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It feels like Roman Reigns has been away from WWE for an entire lifetime, and while it's safe to say that the company haven't exactly missed him, he is almost certain to be put straight back into the main event scene when he does eventually return.
Reigns brings a certain level of legitimacy to the show he is on, and whether you are a fan of The Big Dog or not, you cannot deny that he is one of WWE's top guys.
Roman Reigns decided to take some time off from the company to focus on his health during the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. On top of Reigns health being a big concern, his wife recently gave birth to twins and he wants to make sure his family is as protected as possible during these uncertain times.
Some people won't like it, but Roman Reigns is a bonafide star and deserves to be around the top of the card after all of his dedication and persistence. We could still be looking at a good few months before Reigns makes his way back to SmackDown or RAW, and there will certainly be a whole host of WWE Superstars just itching to step in the ring with The Big Dog.
So who exactly will WWE position Roman Reigns against when he makes his long awaited return? There is certainly no shortage of worthy candidates, but it will be most interesting to see whether he is entered into a fresh, new feud from day one or if he will be starting off against a familiar foe to ease him back into full time competition.
With all of that said, join us as we take a look at some of the best options for Roman Reigns to face off against when he eventually steps back into the squared circle.
#5 Roman Reigns vs 'The Fiend' Bray Wyatt
Let's start off with the most obvious option, 'The Fiend' Bray Wyatt.
Depending on when Roman Reigns eventually returns to WWE, we may well have a new Universal Champion for him to challenge. Wyatt is currently locked in a feud with the reigning champion Braun Strowman, so depending on how things play out this offers up two potential feuds. You can bet your life that The Big Dog will target whoever is holding the Championship when he makes his way back.
Reigns and Wyatt have a lot of history between them, dating back to their days with The Shield and The Wyatt Family respectively, plus this feud offers the potential for another fantastic Firefly Funhouse match as seen at WrestleMania 36.
These two can tear the house down and if is set in the unique setting of The Firefly Fun House match, it could be a treat for the WWE Universe as well.
#4 Roman Reigns vs Shinsuke Nakamura
Shinsuke Nakamura is, by far, one of the top in-ring talents at WWE’s disposal. Assuming that Roman Reigns returns solely to the SmackDown brand, Nakamura is definitely one of the best early choices to work multiple strong matches with The Big Dog.
Reigns and Nakamura possess very different skillsets, which could lead to some fantastic confrontations further down the line.
While Nakamura hasn’t been positioned as a star even close to Roman Reigns’ level, he’s someone that WWE could elevate in a short space of time. The Artist’s superior talent, the fact that he recently held his own in a program with Braun Strowman and a resume which includes a Royal Rumble win and Intercontinental and United States Champions reigns make him someone who can be established as a top draw on SmackDown.
Roman Reigns vs. Nakamura would be a fresh pairing with the potential for an interesting story behind it leading up to an event like SummerSlam.
Nakamura seems to be on the verge of a Tag Team title shot with his partner Cesaro against the current champions The New Day. So don't expect this one to happen any time soon.
#3 Roman Reigns vs Braun Strowman
Circling back around to my earlier pick of Bray Wyatt, a potential rivalry with Braun Strowman would make just as much sense for Roman Reigns.
Another Superstar that Roman has a tremendous amount of history with, Braun Strowman is sitting pretty as the current WWE Universal Champion. Of course, it was never meant to be this way. It was originally Roman Reigns who was scheduled to face Goldberg at WrestleMania for the title, and if that match had happened as planned we would likely never have seen Strowman with the gold around his waist.
These two had a surprisingly good rivalry just a couple of years ago as they both brought the absolute best in each other. I, for one, would certainly love to see a repeat with the Universal Championship on the line.
When Roman Reigns returns to WWE, not only will he want to challenge for the Universal Championship, but he will also likely want to go after the man who took his opportunity.
#2 Roman Reigns vs Otis
The idea of Roman Reigns working a program with Otis would have just sounded completely absurd mere months ago. While it still feels like a little bit of a reach, the comedic and charismatic half of Heavy Machinery has emerged as a bonafide and beloved singles Superstar coming out of his feud with Dolph Ziggler and surprisingly winning the Money in the Bank briefcase.
With his 'Peach' Mandy Rose by his side, Otis could well end up being a legitimate challenger to the current Universal Champion, Braun Strowman.
Otis could emerge as a fresh upper card talent to pair with Roman Reigns once he is finished with King Corbin.
Another potential option depends on how the fans take to Otis once they are allowed back into WWE arenas.
If the fans start to turn on Otis for how hard he is getting pushed, he has the size to conceivably transition into a formidable big man heel threat against a returning Roman Reigns. Working alongside The Big Dog would further solidify Otis as a main event player in the process.
#1 Roman Reigns vs Lars Sullivan
Lars Sullivan has been on the shelf for almost a year now. The monster heel made a huge splash upon his main roster debut, but injuries and personal issues have kept him off TV and put him in an uncertain spot moving forward. At this stage, nobody is sure if we will even get to see him on TV again. One avenue to explore if he does return would be for Sullivan to go hunting for Roman Reigns.
Such an angle could set up both Superstars for a hard-hitting feud to reintegrate them into the fold. Moreover, if Sullivan doesn’t stick around in WWE for much longer, having him put over Reigns could be a good way to pay off some of WWE's earlier investment in him.
Word has it that after having successful knee reconstruction surgery just this month, Lars Sullivan could be on his way back to WWE very soon. However, he has not spoken to anyone within the company for several months, so his status is still very much up in the air.
It would certainly be a shame for Sullivan to be used to put over Roman Reigns after such an impressive NXT run. But his stock in WWE has fallen to an all-time low and the big man would certainly not be held to the same lofty standards as Roman Reigns is.
