Theory now has the “Austin” back in his name as an on-screen WWE character.
With Triple H now at the helm of WWE creative, a lot of changes have been made to the on-screen product. One being the old Vince McMahon rule of having one name, and stars not being able to use their names from the indies, nixed.
Upon joining the main roster in 2021, Theory debuted under the name Austin Theory that he used in NXT. However, several months later, the “Austin” was dropped from his name, and he simply was known as “Theory.”
With Triple H now nixing the one name rule, the ex-United States Champion now has the “Austin” back in his name. Speaking to SHAK Wrestling, Mr. Money In The Bank offered his thoughts on the new name change.
“I love Theory. To me, Austin was always the throw-on, my first name. Theory is what I created in the backyard as a kid. I love it. Theory. It’s all we need.”
(via WWE)
Since joining the main roster, Theory has become one of the most promising young stars WWE has to offer. He already has a United States Title reign under his belt, and is currently the Money In The Bank briefcase holder.
In fact, he’s often received many comparisons to the likes of John Cena, someone the former NXT star has admittedly molded his career after. He even believes the pair will share the ring together at WrestleMania 39 next year.
Austin Theory is “”pretty confident” he’ll get to face off against John Cena at WrestleMania 39 next year.
Theory was recently interviewed by CBS Sports, where he discussed the comparisons he’s received to Cena in recent years.
The former United States Champion and current Money In The Bank briefcase holder admitted to modeling his career after the 16-time World Champion.
“It’s so weird to meet somebody and pretty much have to explain to them, ‘I modeled my whole life after you.’ It’s one of those things as a kid getting bullied, my dad not being in my life a lot. Cena, I could watch him and just escape.
“It was the connection to his personality,” Theory said. “And that’s something I learned from him. He told me, ‘Don’t ever think people go out there and want people to connect to their performance.
“Nobody will connect to your performance unless they connect to your personality.’ I started thinking, even with that process through NXT to finally being drafted to Raw officially, it was a time to figure stuff out. How can I connect to them with my personality?
“This is a world in WWE where everybody can kill it in the ring. Everyone can go hard in the ring. So what’s going to set you aside from killing it in the ring? I learned that from him.”
With the comparisons between Cena and Theory running so rampant, there have been rumors about a potential match between the pair. Things really seemed likely for this past SummerSlam, however, that didn’t pan out.
Now, many speculate that the match could take place at “The Showcase Of The Immortals,” WrestleMania 39. Next year’s WrestleMania goes down from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. It will be a special two-night event on both April 1 and April 2.
“To have that moment with him, the person that — I had to put in my own work — but somebody that got me to the dance mentally, it takes the words out of my mouth to think of that actually happening,” Theory said.
Seth Rollins and Riddle could not wait until this week’s RAW went on the air to trade punches.
The two superstars brawled in the parking lot until WWE security broke it up. WWE RAW opened with a backstage brawl between Riddle and Rollins last week.
Rollins was originally scheduled to battle Riddle at WWE Summerslam but the match was canceled due to injury. Seth brutally attacked Riddle on the RAW before the premium live event and Riddle was not cleared to compete. He still made an appearance at SummerSlam but Rollins attacked him once again.
The two will finally square off this Saturday night at WWE Clash at the Castle. The premium live event will take place at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. It is WWE’s first stadium show in the United Kingdom in over thirty years.
After Seth and Riddle brawled in the parking lot, the Face-to-Face scheduled for tonight was changed to an interview in separate rooms.
Corey Graves moderated the interview and the rivalry got even more personal. Riddle claimed that Becky Lynch was “The Man” in the Rollins household and Seth reminded Riddle that he doesn’t have a wife anymore as they are getting divorced.
Corey referred to Riddle as “Matt” during the interview and his full name was displayed in a graphic. WWE also referred to him as “Matt Riddle” in the tweet below.
Theory is also rumored to be getting his full name back soon. Former WWE CEO Vince McMahon asked the 25-year-old to remove the “Austin” from his name after following the worst Stunner of all-time from Stone Cold at WrestleMania 38.
Earlier this year, WWE implemented a rule that resulted in several Superstars having their names changed.
