Roman Reigns is undoubtedly one of the biggest superstars on the SmackDown brand. The Original Tribal Chief is deeply involved in the Bloodline saga and recently reunited with the OG Bloodline to take on Solo Sikoa’s faction.
However, the recent development left fans surprised when WWE released a new poster for SmackDown’s Road to WrestleMania 41. On this poster, the OTC is the biggest notable absent name from the graphics, which raises questions in the minds of fans.
In this article, we will explore three possible reasons why the Head of the Table has been removed from the latest SmackDown poster for the Road to WrestleMania 41.
#3. Roman Reigns might not be active on the road to WrestleMania
One possible reason why WWE removed the Original Tribal Chief from the SmackDown poster for the Road to WrestleMania is that he might not be fully active during that time.
The Stamford-based promotion may have opted to feature its full-time talents on the poster, leading to Roman Reigns’ exclusion. This theory gains traction if Reigns is set to feud with The Rock on the road to WrestleMania.
If the Final Boss appears only sporadically, WWE might prefer to keep Roman off weekly programming. Instead, he could show up for high-profile segments or events where The Rock is also scheduled to appear.
#2. The OTC could be heading to RAW on Netflix
The road to WrestleMania will kick off next year with the RAW Netflix debut, scheduled for January 6, 2025. One major reason why Roman Reigns could have been removed from the SmackDown poster is that WWE may be planning to move him to the red brand.
The RAW Netflix debut is expected to feature several high-profile names, including John Cena, The Rock, and more. Speculation is already swirling about the Final Boss getting involved in the Bloodline saga as the RAW Netflix debut approaches.
The Stamford-based promotion may intend to shift Roman Reigns to RAW to plant the seeds for a WrestleMania showdown with The Rock. This would explain why Reigns is absent from SmackDown’s Road to WrestleMania poster.
#1. Cody Rhodes is WWE's biggest babyface
Roman Reigns is currently operating as a near-babyface character on SmackDown. Even if he remains on the blue brand during the Road to WrestleMania, his absence from the poster could be tied to Cody Rhodes.
The American Nightmare is your current Undisputed WWE Champion and is being positioned as WWE’s top babyface. Given this, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Stamford-based promotion decided to spotlight Rhodes as the sole major babyface on the poster.
Meanwhile, another prominently featured star is Solo Sikoa, who plays a villainous role. WWE’s focus on promoting Rhodes as the biggest babyface might explain why the Original Tribal Chief was left off the SmackDown Road to WrestleMania 41 promotional material.