 weeks?” Dave Meltzer responded, “yes.”
Meltzer added that while Reigns is advertised for the Premium Live Events, there is no guarantee he will appear.
Roman Reigns’ New Contract
Reigns tells fans that he’s entering a “new phase” of his career and life at a WWE Live event in Trenton, New Jersey.
This news comes after the announcement that Reigns has signed a new deal with WWE, one that will see him wrestle far fewer dates.
At a WWE Live event last week in Trenton, New Jersey, the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion said he is entering a “new phase” of his career and life.
Reigns has wrestled four times on TV in 2022 (Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber, WrestleMania 38, and WrestleMania Backlash) and has a 3-1 record this year.
His only loss came via disqualification at the Royal Rumble when Reigns got himself DQ’d to retain his Universal Championship against Seth Rollins.
Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns has teased that he will no longer team with his cousins, SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos, in six-man-tag team action.
On Instagram, Reigns shared a video from the gym and teased that he and his cousins won’t compete in matches together anymore.
“What if that’s the last six-man-tag you ever see The Bloodline do?”
Roman Reigns
https://www.instagram.com/p/CdWBp22DaNb/
What’s next for Roman Reigns?
In that same video, Reigns also referenced the reports of him leaving WWE after he hinted at taking some time away during a WWE Live event in Trenton, New Jersey.
“I’m not going anywhere, or am I?”
Roman Reigns
The Undisputed WWE Universal Champion has reportedly signed a new deal which will see him work fewer dates going forward.
While it is believed that Reigns will one day follow his cousin The Rock to Hollywood, Reigns has been “accommodated and incentivized” to keep WWE as a top priority, a source told Fightful.
It is currently unknown how long Reigns’ new contract lasts or how much he is being paid.
Paul Heyman believes The Bloodline is the greatest faction in professional wrestling history.
Shortly after The Bloodline (Roman Reigns and The Usos) defeated the team of RK-Bro and Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania Backlash, Heyman took to a backstage interview to hail the trio as the greatest faction in history.
“Doubt? In my mind? No. I mean come on. Let’s shoot from the hip here. The undisputed WWE Champion Roman Reigns. The longest-reigning SmackDown Tag Team Champions of all time, The Usos.
“The Bloodline is the most dominant faction in the pro wrestling/sports entertainment history. You can tell me all about The Four Horsemen. You can tell me all about the nWo.
“You can tell me about D-X. You can tell me about the Heenan Family. You can even tell me about the Dangerous Alliance. There has never, never been a faction as dominant as The Bloodline.”
Heyman certainly makes a strong case. Reigns is one of the longest reigning World Champions in history at the moment with over 600 days as Universal Champion. He also holds the WWE Championship, which he won from Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 38.
The pair headlined Night Two of WrestleMania from Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas in April. Reigns was able to come out on top, bringing even more hardware to The Bloodline. As for The Usos, they currently reign as the SmackDown Live Tag Team Champions.
This is their fifth reign as SmackDown Live Tag Team Champions, and it’s also a record-breaker at nearly 300 days. The duo have established themselves as one of the best tag teams WWE has ever seen.
It will be interesting to see what comes next for The Bloodline after their WrestleMania Backlash victory. Roman Reigns recently inked a new deal with WWE, and is looking for a new challenger for his World Title reign.
As for The Usos, they teased potentially challenging for the RAW Tag Team Titles and unifying the belts, but it appears those plans were put on ice ahead of Backlash.
Roman Reigns seems to have scored a new contract with WWE.
Fans grew concerned this past weekend after footage of Reigns addressing the live crowd in Trenton, NJ surfaced.
Many believed the “Tribal Chief” was teasing retirement as he said he doesn’t know if he’ll be back in Trenton since he’s entering a new phase in his career.
As it turns out, Reigns was actually referring to taking fewer dates going forward. Fightful was the first to report. Apparently, the changes have come courtesy of a new deal.
