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On this week's SmackDown we saw John Cena officially challenge Roman Reigns to a match at SummerSlam. This was a match we all thought would happen even before he returned.
However, Roman Reigns threw a spanner in the works when he refused to accept the challenge and told Cena that he wouldn't be wrestling The Champ at SummerSlam.
An even bigger spanner was thrown in the works when Finn Balor showed up and challenged Reigns instead, with The Head of the Table surprising everyone by accepting that challenge.
What if WWE are doing a storyline where Roman Reigns would rather face anyone else other than John Cena, so every week until SummerSlam he keeps turning down Cena's repeated challenges and instead gave title opportunities to others?
To be clear this isn't a list of wrestlers who are worthy of challenging Reigns or are as big a star as he is, but rather a list of wrestlers who could challenge The Tribal Chief instead of Cena and who would benefit from doing it.
Here are 5 more WWE Superstars who should get the opportunity to wrestle Reigns for the title before John Cena, if that's the case.
#5. King Nakamura cashes in his crown for Roman Reigns' Universal Title
What's the point of becoming King if you can't use your newfound kingship to challenge for the WWE Universal Title. Shinsuke Nakamura may have wrestled the crown from Baron Corbin's fingertips, but he's yet to have an opportunity at Roman Reigns' belt.
It would be great to see Nakamura in a high-profile match again after the time he's spent messing around in the tag-team division and mid-card. The guy was a legitimate top star of New Japan Pro Wrestling and a feud/match with Roman Reigns may be the best way to bring that out in WWE.
#4. Otis could capitalize on his new look and attitude to take on Roman Reigns before John Cena
Otis has been under the tutelage of Chad Gable and it seems to be paying off for him, which is why he should face Roman Reigns. Gone are the comedic stylings of the Otis we knew from Heavy Machinery, now replaced by a mean streak and a desire to succeed.
Otis could be a darkhorse to be one of WWE's top stars with his legitimate heavyweight physical build, spot-on charisma and character work. Not since Mark Henry's 'Hall of Pain' run, have he had a true heavyweight top star (Braun Strowman doesn't count) and a match with Reigns could help to get him there.
#3. Bronson Reed makes his debut in a match against Roman Reigns
Another option for establishing a top heavyweight star in WWE could be The Colossal Bronson Reed. Reed has debuted on WWE Main Event but is yet to make his first appearance on either RAW or SmackDown.
I personally think that Reed should debut in a match against The Tribal Chief and have a strong showing to truly establish him as a threat on the blue brand. But there's an added element of interest here, as Reed is an Australian Samoan and has previously hinted at joining The Bloodline.
This would be a good way of going about doing that, and adding another member to the stable for Cena to overcome before he gets to Roman Reigns.
#2. WWE takes pity on Baron Corbin with a title match against Roman Reigns
Baron Corbin needs a title match against Roman Reigns to pay his bills! He's having a string of bad luck at the moment. As evidenced in the most recent episode of SmackDown that saw him being given money, only to lose it later on in the show.
What the man needs, to turn his fortunes around and to get a bit of cash in his pocket, is a big main event title match. WWE could throw him a bone and put him in a match against Reigns for the title. This would also have the added comedy effect of Roman Reigns giving a dejected Baron Corbin, of all people, a title match before John Cena.
#1. Big E should cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase before Roman Reigns can face John Cena
Only a handful of WWE Superstars have cashed in their Money in the Bank briefcase in advance and even fewer of them have succeeded in winning the title. But Big E should absolutely do that, and he should win.
Just as it looks like the teased John Cena vs Roman Reigns match is finally going to happen. Big E should announce his intentions to cash in the MITB briefcase at SummerSlam, pushing John Cena behind him in the line, or at least making the match a Triple Threat.
This would make Big E a star, but also allow you to continue with Big E vs Reigns as a feud, or go with Big E vs Cena. You could even have Big E move on to someone else, and carry on Reigns vs Cena.
