The Rock’s return to WWE television this week sparked a lot of conversation. Fans all over are now discussing the possibility of The Rock vs Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. John Cena also took notice.

The Rock’s Surprise WWE Return

During the January 1st episode of WWE RAW, The Rock made an unexpected appearance, taking the opportunity to address Jinder Mahal to shut down his anti-American promo.

The Rock got some “Day One Douche Bag” chants going for Jinder Mahal, and then the segment was kicked up a notch.

In an attempt to ambush The Rock, Jinder Mahal jumped Dwayne Johnson in the ring. However, The Rock acted fast, responding with a series of punches, his signature spinebuster, and ultimately delivering his People’s Elbow.

The Rock then picked up the microphone and engaged with the San Diego crowd, asking them whether he should sit at the “head of the table” when he goes out to dinner after the show.

John Cena Reacts To The Rock vs Roman Reigns Hype

That dig at Roman Reigns was apparent, and they even called attention to it after the next commercial break. It appears that John Cena saw that go down as well, and he responded on Instagram.

Although John Cena never uses captions on Instagram, he certainly didn’t need to in this instance. The Greatest of All Time dropped a graphic of The Rock and Roman Reigns, adding to the hype of this perspective match.

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C1mZ8AoO7jD

Exclusive Insight On Roman Reigns vs The Rock at WrestleMania

Cody Rhodes vs Roman Reigns was the match at WrestleMania 40. At this time, the WWE creative team is totally in the dark regarding the possibility of that match changing. I personally spoke to members of the creative team this morning about this very subject.

This is all happening in real time, but The Rock 100% has the pull in WWE to claim that match if he wants it. This will be a very interesting road to WrestleMania. 

The Rock may be coming for Roman Reigns’ spot as Head of the Table, but the reigning Undisputed WWE Universal Champion isn’t sweating his cousin. 

The Brahma Bull returned to WWE programming during this week’s Day 1 edition of Monday Night Raw to an eclectic response from the crowd. WWE had been teasing the return of a former WWE Champion in the days before the show, which at first appeared to be Jinder Mahal. The Modern-Day Maharaja ran down the United States before the return of The Rock, who had some choice words for his fellow former WWE Champion. The Rock then laid out Mahal with a Spinebuster and his People’s Elbow. 

Roman Reigns Reacts to The Rock

It wasn’t just Mahal who The Rock had his eyes on during the Day 1 edition of Monday Night Raw. During his promo, the Great One also asked the fans if they’d like to see him as Head of the Table, alluding to taking the spot held by Roman Reigns. On Twitter, Reigns had a concise response to the notion. 

?

— Roman Reigns (@WWERomanReigns) January 2, 2024

This challenge didn’t go unnoticed by the rest of the Tribe. In a tweet of his own, WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi shared his reaction to The Rock teasing going for the Tribal Chief. 

Have a seat ..

Now what’s the problem ??? pic.twitter.com/POfKfJiAiz

— RIKISHI FATU (@TheREALRIKISHI) January 2, 2024

The Rock Vs. Roman Reigns

Considered a dream match by many, WWE has gotten close in the past to making a showdown between The Rock & Roman Reigns a reality. The pair were set to headline WrestleMania 39 last year but ultimately plans fell apart. Last August, Reigns admitted that he just can’t see his cousin being able to beat him for the Undisputed WWE Universal Title. 

WWE fans expected the return of a former WWE Champion during the Day 1 episode of RAW. To their surprise, Jinder Mahal made a comeback with a new anti-American gimmick. Then he was suddenly interrupted.

IF YA SMELL…..@TheRock has come back to #WWERaw! pic.twitter.com/GVwlc7jpm1

— WWE (@WWE) January 2, 2024

The Rock Returns during Day 1 WWE RAW

The Rock then entered the scene, generating a massive reaction from the crowd. While there had been speculation about his appearance at the show, it wasn’t definitively confirmed before the broadcast.

The Rock was spotted with WWE CEO Nick Khan previously in the day. Dwayne Johnson was in Pasadena for College Gameday. That is just a couple of hours from WWE RAW’s location of San Diego this week. It was reported by Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Select that “when we brought that up to a WWE higher up, they said we made a compelling argument, but wouldn’t confirm or deny.”

During that surprise appearance, The Rock addressed Jinder Mahal, contrasting him with the Iron Sheik and even humorously impersonating the legendary WWE Hall of Famer that we lost last year.

.@TheRock pays tribute to former WWE Champion The Iron Sheik!#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/9lga5ZwlmB

— WWE (@WWE) January 2, 2024

In response, Jinder Mahal attempted to talk smack about Americans. The Rock proudly declared himself the People’s Champion and an American, which makes us think about all those rumors about The Rock running for US President down the line.

After The Rock continued to insult Jinder Mahal, and his own Baywatch film as collateral damage, The Great One then said that Jinder Mahal is no longer the Modern Day Mahajara, instead, he is now the “day one douchebag.” Yes, fans chanted “day one douchebag” in loud fashion as The Rock directed them to do so.

