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On the latest edition of SmackDown, Roman Reigns and his Special Counsel, Paul Heyman, were addressing fans regarding the state of the Universal Championship.
Heyman ran down the list of opponents Reigns had crushed in the ring. As soon as 'The Tribal Chief' took the mic, Edge's iconic theme song played to his amazement.
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The Ultimate Opportunist unleashed a vicious assault on the Universal Champion that ended with a spine-rattling Spear. After SmackDown went off the air, the Hall of Famer demanded a title opportunity from Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville, who granted him his wish.
Roman Reigns will officially defend his Universal Championship against Edge at Money in the Bank. There are plenty of reasons to be excited about this blockbuster match and a few why this rivalry should raise eyebrows.
This slideshow analyzes three reasons why Roman Reigns vs. Edge is a good idea and two why it isn't.
#5 Good idea: Edge never got his one-on-one Universal Championship opportunity
In January, Edge won the Royal Rumble match for the second time in his career, a feat only a handful of Superstars have accomplished. The Rated-R Superstar chose the Tribal Chief as his opponent for WrestleMania 37.
There was one massive obstacle in Edge's Road to WrestleMania: Daniel Bryan. The leader of the Yes Movement had built a compelling case to enter the Universal Championship picture. Bryan outlasted five other men in a grueling Elimination Chamber Match, only for Reigns to make quick work of him mere seconds later. At Fastlane, Reigns tapped out to the Yes! Lock, but the referee never noticed.
Eventually, Adam Pearce booked a Triple Threat Match for the Universal Championship at WrestleMania between Reigns, Edge, and Bryan.
At WrestleMania 37, the Tribal Chief double-pinned both his rivals to retain the Universal Championship convincingly.
The Ultimate Opportunist fought tooth and nail to win the Royal Rumble match, which would guarantee him a one-on-one opportunity at a world championship. Unfortunately, he didn't receive the privileges a Rumble victory is supposed to reward.
So, technically speaking, Edge never received a fair chance to win the Universal Championship.
So at Money in the Bank, we will finally witness what was originally meant to be the main event of WrestleMania 37. With Bryan not near the title picture, Edge can focus his attention on Reigns, which should've been the case at the Showcase of Immortals.
#4 Bad idea: Edge's return abruptly ends Roman Reigns' previous rivalry with the Mysterios
When Edge returned last week, fans were understandably ecstatic. The Rated-R Superstar hadn't been seen since his crushing defeat at WrestleMania 37, and it was a legitimate surprise.
Very few experts and fans saw his return coming, so there was an explicit shock factor. However, most forgot about Roman Reigns' storyline with the Mysterios.
Roman Reigns recently came off a dominating victory over Rey Mysterio in a Hell in a Cell match. Before the show ended, the Tribal Chief wished the masked legend a "Happy Father's Day" to rub salt in his rival's wounds. The post-match assault and patronizing message suggested that the program was far from over.
But Edge's victory abruptly ended this short storyline. While the outcome was always a foregone conclusion, Reigns' program with the Mysterios should have lasted longer.
Dominik Mysterio could have stood up to defend his father's honor. After all, the Tribal Chief nearly killed him with a Powerbomb over the top rope a few weeks ago. There were plenty of routes Vince McMahon could have taken in this profoundly personal feud.
For what it's worth, the storyline did have an emotional and logical appeal.
Taking nothing away from Edge, he is highly deserving of another title shot. The problem is WWE's paper-thin roster and the lack of credible opponents for Reigns. Rey and Dominik Mysterio would've served as decent placeholder challengers for the Universal Championship, perhaps even better than the Rated-R Superstar.
#3 Good idea: Edge vs. Roman Reigns provides the excitement and energy WWE needs
Apart from John Cena, Edge is the biggest Superstar who could challenge Roman Reigns right now. The Hall of Famer is immensely popular with fans and among the all-time greats of the wrestling business. It's hard not to be thrilled about anything the legend does. Meanwhile, Reigns is arguably Vince McMahon's most valuable commodity.
Fans were expecting Edge's return when live crowds re-surfaced. However, management decided to bring the Ultimate Opportunist a little earlier, which is a good idea.
With fans scheduled to return in mid-July, WWE needs to pull out all the stops to keep the audience engaged. Edge vs. Roman Reigns is a reasonably decent way of setting the stage for a grand surprise.
Roman Reigns vs. Edge is a colossal dream match worthy of closing out WrestleMania. As we saw at the Grandest Stage of Them All, Reigns and Edge have undeniable chemistry.
Moreover, in the prelude to the blockbuster event, the two rivals told a wonderful story. The WWE Universe was genuinely excited for the Universal Championship match at the Showcase of Immortals, and its fantastic backstory was a significant reason for the excitement.
At a time when fans are losing interest in the product and WWE is getting desperate, the creative team has booked a match that will undoubtedly enthrall everyone.
#2 Bad idea: Should Edge lose another high-stakes match?
By booking Edge vs. Roman Reigns, WWE has backed itself into a corner. The Head of the Table has been on another level as Universal Champion, and he shouldn't lose the championship anytime soon.
Meanwhile, The Rated-R Superstar hasn't won many big matches lately. Can he afford to take another crushing defeat, especially after his shocking loss at WrestleMania 37?
Edge got into the best physical shape of his entire career to finally return to the squared circle. The Hall of Famer may not be past his prime yet. His "Greatest Wrestling Match" with Randy Orton at Backlash 2020 was splendid, and his gutsy performance in this year's Royal Rumble was incredible for a man his age.
While older veterans should put over younger talent, WWE shouldn't use Edge for such a purpose. If the eleven-time World Champion keeps taking losses, it will be difficult to take him seriously, and he will quickly become just another guy on the main roster. With all the blood, sweat, and tears he put in to finally return, the Ultimate Opportunist shouldn't be treated as a stepping stone.
Vince McMahon is in a tight spot, but there is a way around the issue. The most likely outcome is for Reigns to emerge victorious due to outside interference that will limit the damage done to Edge's aura.
#1 Good idea: Edge vs. Roman Reigns paves the way for SummerSlam's biggest matches
As recent reports indicate, Edge and Roman Reigns are expected to have blockbuster dream matches at SummerSlam. Money in the Bank is the last pay-per-view before the summer's biggest event, and WWE will lay the groundwork at the eponymous event.
Seth Rollins wanted to challenge Reigns for the Universal Championship, but the Ultimate Opportunist's return thwarted The Messiah's plans, who wasn't too pleased. Rollins now has a motive to target the Hall of Famer.
As mentioned previously, Edge should be protected in defeat via interference, and Rollins is the perfect man to cost him the title.
Rumor has it that John Cena will return to WWE, and the Tribal Chief will most likely be his opponent for SummerSlam. After all, it does make sense for the company's franchise player and ultimate hero to challenge the unbeatable, ruthless champion.
Reigns will need another massive statement victory to build more heat en route to the blockbuster event. A win over an overwhelmingly popular veteran like Edge will arouse emotion from the fan-base and give Cena more reason to return.
Roman Reigns vs. Edge may be a one-off thing for now, but it will have long-term implications, especially for SummerSlam.