The rule was that Superstars would no longer be allowed to use any part of their real name on WWE TV, which could be later used outside of the company if they left or were released.
This led to several Superstars who used their real names being changed including WALTER (Walter Hahn) to Gunther, Tommaso Ciampa (Tommaso Whitney) to just Ciampa and Pete Dunne (Peter England) to Butch.
Not Just a Theory
One Superstar who had their name changed was Austin Theory, whose name was shortened to just Theory.
Theory’s real name is Austin White, and on WWE TV, it was explained that he wanted nothing to do with the ‘Austin’ name.
This came shortly after WWE WrestleMania 38, where both Theory and his mentor Mr. McMahon received stunners by ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin.
Now, Theory may be getting his first name back, as CageSideSeats reports that Theory was advertised under his full name for this weekend’s live events.
On Instagram, Theory’s handle also uses his full moniker and can be followed at ‘austin_theory.’
Doing Away with the Rule
It’s unclear if Theory will receive his first name back or not, but there have been changes made.
During the taping for the episode of SmackDown that’ll air this Friday, Butch competed against Ludwig Kaiser, but worked in his Pete Dunne-era ‘Bruiserweight’ attire.
Recently, Angel teased bringing back the Angel Garza name, while his tag-team partner Humberto is rumored to be returning to being Humberto Carrillo.
Well, according to a report from Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Theory shouldn’t have much to worry about. Triple H is reportedly a big proponent of the current Money In The Bank briefcase holder.
Theory is said to still be a big part of WWE’s plans, despite McMahon having since departed the company. His look, size, and athleticism have been praised. At this point it’s all about getting him the ring work.
Vince McMahon was a big fan of Theory, so much so that he even involved himself in his storylines. Theory was able to capture the Money In The Bank briefcase at the similarly named pay-per-view (PPV) earlier this year as a last-second entrant after dropping the United States Title earlier that night.
He teased cashing in at SummerSlam during the Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns Last Man Standing match, but was prevented.
(Photo: WWE)
Since, he enjoyed a brief feud with Dolph Ziggler on Monday Night RAW, and on this week’s episode, seemingly sparked the beginning of a new feud with the returning Johnny Gargano.
Still holding the briefcase, it will be interesting to see how much longer it takes for WWE to decide to pull the trigger on Thoery finally cashing in.
Posted August 25th, 2022 in WWE, News. Tagged: Theory.
In late-2021, Austin Theory, later just Theory, became the on-screen protege of Vince McMahon, in a series of rare TV appearances by WWE’s then-Chairman.
Theory’s alignment with McMahon would prove to be greatly beneficial for the young Superstar, who would be placed in the WWE Championship picture in February, and have a large role at WrestleMania 38.
Theory was also a last-minute entry into the Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder match, which he would win, and it was alluded to on commentary that this was McMahon’s choice.
WWE Without McMahon
Theory appeared on-screen with Mr. McMahon for months, but the ex-Chairman won’t be seen anywhere in WWE anymore.
Last month, McMahon confirmed his retirement from WWE due to the ongoing investigation into alleged misconduct with female employees.
“Change can always scare people because it’s different and there’s not that comfort level of what you’re used to, but with change, and with somebody like Stephanie, Nick Khan, Triple H, and Bruce Prichard, there is so much creativity there that we haven’t seen. It’s time to have something fresher and newer. It’s a bunch of different minds now and I feel there is no better group of people to takeover.”
“It’s time to have something fresher and newer.”
Theory on the post-Vince McMahon era of WWE.
Lessons Learned
When asked, Theory said that the best lesson learned by McMahon was actually something said on an episode of Raw.
“The best thing I learned from Mr. McMahon, as funny as it was that we said it on TV, the mindset that he had and expect the unexpected. When he said that, it was like, ‘Wow, this is pretty much how it works.’ When we talk about my career, expect the unexpected. I wouldn’t have expected all of that to happen. With Mr. McMahon retiring, I think we all felt like we would never have seen that day.”
Since McMahon’s retirement, Theory has failed in his quest to regain the United States Championship and did not succeed in his cash-in attempt at Summerslam 2022.