In an attempt to ambush The Rock, Jinder Mahal started with an attack. However, Dwayne Johnson swiftly retaliated, responding with a series of punches, his spinebuster, and ultimately delivering his iconic People’s Elbow.

The Rock wasn’t finished there, as he picked up the microphone and asked the San Diego crowd if he should sit at the “head of the table” when he goes out to dinner after the show.

??????@TheRock dropped an absolute bombshell on #WWERaw! pic.twitter.com/Dmqc66tl2G

— WWE (@WWE) January 2, 2024

The dig at Roman Reigns was obvious, and now we have to wonder if The Rock vs Reigns is actually going to happen in 2024.

The Rock vs Roman Reigns at WrestleMania was Cancelled Before

WWE had plans for The Rock vs Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39, and it was going to happen, but then things changed for that match. It was never in the cards for WrestleMania 40, but there is always the possibility of a great creative shift if the situation calls for it. The Rock deciding that he can make the time for a return match is definitely a situation that would call for plans changing.

NFL legend Calvin Johnson recently spoke highly of his former Georgia Tech football teammate and current WWE superstar Roman Reigns.

Roman Reigns might be a household name in the world of pro wrestling but he had a run with Georgia Tech football team. Johnson shared the locker room with Reigns back in the day during their time in the football team. 

Roman Reigns, whose real name is Leati Joseph Anoa?i. played on the defensive line and Johnson has lauded his toughness and leadership skills. The WWE Universal Champion made a reputation for his ferocious tackling on the field and as a locker room leader. 

Calvin Johnson sheds praise on Roman Reigns

Reigns’ leadership was recognized by his teammates and he was eventually voted the team’s co-captain. Speaking with TMZ Sports, Johnson said:

“He was just always like a badass, He didn’t say much, but when he did say something, you listened.”

In his collegiate career for the Yellow Jackets, Roman Reigns has played 25 games and racked 65 tackles and 6.5 sacks. He penned a deal with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent. In addition to this, he had an offseason stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He decided to end his professional football career by 2008 and eventually joined WWE.

Roman Reigns will defend his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at Royal Rumble 2024

Roman Reigns is not only leading The Bloodline but also has been on an unstoppable run. His ongoing historic title reign has crossed 1,213 days. He has destroyed whichever superstar has tried to dethrone him in the past three years. Recently, he had a successful title defense against LA Knight at the Crown Jewel event in Saudi Arabia.

Roman Reigns will now put his title on line at the Royal Rumble next year. The winner of the triple threat match featuring Randy Orton, LA Knight, and AJ Styles will be the new #1 contender at New Year’s Revolution edition of Friday Night SmackDown.

Cody Rhodes may have failed to finish the story at WrestleMania 39 earlier this year, but he and Roman Reigns delivered WWE’s best match of the year. 

Earlier this month, WWE kicked off a fan-voted tournament to see what was the best match of the year. The tournament featured the following matches: 

• SummerSlam: Cody Rhodes vs Brock Lesnar
• WrestleMania 39: Rey Mysterio vs Dominik Mysterio
• Payback: Trish Stratus vs Becky Lynch
• WrestleMania 39: Fatal Four-Way Men’s Tag Team Match
• Monday Night RAW: Chad Gable vs Gunther
• WrestleMania 39: Rhea Ripley vs Charlotte Flair
• Money In The Bank: The Usos vs Solo Sikoa and Roman Reigns
• WrestleMania 39: Drew McIntyre vs Gunther vs Sheamus
• Backlash: Bad Bunny vs Damian Priest
• NXT Deadline: Men’s Iron Survivor Match
• WrestleMania 39: Roman Reigns vs Cody Rhodes
• Crown Jewel: Seth Rollins vs Drew McIntyre
• Backlash: IYO Sky vs Bianca Belair
• Elimination Chamber: Sami Zayn vs Roman Reigns
• WrestleMania 39: The Usos vs Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens
• NXT No Mercy: Carmelo Hayes vs Ilja Dragunov

In the end, the finals saw two matches featuring WWE’s American Nightmare. The finals were between Rhodes’ WrestleMania 39 match with Reigns and his SummerSlam 2023 showdown with Brock Lesnar. 

What’s Next?

Cody Rhodes is currently feuding with Shinsuke Nakamura, who has been able to mist Rhodes multiple times. Cody will compete in next month’s Men’s Royal Rumble match. If he wins, Cody will become the fourth man to win back-to-back Royal Rumble matches. Win or lose, many expect Rhodes will challenge Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. WWE’s annual Showcase of the Immortals will take place in April from Philadelphia, PA.

Cody Rhodes is going to be staying with WWE for many years to come. Click here to find out more. 

Roman Reigns is an unprecedented talent in the modern era of professional wrestling and although outcomes are predetermined, what he has achieved is impressive for the current day.

With his WWE Undisputed Universal Championship reign, Roman has rivaled historical names such as Bruno Sammartino and Hulk Hogan for the length of time he’s held the gold. And with such a reign comes plenty of wins and a mere handful of losses.