Roman Reigns Signs New WWE Contract
Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio is reporting that Roman Reigns has put pen to paper for a new deal with Vince McMahon’s empire.
It’s been said that the deal is for “far less dates,” so don’t expect the “Head of the Table” to be making the house show runs as frequently as he used to.
Such a deal makes sense for Roman. The “Tribal Chief” will turn 37 on May 25, he’s a father, and is incredibly valuable to WWE.
Very few get to call their shots in WWE and Roman is one of those few.
Keeping The Top Dog
It’s no secret that Reigns is the biggest star WWE has at the moment. The company was wise to keep him happy as his absence would leave a huge hole in WWE’s main event scene.
WWE is trying to build talent such as Theory and Bron Breakker but neither are close to taking a top spot in WWE. Especially Breakker, who is still very inexperienced and is learning under the NXT banner.
Raw Tag Team Champions RK-Bro (Randy Orton and Riddle) teamed up with Drew McIntyre vs. SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos (Jey and Jimmy) and Roman Reigns at the WWE WrestleMania Backlash event.
The match started off slow. The Usos beat down Riddle after Reigns refused to fight McIntyre. Finally, Reigns and McIntyre mixed it up. McIntyre with the Claymore Kick to Reigns before getting the tag to Orton, who cleared house. Orton hit an RKO out of nowhere to Reigns then an RKO to Jimmy for a near fall. Riddle with a suplex then hit the floating bro for 2 on Jey. Reigns slammed McIntyre through the announce table. Riddle with an RKO off the top rope to Jey only for Reigns to pin Riddle with a spear.
WWE made a title unification bout for the Raw and SmackDown Tag Team Titles official on the April 15th edition of SmackDown only to change it on the April 29th SmackDown.
WWE first unified the WWE and Universal Titles in a match between Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania where “The Tribal Chief” beat “The Beast” in the headliner of night 2. WWE reportedly has no plans to end the brand split.
However, after Reigns and McIntyre mixed it up, WWE decided to make a change to its plans as the company wants to save Reigns defending the Undisputed WWE Universal Title against McIntyre for one of the several upcoming stadium events.
Roman Reigns seemingly hinted at retirement during a recent live event but it turns out he is referring to something else.
The “Tribal Chief” performed during a house show in Trenton, New Jersey on May 7. Reigns successfully defended his WWE Universal Championship against Drew McIntyre. After the match, Roman grabbed a mic and had the following to say:
“I honestly don’t know if I’ll ever be back here again.”
Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns’ “New Phase”
Roman Reigns also discussed changing his schedule to enter a new phase of his career. This led many to believe that WWE’s top star could be making his exit from the wrestling business soon.
As it turns out, that isn’t the case.
Photo: WWE.com
What Roman Really Meant
Fightful is reporting that Roman is strongly factored into creative plans for the foreseeable future. People within the company don’t believe he will be leaving anytime soon.
With that said, Roman’s words did hold some weight. As it turns out, Reigns will likely be reducing his live event schedule. This means he’ll be dialing back on his house show appearances.
No Clear Next Man Up
Reigns has finally settled in as the top draw in WWE. For years, Vince McMahon has been looking for that one difference-maker to fill the shoes of John Cena. WWE now has that in Reigns.
If Reigns were to leave tomorrow, there’s no clear answer on who would replace him. Reports have indicated that Vince sees potential in Theory to be the next big thing but he isn’t nearly ready for that role.
Luckily for WWE officials, it looks like Roman Reigns is staying put for now.
While Reigns is the unquestionable top star in WWE it is believed by many that he will one day follow his cousin The Rock into Hollywood.
The Tribal Chief has already dabbled in acting with his biggest role to date being alongside the Brahma Bull in 2019’s Fast and Furious spinoff ‘Hobbs and Shaw.’
Reigns also lent his voice to the character ‘Ramarilla’ in the 2021 animated movie ‘Rumble.’
Reigns appears alongside The Rock in 2019’s Fast and Furious spinoff ‘Hobbs and Shaw.’
