5 Better opponents for Roman Reigns at Money In The Bank 2019

Many better matches for Reigns at the event.
Many better matches for Reigns at the event.

Everyone knows that Roman Reigns is WWE's biggest star at the moment. I mean do you need more evidence than WWE using Reigns on both Raw and Smackdown Live at the same time even though he is exclusive to one of those brands?

While it is great that WWE is using Reigns in all the roles they can, overusing him has probably put his career at risk for something he is all too familiar with, and that is the dreaded boos from the crowd.

WWE is at a stage where they don't really have the best creative team in the world to come up with great narratives 24/7, so, by booking Reigns for Raw and Smackdown Live on a weekly basis will expose him more than the dirt sheets spoil WWE's plans, but that can be prevented if the company just afford him the best booking possible.

However, with the rating crisis hovering over Vince McMahon's head like a dark cloud, you can't really expect the chairman to come up with some truly groundbreaking booking, which means we are left with matches like Reigns vs Elias at Money in the Bank.

While most of you don't really see a problem with this type of matchup, as Elias isn't a jobber by any standards, but for a pay-per-view that will determine whether WWE overcome the rating crisis or fall further in a hole, it seems the company is not that bothered by their booking of this show.

So, for the sake of the what if scenario, let's us go through better options for Reigns' opponents at the event.


#1 Buddy Time

A star on the rise.
A star on the rise.

Buddy Murphy has been 205 Live's best-kept secret for a very long time now, and for those who think that is just a catchphrase for a corny t-shirt, you are mistaken, as Buddy has really been the backbone of the cruiserweight division ever since he stepped foot on the brand.

From putting on matches that one would only dream of to gaining respect as the cruiserweight champion, Murphy is a prospect that can't be ignored as a future champion in the WWE. Now many fans understand that Reigns is not the best option for a superstar's first feud on the main roster, as he is clearly overpowered by the company in all his matches, but the recognition one gets from working with Reigns is undeniable.

The reason for that is the man's star power can be a driving force to help any star gain some popularity over a period of time, Murphy vs Reigns would be a match that could steal the show at Money in the Bank, moreover, it would make sense narratively if Shane McMahon employed Murphy as his right-hand man in this entire feud with Reign, and then who knows how far WWE could take the blue-chip star.

#2 Six Man Tag Team Match

A successful pairing in the past.
A successful pairing in the past.

The Usos and Roman Reigns are no strangers to one another, as these men are bound by blood, so it was no surprise when The Usos came out to Reigns rescue on Smackdown Live this week when Shane McMahon and his allies were beating the holy hell out of the big dog.

This got people thinking, why didn't WWE just do a six-man tag team match at the pay-per-view with Reigns instead of having him battle Elias for the one-hundredth time in singles action. Granted six-man tag team matches are truly overused booking tropes in WWE, but if done right with the story in place then the match type can be thoroughly enjoyed.

This could have been a match which saw Reigns teaming up with The Usos to take on Shane and a team of his choosing, moreover, the team Shane chooses could put that said team on the map, and that team for argument sake should have been The Viking Raiders.

The former NXT Tag Team Champions have been caught up in all the wrong type of hype on the main roster, as the constant changing of their names has made them into somewhat of a laughing stock, so, by WWE putting them in a match with the biggest star in the company, it could give them the credibility boost they dearly need.


#3 One On One War With The Freak

Sullivan could use Reigns star rub.
Sullivan could use Reigns star rub.

Lars Sullivan has been in the news for the wrong reasons, as his old remarks on many topics made about a decade ago were dug up and exposed by the internets best detectives, as many thought that these controversial comments made by the freak accident were more than enough for WWE to end his push, well, that is clearly, not the case.

WWE has reportedly fined the big man a whopping one hundred thousand dollars for his behaviour, but it has not ended his push. Rumours have indicated WWE is hoping for the public outrage to slowly die down while Lars stays off the television, while the heat has certainly cooled to an extent, the company is missing a big opportunity.

Now as a heel, any kind of heat is good heat, but in Lars situation, his remarks are a bit too sensitive to use as a catapult to bigger things but come on people, we have seen worse from the company in the past.

Therefore, WWE missed a great opportunity to get Lars over as the next big thing in the WWE, as by pitting him against a fairly accepted babyface in Roman Reigns, you could have had a good programme.

Now we all know what happens to future big monsters when they meet Reigns in a singles match, as the likes of Braun Strowman and Drew McIntyre have felt the pain of defeat on more than one occasion by the hands of the big dog. But if WWE did the smart thing of pairing Lars with Shane, then we could have seen an interesting programme playing out.

#4 Opening Up Wounds With Daniel Bryan

A blast from the past.
A blast from the past.

Daniel Bryan vs Roman Reigns is a match that probably is infamous for being Reigns last straw with the WWE universe, as back in 2015 Bryan was still the fans favourite babyface, but Vince McMahon had other plans for a more ideal face of the company, enter Roman Reigns.

Reigns' win at the 2015 Royal Rumble was overshadowed by the fact that Bryan was not in the match which led to the entire arena booing the hell out of the big dog and The Rock (that's not something you see every day).

Things did not get any better for Reigns from that point onwards as to this day he is still hated in some capacity for his role as top dog in the industry, while Bryan, on the other hand, is back from retirement to get his rather logical views across to the WWE Universe, which fans un-ironically adore him for.

Honestly, this should have been the first programme Reigns contested on Smackdown Live after the draft, as his history with Bryan just cries out for another match that will wrap their unfinished business with one another beautifully. Furthermore, Bryan is now a heel, a heel that isn't afraid of getting things off his chest, so that would have made a fight with Reigns all the more intriguing.


#5 Here Comes The Money

The best option.
The best option.

On this list, we have covered many superstars and matches that we thought would be a better fit for Reigns at Money in the Bank, but the one match that is the most logical out of them all is a match between Shane McMahon and Roman Reigns.

This is basically the match WWE seemed like they were building for the event, as Reigns entire beef in the last month has been with the McMahon's, and by inserting Elias in the middle of this commotion it makes him look like a deer in the headlights.

Shane is no AJ Styles in terms of work rate, but he puts his best foot forward in any match he competes in, moreover, with the heated narrative these two have crafted would be more than enough to make this match special.

You may be thinking to yourself but where does that leave The Miz vs Shane inside the steel cage? Well, if WWE was smart they would not give us the same match twice, as Miz doesn't need a rubber match against the prodigal son, because his credibility will never be hurt.

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