As of December 15, it marks four years since Reigns has been pinned in a singles match and the person to do such is a surprising one. One on one, Baron Corbin is the last person to keep Roman down for the three count.

While Reigns may unofficially be the current “king” of WWE, Corbin was King Corbin back in December 2019 and he took on Reigns in a Tables, Ladders & Chairs match at TLC 2019. The two battled for over 20 minutes, but Corbin had some help from wrestlers who are actually no longer with the company.

Dolph Ziggler and The Revival, now better known as FTR in AEW, stacked the deck against a babyface Roman in the battle. Chairs were used in thwarting Reigns’ progress and  Corbin ultimately hit his End Of Days finisher on a chair for the 1-2-3.

Reigns did find himself getting pinned this past July at Money In The Bank, but that was in tag team action as he and his cousin Solo Sikoa lost to The Usos. It was Jey who secured the only other pinfall on “The Tribal Chief.”

Roman Reigns has an ultimate part-time schedule at this point. Any match for the Tribal Chief is a rare occasion, as Undisputed Universal Champion, he doesn’t warm up for a match on a regular basis, and that has caused him to miss some big events. It appears that he won’t be making a very important trip for WWE in May.

Backlash is set to be the inaugural WWE premium live event hosted in France at the LDLC Arena in Lyon-Decines on Saturday, May 4th. The preceding night, WWE will broadcast SmackDown from the LDLC Arena, marking the first airing of SmackDown in France.

Roman Reigns doesn’t appear to be making that trip to France with the rest of the SmackDown roster, because he’s not currently advertised for the show.

Roman Reigns Missing From WWE Backlash Poster

The official poster for WWE Backlash France has been released, featuring a lineup of wrestling talent including World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley, Becky Lynch, Cody Rhodes, and other WWE Superstars.

Notably, Roman Reigns is missing from the poster, sparking speculation about his potential absence from the event. It’s unclear how WWE will write things for Backlash without Roman Reigns, but they’ve arranged plenty of premium live events without The Tribal Chief already.

? The official Backlash France poster has been released ? pic.twitter.com/77l2xpJo3q

— Wrestle Features (@WrestleFeatures) December 14, 2023

The 2024 Backlash event promises to be a memorable night with a star-studded lineup. That being said, it’s unknown whether Roman Reigns will be a part of the event.

The fact that Roman Reigns is missing from the WWE Backlash poster, which will go down in May, and WrestleMania is in April, must spark attention. It certainly flipped a switch in my brain..

WWE’s current plan for Roman Reigns at WrestleMania (Exclusive)

Roman Reigns is going to wrestle at WrestleMania, and that main event match has not changed since early September, when I was told that they decided on his match. In fact, Roman Reigns’ WrestleMania 40 match was in place long before that, and The Rock was never a part of the creative conversation this time around.

Roman Reigns adding house shows dates to his schedule was also a bit of a surprise when it was announced. Many within the company thought Roman Reigns wouldn’t wrestle again in 2023 after his Undisputed Universal Title defense against LA Knight in Saudi Arabia at WWE Crown Jewel.

Although WWE has Roman Reigns’ WrestleMania match figured out, that doesn’t mean things can’t change. CM Punk’s return to the company will cause a creative shift within the company’s creative direction for, at least one, WrestleMania match. I was told in September that WWE already had their Men’s Royal Rumble match winner figured out as well, and I was able to confirm this week that the winner has not changed. However, at this point, nothing is “locked in.”

I was told by a tenured source within WWE that, “Even Roman’s main event can change if circumstances dictate. Will they dictate? Most likely not. But until it’s locked in, it’s not locked in.”

Roman Reigns will be on the road to WrestleMania, and he will make his return to television this week for SmackDown. What happens next will only add to the tremendous Bloodline saga that has already unfolded.

WWE SmackDown Superstar Braun Strowman is ready to step back in the ring with Roman Reigns, deeming the Tribal Chief his arch-nemesis. 

The Monster Among Men returned to WWE last September after being released in late 2021. Strowman has spent much of his time on the shelf though and is currently recovering from neck fusion surgery. Speaking to Wrestle Binge, Strowman was asked about who’s next for him once he is back and made it clear he wants another shot against the Head of the Table. 

“I’m never finished with Roman Reigns. He is my arch nemesis and my greatest rivalry of my career, and hopefully one of these days I’ll get back in there and get these hands on The Tribal Chief.” 

Braun Strowman Vs. Roman Reigns

Strowman and Reigns have shared the ring a total of 21 times (not including performances in Royal Rumble matches.) The pair first collided at WWE Night of Champions 2015 and saw Strowman, Bray Wyatt, and Luke Harper defeat Reigns, Dean Ambrose, and Chris Jericho. 

Strowman and Reigns would feud in 2017 and would collide over the Universal Championship in late 2018. Years later, Strowman would take the pinfall loss at Payback 2020, which saw the start of Reigns’ historic tenure as WWE Universal Champion. Strowman and Reigns last competed on the October 16, 2020, episode of SmackDown, which saw the Tribal Chief get the win. 

