Welcome to another edition of Triple Threat from Smark Out Moment, where three of us get together to discuss three questions based on one big topic going down in the week of professional wrestling.
This week, Dallas Allsopp, Callum Wiggins and Matt Morgan discuss Roman Reigns following WrestleMania 38.
Following his win at WrestleMania 38 over Brock Lesnar to become the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, has Roman Reigns become a victim of his own booking?
Question 1: Have WWE booked themselves into a corner by having Roman Reigns retain his WWE Universal Championship for so long?
ALLSOPP: I’ll preface this by saying that Roman Reigns has gone from one of my most loathed wrestlers in WWE, to one of the greatest in recent memory. The Tribal Chief is amazing, but his sheer dominance has come at the expense of other wrestlers. How so? The very real fact that almost all of his WWE Universal Championship defences have felt like mere formalities. If Brock Lesnar cannot get the job done, then who actually will?
WIGGINS: Theoretically there is nothing wrong with someone holding a World Championship for several years, especially if they are a top performer like Roman Reigns. The issue emerges when you fail to present any potential challengers as legitimate threats to the title.
Kevin Owens, Cesaro, Jey Uso, Finn Balor - many have had great matches with Reigns while never making me feel that they could actually win the title, and I haven't felt that way about one of his title defenses since his match with Brock Lesnar at Crown Jewel.
MORGAN: I don’t think the WWE has booked themselves into a corner by having Roman Reigns as the WWE Universal Champion for so long. A long title reign is actually kind of a fresh change of pace considering how short other title reigns are. Moreover, I feel like whoever will get the chance to beat Reigns will become a mega star considering they are ending such an important, historic reign.
Question 2: Does The Bloodline need a shot in the arm by recruiting a new family member - either Naomi or Solo Sikoa?
WIGGINS: Whilst I would be for either Solo Sikoa or Naomi joining The Bloodline and seeing what possibilities that creates, realistically I don't see either move giving them a sustainable boost. Naomi potentially could, as it would be fresh for her to become a heel after so long as a babyface and be positioned as a top name in the women's division, whereas Sikoa would just be another Uso.
And, fundamentally, The Bloodline is already all over WWE and utterly dominant, so in a kayfabe sense, they don't really need another member.
MORGAN: I think it would be fine if there was a new member of The Bloodline, like Naomi or Solo Sikoa. But I agree more with what Callum had stated. Right now, The Bloodline is so dominant and on a roll that I don’t think it’s necessary for a new member to join the group.
ALLSOPP: I would love to see Naomi join The Bloodline in order to allow them to take every feasible title in WWE for themselves. Hell, even have Tamina join so they can have the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship too! I’d love to see this happen, especially with the current narrative that Roman Reigns wants all the gold, but I feel it makes way too much sense to actually come off.
Question 3: Who should finally dethrone Roman Reigns?
MORGAN: Once again, I’m going to agree with Callum. Cody Rhodes has some incredible momentum behind him since his return at WrestleMania 38. At this point, he’s one of the bigger stars that hasn’t lost yet to Roman Reigns. By next year’s WrestleMania, I see Rhodes either competing for the WWE Universal Championship and / or winning the title.
ALLSOPP: As arguably the greatest wrestler to emerge from NXT, even if his own impact on the fledgling developmental brand was minute, I feel Roman Reigns should pass the torch onto an NXT star at WrestleMania 39. Have the NXT star win the Royal Rumble and spend the subsequent few months getting under the skin of The Tribal Chief, taking out The Bloodline systematically in the process. This would lead to the coronation of the next star to carry the company, allowing Reigns to take a much needed break from the company. Who do I have in mind for this? It can only be Bron Breakker.
WIGGINS: It seems like an obvious pick, but Cody Rhodes. Whilst people will naturally clamour for The Rock at next year's WrestleMania, I don't know what that achieves by having another part-timer win the World Championship. Rhodes is freshly back in WWE and now has a superstar presentation, and is gearing the whole reason for his return around winning the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.
Whether it comes at SummerSlam or towards the end of the year, I think Rhodes is the standout choice to dethrone Roman Reigns, and should be World Champion by the end of 2022.
Those are our thoughts on the issue, but where do you stand?
Let us know your answers to these questions in the comments below!
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