At Money in the Bank 2022, Theory captured the Men’s briefcase, earning a guaranteed championship opportunity at a time of his choosing.
Theory has certainly been on the receiving end of a major push in recent months, but many have questioned this decision.
Right now, the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship is firmly in the grasp of Roman Reigns, and many doubt how the cocky young Superstar could be a threat to “The Tribal Chief.”
Booker T’s Comments
Speaking on his Hall of Fame podcast, Booker T discussed Theory’s win last Saturday night, and said that dethroning Roman Reigns makes sense for the former United States Champion.
“It’s not losing, but it’s how you lose. He could beat Roman, he could beat anybody on the card if the situation is right. If a person is unconscious when I cash in, who loses? If you book it properly, Theory is not going to be one of the guys that got the briefcase and didn’t cash it in and win it. I don’t see that happening.”
He continued, “This kid has got way too much upside for something like that to happen. That’s just me and what I would be thinking if I had Theory in this position.”
“He could beat anybody on the card if the situation is right.”
Booker T on Theory possibly cashing in on Roman Reigns.
Theory could (in theory) be the next Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, but that’s not the only piece of gold on his mind.
It has been confirmed that at Summerslam, Theory will take on new United States Champion Bobby Lashley for the title.
Theory lost the U.S. Title to Lashley at Money in the Bank prior to winning the Men’s Ladder match, making him the first Superstar to lose a title and win the coveted briefcase on the same night.
The Next Face of WWE
On the topic of Who is the next Face of WWE?, we recently wrote this feature looking at 5 WWE Superstars that we feel have the potential to carry the company after Roman Reigns:
Mr. Money In The Bank Theory has revealed who he will be facing at the SummerSlam event. Though his opponent is not who fans were expecting it to be.
After John Cena’s return was announced for the June 27 episode of Raw, it was reported that WWE was planning a match between him and the then US champion for the upcoming PPV event.
WWE even teased this bout in a backstage segment when the Cenation Leader returned to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his main roster debut last month.
The Money In The Bank event saw Theory dropping the US title to Bobby Lashley. He went on to win the Men’s Money In The Bank ladder match later in the night.
No John Cena For SummerSlam?
The young star then made an appearance on the July 4th Raw and cut a promo. He revealed that he will be getting a rematch against The All Mighty for the Championship at SummerSlam.
John Cena had claimed during his return promo that he didn’t know when he will be wrestling next. This announcement has now put a question mark over his status for SummerSlam on July 30.
Theory on the other hand has gotten a replacement in form of Lashley. We will have to see if he is able to defeat the heavyweight star this time around.
Theory can now call himself Mr. Money in the Bank as he won this year’s men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match.
He beat Seth Rollins, Drew McIntyre, Sheamus, Omos, Sami Zayn, Riddle, and Madcap Moss at Saturday’s WWE Money in the Bank event from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Theory was added to the match by Adam Pearce.
The match opened with Omos taking out everyone. Everyone teamed up with Omos with ladders. Moss with a powerbomb to Zayn on a ladder. Riddle did a dive off the top of a ladder to take out everyone. Omos was powerbombed through the announce table. There was a spot where Sheamus had Drew pinned under the ladder, but McIntyre picked up the ladder and Sheamus fell off. Riddle with an RKO to Rollins off the top of the ladder.
Theory now has a contract to challenge any champion in WWE at any time over the next year.
Watch what Theory had to say backstage at Money in the Bank after his big win:
Bobby Lashley was the latest star to challenge United States Champion Theory for the title at the WWE Money in the Bank event from Las Vegas, Nevada.
The match was a typical big man vs. small guy match with Theory using his quickness and Lashley using his power. Theory did a dive off the apron, but Lashley caught him and rammed him into the ring post. They did some near falls down the stretch. The finish saw Lashley reverse Theory’s finisher and put him in the hurt lock.
WWE set up this bout on the June 20th episode of Monday Night Raw after Lashley won a gauntlet match, eventually pinning Theory to earn the title match. This came after Lashley interrupted a Theory posedown by squirting oil on Theory so Theory got the gauntlet match booked.