Braun Strowman won’t rule out a return to WWE programming for a massive upcoming event. Click here to find out more. 

H/T – Wrestling Inc

Jey Uso & The Return of Yeet

Earlier this month, WWE abandoned ‘Yeet’ because the term is owned by independent wrestler Kasey Huffman. It was later reported that WWE hasn’t completely given up on the term just yet and that the promotion’s legal team is working on it. Taking to Twitter, Jey didn’t clarify if he can still use Yeet on TV, but gave tweeted one for good measure. 

YEET!!!
?
-jey

— The Usos (@WWEUsos) December 9, 2023

LA Knight Gets Married?

Fans were overjoyed this week to learn that WWE Superstar LA Knight recently tied the knot. In a tweet, Knight made it clear that he didn’t get married this week despite what’s being shared online. 

If anybody finds pictures from the wedding I’m hearing I was part of this week, I’m excited to see them! I must have blacked out, because i don’t remember any of it. Please send.

— LA Knight (@RealLAKnight) December 8, 2023

Knight is married to fitness instructor Michelle Yavulla and has been since 2018. 

JBL Reacts to SmackDown

This week’s episode of SmackDown was the annual Tribute to the Troops show, so it was fitting that JBL was present at the show. It was the former WWE Champion who came up with the idea in 2003. In a tweet, JBL shared his appreciation for being back on SmackDown for one night. W

Fun to be back for a night. pic.twitter.com/TllI10gpFQ

— John Layfield (@JCLayfield) December 9, 2023

Seth Rollins on Roman Reigns

Seth Rollins has faced plenty of WWE Superstars as the reigning World Heavyweight Champion but hasn’t shown interest in Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns. Speaking on the SI Media podcast, Rollins explained why he hasn’t had the Tribal Chief in his sights. 

“He’s been so absent, I don’t think it’s been a topic of conversation amongst fans, let alone the locker room. I think it’s one of those things where it’s an opportunity, but it’s such a glass-ceiling opportunity. It feels like one of those things where it may never happen.”

Reigns’ next match is expected to happen at the WWE Royal Rumble PLE on January 27.

WWE Raw Superstar Jey Uso is expecting big things from Solo Sikoa, including potentially replacing Roman Reigns as the Tribal Chief. 

Sikoa has made an impact ever since his main roster call-up saw him cost Drew McIntyre the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at Clash at the Castle. Since then, Sikoa has been a featured Superstar on TV and has worked with some top names. At WWE Crown Jewel, Sikoa got perhaps the biggest win of his career with a clean victory over John Cena. 

Solo Sikoa: The Next Tribal Chief?

While Jey and Solo Sikoa are no longer allies, Uso has been impressed by his younger brother. Speaking with Mail Sport’s Alex McCarthy, Jey mentioned Sikoa when asked who could bring an end to Roman Reigns. 

“I’d like to keep it in the family. I think Solo could be the next tribal chief but he’s got a little growing to do.”

Later in the interview, Uso shared some words of wisdom for Sikoa and once again praised the former NXT North American Champion. 

“I say it to Solo sometimes, when you go out there just embrace what’s going on. I mean, being in Maddison Square Garden with everyone throwing the one’s up – I appreciate it, man.

“Solo is a top performer. He’s like a sponge, he gets it. All you got to do is tell him one time, it clicks with him. He’s going to go real far in the business, like I said he’s got a little growing to do though.”

Sikoa have faced off against each other on three separate occasions in WWE with their first encounter being as part of the Bloodline Civil War at Money in the Bank 2023. At this time, Main Event Jey is 3-0 against his younger brother. 

Jey Uso isn’t the only one who sees big things in Sikoa’s future. In August, it was reported that WWE sees Solo and WWE Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER as potential main event heels for the next decade. 

The December 8th episode of WWE SmackDown was loaded with matches and promos. There were also some notable moments worth highlighting.

CM Punk cut a bit of a pipe bomb promo during SmackDown this week. During his time on the microphone, he called out Roman Reigns and also made reference to the backstage incident at All In that caused his AEW firing.

Charlotte Flair also needed to be helped out of the ring following her loss to Asuka. We’re hoping that The Queen isn’t seriously injured.

WWE’s Plan For December 15th SmackDown

Before the show closed this week, they confirmed a few things for the December 15th episode of WWE SmackDown on FOX. Roman Reigns will be back on the blue brand next week, so that will be a big draw. Only time will tell if he answers CM Punk’s call-out from this week. 

Roman Reigns returns to #SmackDown next week in Green Bay, WI. pic.twitter.com/xN9q7d7GZ1

— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) December 9, 2023

Fans will also see Grayson Waller face off against an unnamed NXT Superstar in the 1st round of the United States Championship tournament. It was said that Shawn Michaels will hand-pick that Superstar. Also, Kevin Owens will battle Austin Theory in another 1st round match.