Reigns himself said he would like to do more movies during an appearance on the Michael Kay Show last November.
Last month, Randy Orton said that he will remain a WWE Superstar while Reigns will one day be in Hollywood.
WWE reportedly never had plans for a tag team title unification match at WrestleMania Backlash.
When The Usos first started their feud with RK-Bro, it was centered around trying to unify the Raw and SmackDown Tag Team Championships. Roman Reigns specifically gave Jimmy and Jey an order to lay claim to the Raw tag team gold.
While the stage was set for The Usos vs. RK-Bro at WrestleMania Backlash, Reigns interrupted the contract signing. Randy Orton and Riddle were ambushed, and the contract was destroyed. Drew McIntyre then hit the ring and sent Reigns packing with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex.
Now, it’ll be a non-title six-man tag team match. The Bloodline will take on McIntyre and RK-Bro.
Title Unification Never In The Cards
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that WWE never had the intent of booking a tag team title unification match. Simply put, WWE didn’t have a challenger lined up for Reigns at the WrestleMania Backlash event.
It had been reported previously that WWE didn’t want to rush a Reigns vs. McIntyre program.
WrestleMania Backlash will take place inside the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island on May 8. Here is what the lineup looks like just a couple of days away from the event:
The Bloodline vs. Drew McIntyre & RK-Bro
WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship: Charlotte Flair vs. Ronda Rousey (“I Quit” Match)
Fans have been waiting for a singles match between The Undisputed World champion Roman Reigns and Drew McIntyre since the Scottish Warrior moved to the SmackDown roster in October last year.
These expectations were once again met with disappointment when the company announced a six men tag team match for WrestleMania Backlash main event.
Dave Meltzer provided some updates on this feud during the latest Wrestling Observer Radio. He revealed that WWE is holding off a singles match between McIntyre and Reigns for a bigger event.
WWE is set to hold not one but three major Stadium shows in the span of three months starting from July. The first one will be Money In The Bank from Allegiant Stadium.
This will be followed by the SummerSlam PPV from Nissan Stadium and the Clash Of The Castle special from United Kingdom.
Officials consider Drew McIntyre vs. Roman Reigns to be a dream match. It’s likely that their singles encounter will be saved for one of these shows.
There is no word yet on what the company is planning for the unified titles. We will have to see if this match ends up being for only one of the world titles or both of them when the time comes.
We now know who Roman Reigns will be feuding with next.
After a couple of weeks of stalling, many questioned whether or not Reigns would even be featured on the WrestleMania Backlash card. In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that the “Tribal Chief” will indeed be headlining the May 8th premium live event.
At Friday’s WWE SmackDown tapings, Reigns re-started his feud with Drew McIntyre. The two had a stare-down and came to blows.
The angle was taped for next week’s SmackDown, which airs on April 29th.
The tapings were held after the April 22nd edition of SmackDown went off the air. This was done because WWE is headed overseas for the post-WrestleMania European tour beginning on April 28.
There is no denying that Roman Reigns is WWE’s top priority when it comes to talent. While he has long held a main event spot, his stock took off thanks to the “Tribal Chief” gimmick. Reigns is fresh off a victory over Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 38 to become the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.
Despite the momentum, Reigns hasn’t exactly had a big presence the past couple of weeks. He appeared on Raw following WrestleMania and said he’d announce his next move on SmackDown. His move ended up being a demand for The Usos to challenge RKBro in an attempt to become the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions.
WWE.com
Roman Reigns-WrestleMania Backlash
Reigns didn’t appear on the April 15 episode of SmackDown and it’s left many speculating that he may not have a match at WrestleMania Backlash.
That hunch can be put to rest. Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer reports that Roman Reigns will be in the main event of WrestleMania Backlash. Meltzer suspects an angle will be done on the April 22 episode of SmackDown.
Some felt that a program with Shinsuke Nakamura would be next since Nakamura confronted The Bloodline on the April 8 episode of SmackDown and ate superkicks from The Usos for his efforts.
