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Today on WWE Raw, Roman Reigns was set to wrestle his first one-on-one match in five months, against Baron Corbin. We all expected a competitive 15 to 20-minute match, as they like booking Corbin in for some reason, but we got something entirely different. The Lone Wolf was nowhere to be seen for the entire final segment of the show.
Reigns made his entrance before he was ambushed by Drew McIntyre, who laid into the Big Dog. He eventually landed two brutal Claymore Kicks, the second one being into the ring post. This left the former Universal Champion dazed and in no condition to compete. An assault of such order certainly warrants a WrestleMania match between these two.
After Reigns went backstage, Dean Ambrose demanded a Falls Count Anywhere match against McIntyre to avenge the vicious attack. Both men fought all over the arena, as the match reached its climax at the announce table. A low blow and a pencil to the eye signalled the end for Ambrose, before a monstrous Claymore through the railing finished him off.
From the way things turned out on Raw, the likely match for WrestleMania is Roman Reigns against Drew McIntyre. Here are a few reasons why this absolutely is the right match for the Grandest Stage Of Them All.
#4 A better match than Baron Corbin
In the past week or so, Dave Meltzer reported that Roman Reigns' scheduled opponent was Baron Corbin. That is a match we have seen so many times in the past, with Reigns coming out victorious pretty much each time. It would seem appropriate for the most menacing and annoying heel of 2018 to get his comeuppance in the form of a squash by the Big Dog at WrestleMania, but not when there is a better option.
Drew McIntyre is almost as big as Corbin and is much better in the ring. He has really shown his worth to WWE in the past year, putting on some really great matches in both singles and tag team action.
After an explosive few months, McIntyre's momentum stalled when he joined forces with Corbin and Bobby Lashley to form the most boring team of monsters you would see. Luckily, it seems that the Scotsman has once again overtaken Corbin in the Raw pecking order. It will be a much better match.
#3 A fresh match
Part of why this match would be better than Roman Reigns vs Baron Corbin is because we haven't seen it yet. These two clashed in six-man tag team action on multiple occasions, but we are yet to see a singles match between the Big Dog and Drew McIntyre.
WWE has done a great job in protecting McIntyre ever since he came up from NXT right after WrestleMania. He is yet to face Reigns, and even Braun Strowman in one-on-one action. It's a good thing that he has been kept strong.
The Scottish Psychopath looked amazing on a regular basis, as he was being groomed for big matches in his future. Had Reigns remained as Universal Champion, a title match between the pair would have surely happened by now. But nevertheless, it is always good when we get fresh matches at WrestleMania. Even though the result might be really predictable, the story of the match will be strong enough.
#2 McIntyre has been revitalised in one night
Drew McIntyre had been brilliantly booked for most of 2018, until the very end. His unbeaten streak on the main roster ended at the hands of Dolph Ziggler, of all people, while another few losses damaged his momentum.
His inclusion in the Corbin and Lashley faction also hurt him and really left him cold. But on this edition of Raw, he got every single bit of that heat that he lost, back. In doing so, he looked like the Scottish Terminator that he is so rightly called.
Following a brutal assault on Roman Reigns and a crazy match with Dean Ambrose, McIntyre stands tall at the peak of his powers. He has hardly looked any better than he did on Raw. McIntyre was every bit as despicable as a heel should be, with his defiant violence being portrayed perfectly.
In one night, the Scotsman turned from a generic big man in a team to an absolute killer. Hopefully, this new surge of momentum for him lasts way beyond WrestleMania.
#1 McIntyre deserves a big match at WrestleMania
Every year, WrestleMania is the measuring stick for how each performer's year has been. Drew McIntyre had a great year, but it looked like there was nothing for him at WrestleMania, as has been the case for Braun Strowman last year.
There were a few possibilities, including a match against John Cena and the eventual confrontation against Strowman. We still haven't seen them wrestle.
Regardless of that, McIntyre's progress throughout 2018 has certainly merited a prominent spot on the 'Mania card.
This year will be the first time that Roman Reigns is not in the main event of WrestleMania as a singles competitor, which could only mean a good thing for the match. Any Roman Reigns match, however, would get heavily featured on the biggest card of the year.
This would only benefit McIntyre, as he rose from the barren mid-card of Raw to seemingly get a great spot at the Show of Shows. This match will be a big match, one that has not happened yet and one which involves two fantastic wrestlers. This match will deliver come WrestleMania.
Drew McIntyre is certainly the man to step up to Roman Reigns and his yard, as the Big Dog gears up for his return to singles action.