Lashley had to beat three opponents to get the title match. Lashley beat Chad Gable and Otis in separate matches, but the two attacked Lashley after Otis was beaten. Theory came out as the third and final entrant, butlost after Lashley countered the ATL with a small package.
On the April 18th edition of Raw, Theory beat Finn Balor to win the US Championship.
Fans got to see a Money in the Bank qualifying match between Seth Rollins and AJ Styles. Riddle took on Ciampa, while Veer Mahaan went one-on-one with Rey Mysterio. Another MITB qualifier involving Alexa Bliss and Liv Morgan vs. Nikki A.S.H. and Doudrop also took place.
The June 13 episode of WWE Raw ended with a pose-down between Bobby Lashley and WWE United States Champion Theory.
Once Cameras Stopped Rolling
At the end of Raw, Theory blindsided Lashley by spraying baby oil in his eyes and dropkicking him out of the ring to close the show.
Once Raw went off the air, the two had a match. Bobby Lashley emerged victorious but the WWE United States Championship did not change hands.
It appears Lashley is set on challenging Theory for the United States gold. With that said, the bigger picture for Theory is a potential showdown with John Cena at SummerSlam.
It’s been reported that WWE has been eyeing a match between the two for July 30 inside Nissan Stadium. Theory and Cena have hinted at making the match happen.
Cena is scheduled to return to WWE on the June 27 episode of Monday Night Raw.
Theory has addressed the speculated potential match with John Cena that has been making the rounds.
Since his rise in WWE, Theory has received a lot of comparisons to Cena, which Cena himself has subtly commented on in recent weeks. The comparisons have led to speculation that Theory and Cena could meet inside the ring soon.
Of course, nothing has been made official in that regard just yet, but it’s a fun match that fans have been throwing around online. In fact, Theory recently addressed this during a recent interview on Ryan Satin’s “Out of Character” podcast.
“I wanted him [Vince McMahon] to know that this was never a second choice for me. This was always the only thing. Nothing against college or stuff like that, you can do that at anytime.
“For me, I never had a plan B. It was this or nothing. I was so heavy believing in myself at a very young age that, when these guys are at parties in high school, I’m in the gym and I’m training.
“I finish a job in a warehouse, working 8pm to 8am, I’m tired as hell, but I have to get up and workout because if I don’t, I’m gonna fall off. I’m gonna keep pushing until the next day. It’s that mentality and those little things. Everything that happens in life, happens for a reason. The build up of all these huge moments that have been happening.
“Could this be the big build-up to get me ready for someone like John Cena? I’m gonna be honest, there are a lot of huge attractions, but I don’t think it gets any bigger than John Cena. Whether you’re a fan or not, you can’t deny his work ethic and what he’s done for WWE.
“To me, being in that position where I could possibly be the face, just thinking of how much work there is, it’s insane. My hats off to that. It takes a hell of a human, a man, an anomaly, somebody who can pull that off. It’s insane.
“I feel like my brain will go crazy if I try to think of all this stuff to get there. If I just enjoy every moment and give it my best, it should be a good ride. I’m not saying it’s going to be easy, but I definitely keep my head on straight and keep moving forward.”
WWE seems to be very high on Theory, so a clash with Cena certainly seems like it’s within the realm of possibilities. Theory has been paired up with Vince McMahon on television, which is a very good sign.
He was also featured in a high-profile match at this year’s WrestleMania 38 event with Pat McAfee, which included a segment with WWE Hall Of Famer Stone Cold Steve Austin, whom he took a stunner from.
Currently, Theory reigns as the United States Champion, a title Cena helped legitimize during his rise to superstardom, and is in the midst of a feud with former WWE Champion Bobby Lashley on Monday Night RAW.
WWE Chairman Vince McMahon has had talks with one superstar on potentially becoming the face of the company.
It’s no secret that Roman Reigns is the top star in WWE. With that said, the “Tribal Chief” isn’t getting any younger. Reigns recently turned 37 years old and he inked a new deal with the company for fewer dates.
Next is Cody Rhodes, who has brought some new life into the Monday Night Raw brand but he’s currently sidelined due to an injury. Upon his return, he’ll also be 37 years old.
WWE has to get younger at some point and one current champion may spearhead that movement.
Is Theory The Next Face of WWE?