There is no word on who Reigns’ WrestleMania Backlash opponent will be at this time.
With so many potential title unifications on the horizon, many have wondered what the future holds for the current WWE Brand Split.
Roman Reigns recently became both the WWE Champion and WWE Universal Champion by taking the former title from Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 38.
Reigns holds the top title for both Monday Night RAW and SmackDown, but remains a member of the SmackDown roster. WWE has yet to formally address the next steps of the title unification process.
Also, with The Usos set to challenge RK-Bro, unifying the SmackDown Live and RAW Tag Team Titles, many are beginning to wonder if WWE is setting up the end of the Brand Split. Dave Meltzer recently touched on this subject during a new episode of Wrestling Observer Radio.
Meltzer noted that Reigns is currently penciled in to headline WrestleMania Backlash, even though a program hasn’t been started for him just yet. In regards to the rumors about the Brand Split, Meltzer reports there are no plans to merge the roster at this time. However, Meltzer added that Vince McMahon could always change his mind.
With all that being said, things should become a lot more clear at WrestleMania Backlash. Check out the updated WrestleMania Backlash 2022 card for the updated lineup.
WWE has announced that their WWE London and France shows will have three huge matches during their European tour.
WWE will hold a show from the Utilita Arena on Thursday, April 28 in Newcastle, England; The O2 Arena from London, England on Friday, April 29; the Accor Arena from Paris, France on Saturday, April 30; and finally the QUARTERBACK Immobilien Arena in Leipzig, Germany on Sunday, May 1.
Also advertised for those shows are WWE Intercontinental Champion Ricochet, WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Sasha Banks and Naomi, Gunther, and Bobby Lashley. Matches for the Newcastle and Leipzig events are expected to be announced soon.
It should also be noted that the SmackDown Live taping on Friday, April 22 from the MVP Arena in Albany, New York has a special start time of 6:30pm ET. This hints that the show will be a double taping, meaning the April 29 episode of SmackDown Live will be pre-taped while WWE is running their show in London.
Currently advertised for the Albany, New York show on April 22 are Reigns, McIntyre, Ricochet, Banks and Naomi, The Usos, RK-Bro, Rousey, RAW Women’s Champion Bianca Belair, Becky Lynch, and Rhea Ripley. We’ll keep you updated as we learn more.
WWE Hall Of Famer Booker T knows exactly who he wants to be the one to finally dethrone Roman Reigns.
The two-time Hall Of Famer took to his podcast, “The Hall Of Fame,” to offer his thoughts on the current World Title picture. Booker explained that he’d like to see Rhodes get a World Title reign by defeating Reigns, even if it means getting the title back around “The Tribal Chief’s” waist before the next WrestleMania.
“I don’t see why Cody can’t take the title off Roman in the meantime,” Booker said (via WrestlingInc.). “Roman could easily get it back by the time WrestleMania comes back around, we’ve got plenty of time to be able to switch that back, if that’s the route we are going to go in. If that’s the route they’re thinking, I suggest yes, we go that route of Rock and Roman, because it’s money.”
Reigns comes off of a big WrestleMania 38 win over Brock Lesnar, capturing the WWE Championship to unify with the Universal Title he already held. Now, having topped “The Beast” in Dallas, it remains to be seen who will be Reigns’ next big opponent. In the meantime, he’s focused on collecting more gold for The Bloodline in the form of getting The Usos to capture the RAW Tag Team Titles.
Rhodes finally made his return to WWE at WrestleMania 38, being introduced as Seth Rollins’ mystery opponent. “The American Nightmare” came out on top in the matchup, which was undoubtedly one of the best of the entire weekend. Now, Rhodes has made it clear he came back to WWE with his sights set firmly on a World Title. And right now, that road goes through Roman Reigns.
Reigns may sense Rhodes is creeping up on his run as Unified Champion, as he recently destroyed a fan’s Cody Rhodes sign after Monday Night RAW went off-air this week.
