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There seems to be no debate about the fact that Roman Reigns is currently having the best run of his WWE career. Looking back at it, it's crazy to think that it would all take place in an era where the company had no crowds in attendance.
Since returning to WWE at SummerSlam 2020, Reigns has been a heel. There was an outcry from fans for this heel turn since early 2015, and a few years later, there seemed to be acceptance about it never happening. It was the John Cena route - WWE never turned him heel despite fans crying for it, and it's something that may still never happen.
Luckily, the same mistake wasn't made with Roman Reigns. When WWE fans least expected it, his return in August 2020 saw him turn heel for the first time in nearly seven years.
His strong heel run is expected to culminate with an eventual babyface turn, truly establishing him as WWE's top star. It's best if this happens at a later stage, since his momentum as a heel is incredible now. This time, it will be a more organic turn, and there are a few great ways to do it. Here are the best ways WWE can turn Roman Reigns babyface again:
#5. A long-term build with a gradual change in character for Roman Reigns
The best way for WWE to turn Roman Reigns babyface again is a long-term build with a great payoff. When looking at the great babyface turns in the modern era, Batista in 2005 is perhaps the most perfect example.
In reality, his face turn would likely not have happened had Randy Orton's push been successful in 2004. It wasn't, and Triple H and Batista made sure that they would be kept together and have a slow-burning build to WrestleMania.
Before Batista even won the Royal Rumble in 2005, WWE started teasing his face turn. It was a great set-up, and when he had to choose which Champion he wanted to face at WrestleMania 21, fans knew it was coming.
While Triple H was trying to manipulate Batista into choosing then-WWE Champion JBL as his opponent, The Animal responded by saying that he knew who he wanted to face for a long time.
The crowd reaction speaks for itself, and the thumbs down from Batista is among the most iconic moments of the Ruthless Aggression era.
While WWE doesn't need to replicate the same storyline, the formula is one that can be used. It's tried and tested, and a gradual shift in character with the right opponent can trigger the greatest babyface turn in the PG era of WWE.
#4. A Roman Reigns vs. The Rock feud
This would be an interesting place for WWE to go with a Roman Reigns babyface turn, but if done right, it could pay dividends. At this stage, it's unclear whether The Rock will ever make his in-ring return to WWE, especially since he admitted last year that he quietly retired from wrestling.
With that said, a match against Reigns seems like the only logical option for The Great One if he returns. It's the biggest match WWE can make in the next couple of years, and WrestleMania 39 at SoFi Stadium would possibly present the last opportunity to do it.
It's hard to imagine The Rock turning heel, but if the storyline is done right, WWE can utilize it to turn Roman Reigns babyface. When looking at WWE's point of view, it's the perfect opportunity. It will be a WrestleMania main event with the most eyes on it, and that's the exact moment where Reigns can become the babyface star that the company has longed for him to be.
#3. A storyline with Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins are both on SmackDown, and both men are heels. While their paths briefly crossed recently, there was nothing to indicate that we would see a feud between them anytime soon, even though there was a face-off.
Rollins' incredible heel turn in 2014 remains one of the best of the past decade, and it was at the expense of Reigns and Dean Ambrose (Jon Moxley). While WWE could repeat the storyline and establish Seth Rollins as the top heel of SmackDown, there could be an alternative.
In a less-obvious direction, it would have to do with the two men eventually aligning and turning face together. There are a couple of possibilities, but this might be an interesting one to go for.
Seth Rollins has been a heel for nearly two years now, and he seems comfortable in that role. This would require a storyline that eventually sees him regain his popularity, leading to Roman Reigns turning face again.
#2. A Brock Lesnar return leading to Paul Heyman shifting alliances
This would be the least-favorable direction for a Roman Reigns face turn, since it would involve rekindling his feud with Brock Lesnar. They main-evented WrestleMania together in 2015 and 2018 as well, with the latter being an underwhelming match.
Lesnar famously stormed backstage and threw the Universal Championship to Vince McMahon in the gorilla position. The feud would carry on and culminate at SummerSlam 2018, where Roman Reigns finally dethroned Brock Lesnar, taking less than ten minutes and getting a little assistance from Braun Strowman.
Although Lesnar is better on RAW than SmackDown, WWE could bring him to their new A-show again. This would lead to Paul Heyman having a conflict of interest, even though his dynamic with Roman Reigns is different from what it was with Brock Lesnar.
This could eventually lead to him turning on Reigns. If the two are to cross paths again, the heel, Tribal Chief version of Roman Reigns, is a more exciting option to face Brock Lesnar. But at this point, WWE fans may not be too keen to see the two men rekindle their rivalry.
#1. A John Cena heel turn leading to Roman Reigns turning face
This seems like an unlikely scenario should John Cena and Roman Reigns rekindle their rivalry. Cena hasn't turned heel in over a decade-and-a-half, and there seems to be less incentive to do so anytime soon.
However, WWE could utilize him to establish Roman Reigns. When the two had a rivalry last time, they didn't lay hands on each other until their match at No Mercy. But the timing of it was wrong, and the attempt to establish Reigns backfired, since Cena humiliated him in his promos.
It was clear that Roman Reigns was nowhere near the level of John Cena, but the dynamic has shifted now. The latter is expected to return to WWE for a program against The Tribal Chief at SummerSlam, and it could be the perfect opportunity to turn him heel.
Since WWE isn't dependent on Cena anymore, there's nothing left to lose. While it may seem unlikely, the shock of a John Cena heel turn would likely propel Roman Reigns into becoming a popular babyface.
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