(via WWE)
At the age of 24 and with momentum behind him, Theory looks poised to be a top star in the near future. He’s the current WWE United States Champion.
On TV, Vince McMahon has called him the new “Chosen One” but it isn’t just for show. Reports have suggested that Vince sees Theory as the next John Cena.
During an appearance on Ryan Satin’s Out of Character podcast, Theory revealed he’s had conversations with Vince about being the next face of WWE.
“Yeah, because I wanted him to know that this was never a second choice for me. This was always the only thing. Nothing against college or stuff like that, you can do that at any time. For me, I never had a plan B. It was this or nothing.
“I was so heavy believing in myself at a very young age that, when these guys are at parties in high school, I’m in the gym and I’m training. I finish a job in a warehouse, working 8 pm to 8 am, I’m tired as hell, but I have to get up and workout because if I don’t, I’m gonna fall off. I’m gonna keep pushing until the next day.
“It’s that mentality and those little things. Everything that happens in life, happens for a reason. The build-up of all these huge moments that have been happening. Could this be the big build-up to get me ready for someone like John Cena?
“I’m gonna be honest, there are a lot of huge attractions, but I don’t think it gets any bigger than John Cena. Whether you’re a fan or not, you can’t deny his work ethic and what he’s done for WWE.
“To me, being in that position where I could possibly be the face, just thinking of how much work there is, it’s insane. My hats off to that. It takes a hell of a human, a man, an anomaly, somebody who can pull that off. It’s insane.
“I feel like my brain will go crazy if I try to think of all this stuff to get there. If I just enjoy every moment and give it my best, it should be a good ride.
“I’m not saying it’s going to be easy, but I definitely keep my head on straight and keep moving forward.”
Both Theory and John Cena have hinted at facing off at SummerSlam on July 30. It’s been reported by Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer that this is indeed WWE’s plan in an effort to elevate Theory.
That may not be Cena’s only WWE appearance this summer.
John Cena vs. Theory at SummerSlam?
Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter is reporting that as expected, WWE is planning to have John Cena wrestle current United States Champion Theory at SummerSlam.
The report notes that WWE feels such a match would elevate Theory to the level Vince McMahon wants him to be at. Both in storyline and in real life, Vince views Theory as the new “chosen one.”
Both Cena and Theory have been teasing a match. The “Doctor of Thuganomics” recently said his favorite WWE superstar is Theory during a fan Q&A on WWE’s TikTok page. He also said Theory is in most need of an Attitude Adjustment.
WWE SummerSlam will be held inside Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee on July 30.
Theory put his WWE United States Title on the line in a match against Mustafa Ali at the Hell In A Cell event in Allstate Arena in Chicago, IL.
The bout was the co-main event of the evening. Theory heeled it up early. Ali tripped him in the corner, but was tossed off the top rope to the floor. Ali planted him with a DDT and went to the top rope, but missed his fisher and Theory hit his for the win.
The match was announced this past Monday night on Raw after Ali faced Tommaso Ciampa where Ali could earn a future United States title shot if he won. Ali ended up winning by disqualification when Theory attacked him. Post-match, Theory said they should just have their title match on this show and Theory continued the attack during the break. Ali chose to fight on despite being hurt. Theory retained after hitting the ATL on Ali.
After that match, Adam Pearce made his way out to tell Theory that even though Vince McMahon was impressed with Theory’s tactics, McMahon has booked a rematch for Hell in a Cell.
This feud started after Ali had returned to WWE TV last month. Ali had been away from WWE TV for several months and even had publicly requested to be released from his WWE contract in January.
A WWE superstar on the Monday Night Raw brand has responded to John Cena teasing a match against him.
Cena is no longer on the year-after-year grind in WWE. He has longed paid his dues and has become a hot ticket in Hollywood.
With that said, the “Doctor of Thuganomics” still makes room for WWE whenever he can.
Theory Fires Back At John Cena
During a recent TikTok fan Q&A, John Cena said his favorite current WWE superstar is Theory. He also said the WWE United States Champion is the most in need of an Attitude Adjustment.
Both times, Cena pointed to his eyes and back at the camera in a clear sign that he’s targeting Theory.
