'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Paul Heyman's alliance with Roman Reigns was the initial catalyst for the current WWE Universal Champion's heel turn. Together, they have changed the entire face of WWE SmackDown. With Heyman by his side, this entirely new version of Reigns has been unstoppable.
As entertaining as Heyman's work with "The Tribal Chief" has been, all good things must come to an end. At some point, WWE will pull the plug on this partnership one way or another. Here's a look at five ways the Roman Reigns-Paul Heyman alliance could end.
#5. The return of Brock Lesnar and a face turn for Roman Reigns
While this direction may not be the most ideal solution, the dynamic would be interesting to say the least. A few years ago, WWE made it no secret that it was desperate to build Roman Reigns into its next top star. But the company delayed his coronation at WWE WrestleMania 31, as Vince McMahon bided his time and waited for the right moment.
And then WrestleMania 34 happened. Brock Lesnar was coming off a successful year as the WWE Universal Champion, and it seemed certain that in the main event of WrestleMania, Reigns would finally defeat "The Beast Incarnate."
Instead, Reigns lost at the "Super Bowl of Sports Entertainment." The rivals had another cage match that ended controversially, but Reigns finally earned a win over Lesnar later in 2018.
Now, Reigns is working with Heyman, Lesnar's former advocate. "The Head of the Table" doesn't need him as much as Lesnar does, but the timing of Lesnar's absence worked out perfectly for "The Tribal Chief."
If Lesnar returns to WWE, he'll probably reunite with Heyman. There is always the possibility that "The Beast Incarnate" will be on WWE RAW, and his advocate will simply pull double duty. That approach might be the simpler way to go.
But WWE has a (potentially) good story on its hands. Heyman could turn on Roman Reigns, allowing "The Big Dog" to become a babyface in the process. This time, fans could see a more refined face character for Reigns. In that case, WWE could deliver the final chapter of Reigns' memorable rivalry with Lesnar.
#4. Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman break up, but their roles don't necessarily change
It's possible that WWE will simply split Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman due to some storyline tension between the two. They might not get a full-fledged payoff with this approach. That won't necessarily be a bad thing if their roles don't change.
Reigns could still be the version of himself that fans are currently seeing, and Heyman could go back to being the character he had been portraying on WWE programming. This direction would be a relatively simple, albeit inconclusive, way to end their partnership.
#3. WWE decides to quietly end the alliance
While this is an unlikely result, it's also a safe one, both for Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman. The quickest and easiest solution would be to simply have the alliance between Reigns and Heyman quietly end.
In this scenario, Heyman would simply stop appearing alongside Reigns, and both men would move on. WWE would likely provide no explanation of the development. This progression would be unsatisfying, but because Reigns doesn't necessarily need Heyman, they could just abruptly drift apart.
#2. The Usos turn on Roman Reigns
Jimmy Uso is out of action, but when he returns, he will be expected to align with Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman, and Jey Uso. The Usos completing The Bloodline faction as a heel trio would be magnificent, but that result may not be the long-term plan.
Heyman could use The Usos as pawns as part of a larger plan against Reigns. The ultimate objective here would be to get Reigns over as a babyface, but there's still plenty of time for the story to play itself out.
#1. Big E gets groomed to be the next "Paul Heyman Guy"
This approach might be the most intriguing option on the table. WWE might have planted the seeds for it already. Heyman and Big E have interacted with each other on recent episodes of Talking Smack, and "The Advocate" has hinted at a match between Big E and Roman Reigns.
Heyman put Big E over, both as a potential opponent for Reigns and as a singles star. Heyman seems to feel that Big E is much better off without his New Day stablemates, and he could be right.
Big E is getting the biggest singles push of his career right now. If he takes it to the next level, it might be as a heel. Pairing Big E with Heyman could propel him to the top of the card. It would also set him up for an explosive clash with Roman Reigns.