Kevin Owens has a broken hand, which they mentioned on commentary. That should add another layer to his match, because it nixes his infamous KO punch.

We will have to see who comes out on top when SmackDown goes live on FOX next week. For more updates, keep checking back with SE Scoops.

December 15th, 2023 WWE SmackDown Card

Roman Reigns returns to SmackDown

Kevin Owens vs Austin Theory – 1st Round United States Title Tournament Match

Grayson Waller vs NXT Superstar – 1st Round United States Title Tournament Match

What are you looking forward to most on SmackDown next week? Let us know what you think by engaging with us on social media! 

The Undertaker is one of the most iconic figures in WWE history. He recently shared his thoughts on who he thinks should defeat Roman Reigns and capture his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship belt.

During a recent conversation with Ariel Helwani for BT Sport, the Dead Man said he believes the right person for this job is none other than Cody Rhodes.

The American Nightmare returned from his injury at the Royal Rumble in January, and came out as the winner of the 30-man battle royale. He challenged Reigns for his title on the January 30 episode of Raw, for a match at WrestleMania 39.

Is Cody Rhodes the man to dethrone Roman Reigns?

The Undertaker recommending Cody Rhodes just goes to show how important it is to find the right competitor to defeat Reigns. Reigns has been a force to be reckoned with in the WWE for quite some time now. He has become the top dog in the company and bringing him down is something that needs a lot of planning and proper execution. It will also take someone who has the skills and charisma to pull it off and look believable. The wrestler should also have the staying power to take Reigns’ spot.

It seems like Cody Rhodes fits the bill perfectly when it comes to all these things, according to The Undertaker. Rhodes has momentum in the company currently, has the fan support and is good in the ring as well as the mic. He could make for a believable Universal Champion. He has also proved his mettle during his tenure in AEW.

Apart from Cody Rhodes, The Undertaker also mentioned Sami Zayn as a potential “dark horse” candidate to defeat Reigns. Zayn has been with the WWE for many years, and has had many highs and lows in his career. Being a reliable performer in the ring who WWE could trust, it would make sense why the Deadman himself would think Zayn is another good pick to take down Reigns.

• The Undertaker: ‘A Lot Of WWE Talent Don’t Understand The Concept of Protecting a Character’

The Bloodline may be one of WWE’s most popular acts in years, but they apparently cannot hold a candle to The Elite.

Following Roman Reigns’ heel turn in 2020, his cousins The Usos would fall in line behind their Tribal Chief, who has been advised by his special counsel Paul Heyman.

Last September, Solo Sikoa was added to the faction by helping Reigns retain the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at Clash at the Castle.

Without a Doubt

The Bloodline storyline, especially the chapter with Sami Zayn, has been heralded as one of the best thing wrestling fans have seen in years, but they are not the only faction around.

Last November, the Elite made their AEW return at Full Gear, after being suspended for their roles in the backstage fight following All Out.

Speaking on the Cafe de Rene podcast, Jake Roberts was asked which group he thinks is better.

“Kenny. Kenny and The Bucks without a doubt. I think Kenny Omega is f***ing unbelievable. He is f***ing on spot. I don’t like a lot of stuff The Young Bucks do but brother they’re doing it and getting away with it.”

At AEW Revolution 2023, the Elite lost the AEW Trios Championships to the House of Black.

The Elite Vs. The Bloodline?

At this time, the idea of a six-man-tag match between the two factions is purely hypothetical, but that is something WWE hopes to change.

In February, it was reported that WWE was expected to pursue multiple top-level AEW talent, including Omega.

The belief is that if they can sign Omega (who has previously been under a WWE developmental deal) then it may encourage the Bucks to jump ship to WWE.

h/t – Sportskeeda

WWE has found another diamond in the rough in Solo Sikoa.

Wrestling is all about creating larger-than-life characters that resonate with audiences and become legends in their own right. WWE has made some bonafide superstars – and Sikoa could be getting this treatment next.

Sikoa has been impressive since his debut on NXT. He’s continued to wow audiences and critics alike on the main roster. Most recently he picked up an impressive victory over Sami Zayn in the main event of Friday’s SmackDown.  

Undefeated Sikoa Primed for Greatness

On the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer stated that WWE plans to build and protect Sikoa. In time he’s slated for a massive showdown against none other than Roman Reigns.

Sikoa’s impressive streak on the main roster is worth noting, as he has not suffered a clean singles loss on TV, nor has he lost any singles matches at non-televised events.

This is a testament to the creative team’s belief in him and their desire to protect him as they build towards something big. Sikoa has already been involved in some big matches, including The Bloodline’s WarGames win, where he played an integral role in the victory. He has also defeated some notable names, including Sheamus, Dolph Ziggler, and Mustafa Ali.