Vince McMahon’s new “chosen one” took to his Twitter account to respond to Cena’s hint.
For weeks, Theory has been trying to goad John Cena into facing him. He even teased putting the U.S. gold on the line against Cena at SummerSlam this July.
Theory has a title defense scheduled for Hell in a Cell on June 5. He will be taking on Mustafa Ali inside the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois.
During the video, WWE’s golden goose was asked who his favorite WWE superstar is. His answer was Theory, and Cena pointed toward his eyes and the camera as if to say he has the WWE United States Champion on his radar.
Cena was then asked which WWE superstar is in need of an Attitude Adjustment. Again, his answer was Theory and he made the same gesture.
Theory has been attempting to egg Cena on in recent weeks. He claims to be a far superior athlete than Cena and says he’s accomplished what Cena couldn’t, and that’s being the youngest U.S. champion in WWE.
WWE United States Champion Theory is confident he’ll one-day face-off with John Cena after having a back-and-forth over social media earlier this year.
After winning the U.S. Title in April 2022, Theory quickly declared himself a better champion than John Cena, a five-time holder of the star-spangled strap.
Cena responded by issuing Theory with a warning that the young Superstar will have to apologize years from now if what he achieves doesn’t live up to his potential.
The WWE United States Champion has even gone so far as to tease a match with Cena at this year’s Summerslam.
While speaking with The New York Post, Theory was asked about a match with the 16-time WWE World Champion and explained what it would mean to him.
“When that moment happens and I’m in the ring with John Cena, man, I don’t know what to say. I don’t know what I’m gonna say. I don’t know. I have no idea just because like you’re saying and the way you spoke about it, I clearly know what it was like for me growing up watching John, just the story there and how much we’d actually have for a story. Man, that’s just so crazy to me. I see it happening for sure.”
No matches have been confirmed by WWE for this year’s Summerslam, which will take place on July 30, at the Nissan Stadium, in Nashville.
Theory was given instructions by WWE Hall of Famer Stone Cold Steve Austin before taking one of the best Stunners we’ve ever seen.
On night two of WrestleMania 38, Theory went one-on-one with Pat McAfee. While Theory ended up falling short, he and Vince McMahon got a measure of revenge with Vince ultimately pinning the SmackDown color commentator.
While Theory and Vince thought they had the last laugh, Stone Cold marched down the ring and gave them both Stunners.
Instructions From Texas Rattlesnake
Theory spoke to Corey Graves on the WWE After the Bell podcast. During his appearance, the reigning WWE United States Champion detailed the instructions given to him by Stone Cold (h/t 411Mania.com).
“I remember him telling me when I was standing in the corner and he was arguing with Mr. McMahon. He’s like, ‘I’ll give you this look, and when I give you this look, start throwing. Come at me and start throwing some punches.’
“I remember standing in there, and I could feel my heart ready to go because I just knew what was about to happen. As soon as he looked at me, I was like oh hell yeah. It was so fun. It’s so cool just enjoying those moments.
“You’re standing there, and you’re in the ring with Mr. McMahon and Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania. I’m just like ‘wow.’ It’s speechless sometimes. I don’t even have words for that.”
Former WWE NXT Superstar Johnny Gargano has said that The Way was meant to be much more serious than what fans saw.
The Way, comprising of Gargano, Candice LeRae, Indi Hartwell, and Theory was a dominant force in NXT, capturing both the North American and NXT Women’s Championships.
Dexter Lumis joined the stable in late 2021 after marrying Hartwell in the premiere episode of WWE NXT 2.0.
Speaking to The Bob Culture Podcast on YouTube, Gargano said that factors outside of WWE made the group become much more fun than first planned.
“That was never going to be the way that character was supposed to be. It was going to be a lot more serious, but I just kind of felt like with everything going on with the pandemic and with COVID and things like that, I felt like NXT just needed a little bit of levity, a little bit of funniness, silliness, goofiness, and I was happy that I was able to provide that.”
The Way disbanded in late 2021 following Gargano’s departure from WWE.
Lumis was released from WWE earlier this year, ending his on-screen relationship to Hartwell, with the explanation on TV being that Lumis left her.
