WWE Superstar Shake-Up: 5 Reasons why Roman Reigns assaulted Vince McMahon 

So the world had tuned in to watch Vince McMahon announce his big signing. To the dismay of all, it was none other than Elias. As exciting a performer as Elias is, he's certainly not the big signing that we had all assumed he would be. In fact, a former colleague had pinged me to ask- 'Is CM Punk coming back?'

But then, a genuine surprise did take place as SmackDown Live (read results here) concluded. Not only did Roman Reigns come to brand blue, he assaulted the boss as well. Why did The Big Dog raise his hands on his employer?

Let me try and answer the question with 5 reasons. Be sure to let me know your thoughts and views in the comments section.

Here's my take on the whole situation.

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#5 Readymade storyline for SmackDown Live

Roman Reigns vs. The Authority again? I'm guessing that you want to switch your television off and fling it against a wall in exasperation. Like it or not, it is a readymade storyline waiting to happen, and is a surefire way to get eyeballs on SmackDown Live before the FOX deal happens.

But this is a storyline that has been attempted and executed successfully since the 90s, when Stone Cold Steve Austin took on the tyranny of Vince Mcmahon on a weekly basis and sent television ratings through the roof. It was also attempted between Becky Lynch and Stephanie McMahon more recently, and we saw the amazing payoff at WrestleMania 35.

One advantage of this storyline is that it keeps Roman Reigns away from the WWE Championship picture and from Kofi Kingston, who's enjoying quite the run at the moment. So, despite your misgivings, this is not really a bad development according to me.

#4 Easiest way to not get booed by fans

There's always a risk with Roman Reigns and Vince McMahon is aware of this fact. The issue with Reigns is that because he's been shoved down our throats so much, the WWE Universe does not take kindly to him. How else do you explain a man returning from cancer and still getting booed?

The easiest way to ensure that he is a babyface in the brand is to have him take the boss out. There is nobody in the history of the business who can garner the kind of heat that McMahon can. Almost anyone who works with him is guaranteed to get over as a beloved babyface.

It did not help matters that the big reveal that was promised to us turned out to be Elias, and not a much bigger name. This had to be a deliberate move to get the crowd to boo Reigns.

#3 Plug for next week's show

One must remember that WWE is the longest running sports-themed soap opera in history. So, the key is to not finish the storyline at the end of the episode but to hook the audience in with a compelling plot that induces them to tune in again the following week.

And this is probably why SmackDown Live ended with the boss laying flat on the mat, with The Big Dog standing tall and proud, looking down at the carnage he'd cased. Which is why he also put the hurt on Elias, setting a storyline into motion.

There will obviously be consequences for Roman Reigns' actions and fans will tune in the following week to see just what Vince McMahon will do to punish The Big Dog. SmackDown Live may be his yard now, but it's owned by McMahon.

Are you excited about the show next week, reader?

#2 Daniel Bryan, SmackDown's top heel, is injured

Why would a man in his advanced years like Vince McMahon take a bump like he did, you ask? To begin with, he is Vince McMahon and if you don't know it by now, he does things that others usually would not. But more importantly, I believe that there was no other suitable heel to take the Superman Punch.

I mean you could have ideally had Daniel Bryan in this situation, but Bryan is currently out, recovering from an injury. There are few individuals in the business that have reinvented themselves as Bryan has, going from a lovable babyface to an absolutely despised heel. It is no surprise at all, that he is hated with nearly as much passion that he was loved with.

But for Bryan, there is no heel on SmackDown at McMahon's level. Which is why he decided to do the spot!

#1 To make up for an underwhelming Superstar Shake-Up

I mean if you honestly look at it, the Superstar Shake-Up was quite a dud compared to other years. The fact is that way too many WWE superstars had been called up right before WrestleMania 35.

The only real NXT call-up that we saw during SmackDown Live was Kairi Sane. Even trades like Elias, Finn Balor and Bayley did not really get the WWE Universe excited.

And this is why I reckon Vince McMahon wanted the show to end on a very positive note. To erase the fact that we did not get to see The Undisputed ERA or The Velveteen Dream as part of the call-ups this time around on SmackDown. To forget the fact that Elias was his big announcement for SmackDown.

To be honest, I am intrigued with regards to what's next in this particular storyline. Consider me sold.