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Since Roman Reigns reigned to WWE this past summer, he has been absolutely unstoppable. He's evolved from "The Big Dog" to "The Tribal Chief." With Paul Heyman by his side, Reigns has been enjoying a dominant run with the WWE Universal Championship.
Because he has already defended the title against Braun Strowman and Jey Uso, Reigns seems to be on the path toward writing his own legacy. He is doing so in a manner that the WWE Universe has been hoping to see from him for years now. Aa vital win over WWE Champion Drew McIntyre at WWE Survivor Series further skyrocketed Reigns' stock.
While "The Tribal Chief" seems absolutely dominant at the moment, he could be facing quite out the challenge in the form of Bill Goldberg. In a recent edition of WWE's The Bump, the former WWE Universal Champion made a surprising statement by making it clear that Reigns is next in his sights.
The reigning WWE Universal Champion wasn't bothered much with Goldberg's words, but WWE could be heading towards that direction soon. Reigns' focus is on Kevin Owens right now. But heading into next year, he'll need a new contender.
Let's take a look at the top five reasons why Reigns vs. Goldberg needs to happen in 2021.
#5. Roman Reigns vs. Goldberg could be the perfect match to welcome back the fans
During the COVID-19 pandemic, WWE has done quite an incredible job in delivering their shows on a constant and weekly basis. The idea of the WWE ThunderDome, featuring a virtual WWE Universe, has worked brilliantly, too. But with the new year approaching, WWE could be considering bringing the fans back for their 2021 shows.
In order to welcome back live crowds, WWE will surely be hoping to offer them blockbuster matches. In doing so, they would hope to maximize ticket sales. Plus, the company would probably prefer not to hold two WrestleManias in a row without an audience in attendance. So the idea of Reigns vs. Goldberg for WWE WrestleMania 37 could be an buzzworthy match to welcome the fans back.
After all, Reigns and Goldberg have unfinished business from prior to WWE WrestleMania 36.
#4. Roman Reigns and Goldberg have already signed a contract for a match
Despite the lack of a live audience, WWE did quite an impressive job with WrestleMania 36 this year. With the show being hosted over two nights, WWE spaced out both Night 1 and Night 2 and featured most of their biggest stars across both nights. Even The Undertaker and Goldberg got right into the middle of the action in their respective matches.
The original plans for Roman Reigns vs. Goldberg were set for WWE WrestleMania 36, and the two competitors had also signed a contract for this bout. But the match never happened. Reigns withdrew himself from the card as the COVID-19 pandemic started to erupt. Instead, WWE had Goldberg face Braun Strowman, and "The Monster Among Men" became the new WWE Universal Champion.
With Reigns sporting a new look and a compelling persona, the sensible option would be for WWE to re-book his match with Goldberg for WWE WrestleMania 37. There's already a special aura to this intense feud in the making, and the prestigious show deserves a blockbuster between Reigns and Goldberg.
#3. First-time matches are always a fresh idea in WWE
WWE is practically always welcome to the idea of first-time matches. With some of the best and finest professional wrestlers in the world in WWE, the company is able to provide fans with dream matches they have been craving for years. Goldberg has been in a few of them.
WWE has also been the home for several first-time matches. 2020 has seen The Undertaker go toe-to-toe with AJ Styles. Dominik Mysterio later made his in-ring debut in a high-profile match with Seth Rollins. That pretty much proves that WWE is more than open to hosting first-time bouts, and Reigns vs. Goldberg would seemingly be right up their alley.
Goldberg vs. Reigns is years in the making
In the past, Reigns and Goldberg have already teased a match against each other. Most notably, in 2017, WWE hosted the first installment of The Kevin Owens Show. Owens, who held the WWE Universal Championship at the time, and Chris Jericho hosted the segment, which also featured Goldberg, Reigns, and Strowman.
During this particular segment, Reigns and Goldberg came face-to-face and stared each other down. They eventually teamed up to Spear Strowman. But the interaction was an early hint at a match between the two.
#2. A heel Roman Reigns could fit into any WWE program
Reigns' heel turn came as one of the biggest surprises of 2020. This change has played out quite perfectly so far. "The Tribal Chief" has taken on a new persona that's increasingly intense. Every show, Reigns draws seemingly universal acclaim.
"The Tribal Chief" has reigned over WWE SmackDown since he won the title. With every match he's in, Reigns demonstrates his remarkable work as a heel. His character continues to evolve, and it's one of the most layered gimmicks WWE fans have seen in quite some time.
Reigns' current feud with Owens has been the latest example of his success as WWE's top villain. On the other hand, Goldberg is quite possibly one of the most popular babyfaces in the history of pro wrestling. A match between these dynamic forces could make a picture-perfect feud. More than anyone else, Goldberg could be the opponent Reigns needs to cement his legacy.
#1. A feud with Goldberg could establish Roman Reigns' run as WWE Universal Champion
There is no surprise in the fact that Roman Reigns has already established himself as a heel. But some fans still wonder whether Reigns has established himself as a legitimate world champion.
It may seem odd to question Reigns' position, but on paper, his run with the title has been lacking. He's potentially in danger of becoming a part-time champion like Brock Lesnar.
Having only defended the Universal Title against Jey Uso and Strowman so far, many fans might believe that Reigns, on paper, needs a win to genuinely prove himself. He's currently feuding with Owens, but a long-term rivalry with an icon like Goldberg could erase all of this doubt.
It remains to be seen what plans WWE could have in store for Reigns come Royal Rumble 2021. A feud with Daniel Bryan might be a possibility, but a program with Goldberg could change Reigns' career. If "The Tribal Chief" secured a decisive win over Goldberg at WWE WrestleMania 37, Reigns would firmly sit on his throne for the foreseeable future.