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.
It’s no secret that WWE is high on Theory. The 24-year-old has been seen on WWE TV as Vince McMahon’s new “chosen one.”
He is the current WWE United States Champion and after he defeated Finn Balor for the gold, he was surrounded by a group of fellow heels in celebration.
Theory recently tried ruffling the feathers of Cena, saying he’s a better U.S. Champion than the “Doctor of Thuganomics” ever was.
Cena responded by saying that while Theory has talent, he better be able to back up his words.
Everyone understands that you have far more talent, strength, and gifts than I ever had. Don’t apologize for that. Ever. An apology should come 20 years from now if you fail to provide the EFFORT needed to turn your potential into your legacy. I hope that day never comes. ? https://t.co/3apKiTwgDw
During an appearance on WWE’s The Bump, Theory said he’s already reached heights that John Cena couldn’t.
“Yeah, I think the pressure is definitely applied now. It’s always been there, though for myself since I was 12 years old and I knew I wanted to be in WWE.
“I did everything that I could to get there and that’s why I’m here at such a young age. John Cena was always an inspiration but I think that right there just kinda hammered the nail down.
“It’s like the pressure’s on, and I get where he’s coming from but at the end of the day, I’m doing achievements that John Cena hasn’t. I’m the youngest United States Champion in WWE history.”
Theory went on to say that while he’s flattered by the Cena comparisons, he wants to surpass what the “Babe Ruth of WWE” accomplished.
“I have so much respect for John Cena and I like the comparisons, I appreciate them but I’m in my own lane. I’m gonna do things that John Cena’s never done.”
Bryan Alvarez of F4WOnline took to Wrestling Observer Live to report that Vince McMahon sees Theory as the next John Cena. A match between the two wouldn’t exactly come as a shock and Theory has even hinted at the showdown taking place at SummerSlam.
Cody Rhodes will be getting his first championship opportunity since returning to WWE.
While Cody’s ultimate goal is capturing the WWE Championship, going after the U.S. gold along the way doesn’t sound so bad.
That’s exactly what’s happening as WWE has announced “The American Nightmare” will challenge Theory for the title on tonight’s (May 9) episode of Raw.
U.S. Title Also Has Meaning To Cody Rhodes
While Cody’s first title shot in his return to WWE isn’t for the world championship, it still holds significance to his family.
Dusty Rhodes is a former NWA United States Champion, which falls under the same lineage as the WWE United States Championship. Cody’s older brother, Dustin, is a two-time WCW United States Champion.
Cody Rhodes has never held the U.S. hardware in WWE. He’ll have a chance to add it to his mantle tonight and add another piece to the puzzle on the road to the WWE Championship.
Taking to his Twitter account, Cody reacted to the news:
“Time to win the #USTitle – in Hartford – on @USA_Network. TONIGHT! #DoTheWork #DidTheWork @WWE.”
Rhodes is fresh off a pinfall victory over Seth Rollins at WrestleMania Backlash. He grabbed a handful of tights to get the win only after Seth attempted the nefarious tactic himself.
Theory is teasing a SummerSlam showdown with John Cena.
It’s no secret that WWE is pushing Theory as the next big thing. Theory is aligned with Vince McMahon on TV and has been labeled as the WWE Chairman’s new “Chosen One.” Some reports have even claimed that WWE is trying to make Theory the next John Cena.
Theory vs. John Cena At SummerSlam?
Theory recently took to Instagram Stories to drop a big tease regarding a potential match with Cena (h/t The Brass Ring).
Theory is the reigning United States Champion. He captured the gold on the April 18 episode of Raw. He pinned Finn Balor to win his first singles championship in WWE.
WWE seemingly dropped its own hint of a possible collision between Theory and Cena. During the April 25 episode of Raw, Mustafa Ali returned and said he was hoping Theory would have an open challenge for the United States Championship.
During John Cena’s runs with the United States gold back in 2015, he held open challenges with the title on the line. If Theory eventually does the same, then it would be yet another hint.
Theory stoked the flames of a potential rivalry, taking to social media to claim he’s a better U.S. champ than Cena was. Cena responded, warning Theory to not get too big for his britches.