Solo Sikoa was brought in to help Reigns retain his title over Drew McIntyre at WWE Clash at The Castle, and a feud with Reigns would make for a very engaging storyline with The Bloodline. This would be a significant match for both wrestlers, as Reigns is currently the top dog in WWE, and Sikoa is still establishing himself as a future star. If booked correctly, this could be a career-defining moment for Solo Sikoa. Solo Sikoa, he has all the tools to become a future WWE superstar. He has the look, the charisma, and the in-ring skills to succeed in WWE, and he has already shown that he can handle himself where it counts.

The 2018 All In wrestling supershow was referenced during this week’s episode of WWE SmackDown on FOX.

In September of that year, stars of various promotions came together to host the event, billed as “the biggest independent wrestling show ever.”

After showing that there was support for a non-WWE product, many of the names associated with All In would go on to be part of All Elite Wrestling, which launched in January 2019.

SmackDown

One significant name who was part of All In is Cody Rhodes, who made an appearance on this week’s edition of the blue brand.

Speaking about his upcoming WrestleMania match, Rhodes said there are those who think toppling Roman Reigns is an impossible goal, but he has a history of defying the odds.

The American Nightmare said that there were people who believed he would never be more than Randy Orton’s lackey, referring to his days in Legacy.

Rhodes added that there were some who thought that All In would be possible, saying:

“There’s no way 10,000 people would pay to see my buddy’s little indie show.”

Cody Rhodes.

At the September 2018 event, Rhodes would defeat Nick Aldis to capture the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.

The event began after Dave Meltzer dismissed the idea that any event other than a WWE show could sell 10,000 tickets, a statement that Rhodes accepted as a challenge.

Reigns Response

Rhodes, as predicted, was very passionate with his promo, but the Tribal Chief had some barbs of his own.

Speaking about being trained by Cody’s father Dusty Rhodes, Reigns bust-out an impressive impression of the American Dream, who told Reigns in developmental that he had ‘it.’

The two men shook hands without coming to blows and agreed that the better man will win next month at WrestleMania 39.

WWE is going back to a match between Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn for this Saturday’s house show in Toronto. 

They first wrestled in Montreal at Elimination Chamber earlier this month that saw Reigns go over to retain the title. 

Although this is a non-televised show, WWE felt they needed to make a change to what they originally announced, a tag team bout featuring Reigns and Solo Sikoa against Zayn and Kevin Owens, for the live event due to ongoing storyline reasons. 

The Reasons

While speaking on today’s Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer stated that the original tag team bout was changed as Zayn and Owens are still in the process of trying to get on the same page as Zayn wants Owens to forgive him and they go up against The Bloodline together. 

Meltzer stated that it wouldn’t make much sense for Owens and Zayn to suddenly team together even though they’ve yet to make up, even if it is in front of a few thousand people in attendance. Also, WWE felt that they could sell more tickets to do Reigns vs. Zayn.

WWE has sold under 6,000 tickets for the show after the announcement. This was an increase of 600 tickets sold after Reigns was first added to the lineup of the card. 

This proves that Reigns is a draw for WWE, although not as strong as John Cena, who drew an additional 2,000 tickets just 48 hours after he was announced for the March 6 Raw in Boston.

Ever since Cody Rhodes won the Royal Rumble, Roman Reigns has been dodging him. Although he’s acknowledged him in a promo, Reigns has sent “The Wise Man” Paul Heyman on his behalf.

Rhodes has even said he was open to the possibility of adding Sami Zayn to their match at WrestleMania 39. However, WWE has reportedly been concerned about Zayn being so over with the fans and that it might hurt Rhodes leading into his match with Reigns.

Cody Rhodes Going to Reigns

After defeating Chad Gable, Rhodes looked in the camera to address Reigns directly.

“He is on SmackDown this Friday and I am ecstatic that Roman Reigns is on SmackDown this Friday because I’ll be there too.”

WWE is promoting Rhodes as “being in the same building” as the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.

• Brock Lesnar vs. Omos Made Official for WWE WrestleMania 39

Do you think Reigns and Rhodes will actually come face to face on Friday? Or do you think Heyman will prevent it?

WWE is running back Roman Reigns vs. Sami Zayn following their match at the Elimination Chamber PLE. 

The two stars are slated to meet in the main event of an untelevised house show. On Monday, it was confirmed by the Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto that Reigns will defend his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Zayn at the show this Saturday as part of WWE’s Road to WrestleMania live event tour.

Originally, it was advertised as a tag team match seeing Reigns team with Solo Sikoa against Zayn & Kevin Owens for the event. However, a change was made. 

The First Match

At the Elimination Chamber in Montreal earlier this month, Reigns retained his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Zayn. Post-match, Owens saved Zayn from a Bloodline. 

Since then, Zayn has tried to convince Owens to work together to dismantle The Bloodline, but Owens continues to reject him. 

It’s believed that Zayn and Owens will challenge The Usos for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles at WrestleMania 39. Jey Uso is currently conflicted in storyline between siding with Zayn or staying loyal to his family. 

WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker may have plenty of accolades to his name, but the Phenom recently lost his top spot in the annals of WWE’s gaming history.

At Survivor Series 2020, the Undertaker gave his ‘Final Farewell’ and retired from the ring after an iconic three-decade career in WWE.

