5 men who could be WWE's next Roman Reigns

Whether or not you liked the match between Roman Reigns and John Cena from No Mercy, one thing that cannot be denied is that it was a match of extremely high significance. We saw an unofficial passing of the torch between one face of the company to another.

John Cena has been 'the guy' for WWE, for a really long time now. He has carried the company on his broad shoulders for almost fifteen years. Now, as Hollywood beckons and the ravages of the ring over many years unleash their torment upon him, Cena is slowly handing over the reins of WWE to Roman Reigns.

We saw an emotional John Cena on RAW talk, speak about just how proud he was of Roman Reigns, the new 'guy'. Well, Reigns isn't going anywhere for the foreseeable future. The question remains, who will Roman Reigns hand over the reins of the company to, when it is time for him to step down and allow someone else to take over?

We've identified five men who have the potential to be the next Roman Reigns for the company. Let us know what you feel about our assessment, in the comments below.

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#5 Aleister Black

Aleister Black could totally be the company's next big breakout star

Aleister Black has left quite the impact in 6 short months of his NXT debut, even drawing comparisons to the fan favourite CM Punk. As he has proved time and again in NXT, he has the potential to be the next 'dark character' for the company, even overtaking Bray Wyatt in that very aspect.

We know that WWE is very invested in him, from the fact that he made a main roster cameo, wrestling Curt Hawkins in the main event. When the time is right, WWE could really launch him in a very big way on the main roster to dominate the whole division.

Black's kickboxing and MMA-based offensive style could certainly make him a crowd favourite. Imagine the match that he could have with Roman Reigns, when the time is right. If he takes over the mantle of 'face of the company' from Roman Reigns, he may actually connect with fans, something that Reigns has been unable to do, thus far in.

#4 Adam Cole

Adam Cole has the tools to be a top WWE guy!

Many believe that Adam Cole is destined to be the top guy for the company in the coming years. He has the look, a crowd-friendly gimmick (getting the crowd to chant Adam Cole Baybay could be the next big thing), and he is exemplary on the microphone.

Did we forget that he's totally spectacular in the ring? With someone like Triple H at the helm (we swear this isn't a bad 'Helmsley' pun), even Adam Cole, a Superstar with a more slender frame than the usual 'face of the company' would have an environment where he can excel and thrive.

Cole already has more heat than anyone in the current NXT roster at present. By the time he gets called up to the main roster, Cole should be a certified Superstar. In due time, he could certainly become the next face of the company.

We've seen how invested Triple H is in him because of how much of a big deal WWE's made of him in NXT (debuting at a Takeover, put into a faction and feuding with some big names immediately). It's not too much of a stretch to think that he would be seen as a big deal in the main roster. When the time comes, Reigns could do the honours and pass the baton to him.

#3 Big Cass

We're certain when he comes back from injury, the push will be massive!

WWE split up one of their biggest merchandise selling tag teams, Enzo & Cass, simply because they believed that Big Cass had the potential to excel in a singles environment. Big Cass looks like the prototype that Vince McMahon likes: great on the microphone and is decent when the bell sounds.

Unfortunately, he suffered an injury right before his career could take off. However, Big Cass has the potential to be the next breakout star for the company. When Reigns starts losing steam, WWE may want to hand the mantle of leading WWE into the future, to Big Cass.

Of course, there would have to be a period of strong booking before he reaches such heights. In our opinion, WWE sees Big Cass as a big investment, and have plans for him, in the future.

It may be difficult to imagine right now, but Big Cass certainly has a big future in WWE.

#2 Kenny Omega

The top babyface spot should be filled with the world's number 1 babyface!

'How can someone not in WWE replace Roman Reigns as the face of the company?', you ask! The answer is quite simple. Several legends such as Dave Meltzer and Steve Austin have named the man as a future WWE Superstar. Omega himself hasn't ruled out the idea of a WWE run, either!

We believe it's only a matter of time before the man arrives in WWE. As great as he's been in NJPW, Omega is only a shadow of the Superstar he could be if he were signed to WWE. In Japan, he will always play second fiddle to someone like Kazuchika Okada.

We can imagine Omega bypassing NXT to enter the main roster directly. If protected in the right manner, Omega can be a bigger babyface and merch seller than even Reigns is. Moreover, he has the physique that many independent wrestlers lack. One day, we can totally imagine him as WWE's new face.

#1 Drew McIntyre

This is a chance for redemption, for the NXT Champion

While every other Superstar that we've mentioned thus far matches up to Roman Reigns in terms of some aspect of their personality, Drew McIntyre has a look that is unparalleled, and one that looks great on posters and banners, advertising the bigger pay-per-views.

Much like Jinder Mahal, Drew McIntyre had a first run in the company during which he did not live up to his full potential. After a run in the indies, he's back, and if booked right, he could certainly be the company's next Roman Reigns.

We hope that WWE does not make him into another white meat babyface. McIntyre is a man of depth, and there is a world of potential in the man, right now.

What do you think of our list, thus far? Do you see any other potential contenders for the title of 'Next Roman Reigns?' Let us know in the comments below. We would love to hear from you, dear reader!