The Texan was rightfully inducted into the Hall of Fame last year, and has made appearances out of his gothic persona for WWE since his retirement.

Gaming History

As one of the most iconic WWE Superstars of all time, it is hardly surprising that The Undertaker has been part of several WWE video games.

The Demon of Death Valley holds the record for appearing in the most officially licensed WWE games, with his first being WWF Super WrestleMania (NES & MegaDrive/Genesis) in 1992.

Since then, The Undertaker has appeared in a total 64 video games (if you include WWE 2K23) and has featured on the cover for 18 games.

Acknowledge Him

For WWE SmackDown Vs. Raw 2011, WWE ranked The Undertaker with a staggering 98 rating, the highest rating of any WWE Superstar in gaming history.

After over a decade though, that rating has now been superseded, as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns has been awarded a 99 rating for WWE 2K23.

Reigns, one of two men to defeat The Undertaker at WrestleMania, has appeared in 10 WWE games, as well as NCAA Football 2005.

The standard edition of WWE 2K23 is set for release on March 17 and will be available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Microsoft Windows.

Players who pre-order the Deluxe and Icon Editions of the game will have access from March 14 to get in on the action early.

Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns will be working a rare house show next month ahead of WrestleMania 39. 

“The Tribal Chief” defeated Sami Zayn to retain the championship in Zayn’s hometown of Montreal at the Elimination Chamber PLE earlier this month. Post-match,  Kevin Owens returned to television after the bout to make the save for Zayn, who had been beaten down further by Reigns and Jimmy Uso. Owens hit a stunner to Heyman while Zayn laid out Reigns to send the crowd home happy. 

On this week’s Raw, the show opened with Zayn doing a promo segment with Owens where he tried to reignite their friendship and form a reunion to go after The Usos’ Undisputed Tag Team Titles. However, because Owens tried to tell Zayn what was going on months ago with The Bloodline using him and Zayn shut him out, he turned down the offer and walked away. 

The Match

According to PWInsider, the Coke-Cola Coliseum in Toronto has announced that Reigns will be teaming with Solo Sikoa to face Zayn and Owens in the headliner of the March 4th house show. 

WWE hasn’t used Solo on television since the February 3 edition of SmackDown. Reigns is slated to make his next Undisputed WWE Universal Championship defense against Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 39 this April.

Roman Reigns will seemingly miss a notable WWE premium live event this summer. 

For the first time in almost 21 years, the company will host a special from London in the United Kingdom with Money in the Bank from the O2 Arena on Saturday, July 1st. They will also hold a SmackDown episode from the same venue the night before. 

This will mark the first WWE special in London since May 2002 with that year’s Insurrextion event and just the second time that one of WWE’s ‘Big 5’ shows will be hosted outside of the US or Canada. The 2002 show was a PPV event that only aired in the UK. 

Roman Reigns to Miss MITB?

Tickets go on sale this week and fans have noticed that Reigns is not being advertised for the show on WWE’s website. He’s also not featured on the poster for the show either.

Kevin Owens, Drew McIntyre, Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Charlotte Flair, and Cody Rhodes are advertised for the show. It’s possible that Reigns will be added to the show later on. However, one would figure that WWE would want to advertise him when tickets go on sale to sell the most seats possible now. 

The last PLE event held in the UK by WWE was Clash at the Castle in Wales this past September, which saw him retain his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Drew McIntyre.

Reigns most recently retained the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Sami Zayn at Elimination chamber and is slated to take on Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 39.

Fans in Canada will be treated to a rare appearance by Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns next month.

Last year, Reigns signed a new deal with WWE, one that has seen him make fewer appearances on TV and even fewer matches on WWE’s weekly programming.

Reigns appearances at WWE live events have almost dried up entirely, but the Head of the Table will be at next month’s show in Toronto.

The Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns will compete on March 4, at The Coca-Cola Coliseum but his opponent is yet to be named.

Both local advertising and WWE’s website has Reigns confirmed for the show.

This will mark Reigns’ first house show match since September 24, 2022, when he beat AJ Styles at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Whoever Reigns faces in March, it will mark the Champion’s fourth untelevised match since signing his new contract with WWE last year.

Reigns will defend the Undisputed WWE Universal Title against Men’s 2023 Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 39 in April. 

WWE Toronto

Roman Reigns will unquestionably be the biggest name on the upcoming show in Toronto, but he isn’t the only Superstar confirmed for in-ring action.

WWE Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER will defend against Drew McIntyre, while WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair will put her title on the line against Sonya Deville.

Bray Wyatt will face his nemesis LA Knight in what is being promoted as a ‘Lights Out’ Street Fight.

It’s been years since Bray Wyatt last held World Championship gold in WWE, but the cryptic Superstar hasn’t finished with Roman Reigns.

At Summerslam 2020, Wyatt, as the Fiend, captured his second Universal Championship, but his post-match celebration was cut short by Reigns.

Reigns, who had spent months away due to Covid-19 precautions, won the title a week later at the Payback event, starting his current reign as Champion.

Responding to a tweet showing the names Reigns has defeated as Champion, Wyatt asked if fans remember how the Tribal Chief won the title.

While Reigns ended Wyatt’s second reign as Universal Champion, he did so by pinning Braun Strowman in a triple-threat match.

At this time, Wyatt is yet to have a rematch for the Universal Championship that he lost without being pinned or submitted.

This is hardly the first time Wyatt has brought this fact up, as he corrected Louis Dangoor when it was claimed that Reigns had defeated every former Universal Champion.

Future Plans

Wyatt is, according to an internal roster listing, the top babyface on SmackDown, but has been kept away from Reigns, the top heel of both the brand and the company as a whole.

Bray’s sole televised match since returning to WWE last October saw the former Universal Champion defeat LA Knight in the first Pitch Black match.

At WrestleMania 39, Reigns will defend his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Cody Rhodes, the winner of the 2023 Men’s Royal Rumble match.

As for Wyatt, he issued a WrestleMania challenge to the winner of last Saturday’s Brock Lesnar Vs. Bobby Lashley match, but given the DQ finish, many expect Lesnar and Lashley to face off one-on-one at WrestleMania.

Sami Zayn and Roman Reigns had their highly anticipated bout at this year’s WWE Elimination Chamber premium live event when “The Tribal Chief” made his latest defense as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion. 

The match opened with a long staredown before they looked around at the crowd. After tossing him to the floor, Zayn hit an outside dive. Reigns cut him off with a right hand. While the beatdown was going on, Reigns was talking trash about Zayn to Zayn’s wife. Zayn then made a comeback. Zayn with the superman punch then a big boot for two. Reigns cut off a DDT attempt with an uppercut.

Zayn avoided the spear and Reigns went through the barricade. Zayn hit the blue thunder bomb for 2 once in the ring. The referee was taken out by accident and Jimmy Uso came out to hit Zayn with superkicks. Reigns hit a spear after Zayn knocked Jimmy off the apron. After the second referee was knocked down, they did double superman punches. As Reigns was about to hit Zayn with a chair, Jey Uso showed up. Zayn accidentally speared Jey and Reigns hit Zayn with a chair. Reigns retained with a spear. 

Kevin Owens came out to make the save for Zayn in a post-match beatdown. Owens with a stunner to Reigns then one to Jimmy. Owens with a powerbomb to Jimmy through the announce table. Owens with a stunner to Paul Heyman. Zayn laid out Reigns with the big boot in the corner to end the show. 

After months of embracing him into The Bloodline, Zayn finally turned on The Bloodline at the Royal Rumble after Reigns retained the Undisputed WWE Universal Title over Kevin Owens. The Bloodline beat down Owens after the match. Reigns was going to hit him with a chair, only for Zayn to stop him. Reigns wanted Zayn to hit Owens with the chair and Zayn refused to do it. Zayn hit Reigns in the back. The Bloodline beat down Zayn, except for Jey Uso, who walked out.

Reigns will make his next defense as the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion against Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 39. 

An interesting trend among WWE’s viewers has been noticed this year.

The promotion’s TV audience are getting younger on average. The trend coincides with AEW’s audience getting older. Interestingly, until recently, AEW typically had a younger general audience than their competitors.

According to a recent study from Wrestlenomics, back in late 2021, prior to the numerous scandals that came out about Vince McMahon in 2022, AEW Rampage had the youngest viewing audience. The average age was 47. As 2022 wore on, though, the average age moved up to 53 which was also the norm for WWE RAW at the time.

Since Survivor Series last year, WWE SmackDown’s average audience age has started to lower from the mid-50s. The PLE was headlined by The Bloodline’s War Games victory over The Brawling Brutes, Drew McIntyre, and Kevin Owens. A key plotline in the match was Sami Zayn’s standing within The Bloodline.

Sami Zayn A Ratings Mover For WWE

In the 900+ days since he won the Universal Championship at Payback 2020, Roman Reigns finally took the, well, reigns of the company. His ‘Tribal Chief’ heel persona and heated feuds with the likes of Jey Uso, Edge, Brock Lesnar, and Drew McIntyre over the years have made him the top star he was long expected to become.

In Sami Zayn, it appears ‘The Head of the Table’ has found an unexpected box office draw to lock horns with. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s Dave Meltzer, Zayn’s booking is up in the air right now due to his proven drawing power in recent months.

The Bloodline’s angle with Sami Zayn has been at the forefront of WWE’s programming for some time now. It’s safe to say the shifts in audience numbers and age range are thanks predominantly to those involved in the storyline.

The long term plan for this year’s WrestleMania is seemingly still Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. That being said, it’s clear that the WWE have stumbled across another surprise potential top star in Sami Zayn as well as possibly Jey Uso, whose character work in The Bloodline has been met with universal acclaim.

Do you think Sami Zayn will continue to be a ratings mover for WWE past his Elimination Chamber showdown with Roman Reigns?