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Ever since the shield split in 2014, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose were destined to paint the main event picture for the years ahead, and that they did.
But out of them, Roman Reigns had been booked to look the strongest, basically winning most of his matches, barely ever losing clean and was given more mic time than needed.
He was actually well received by most of the casual and semi-hardcore fans in 2014, but eventually, after an overexposure of his weak mic skills and lack of charisma, the fans began to realise that he was going to be shoved down their throats and began to turn on him.
From being the most over babyface in the 2014 Royal Rumble to being the most hated man in Rumble history in 2015, 2016 and 2017 especially, the Roman Reigns experiment has come crashing down.
A lot of people speculated that if WWE turned him heel, the fans would have a legitimate reason to boo Roman Reigns and he wouldn't have such a terrible babyface character run. But if WWE planned on making him the next John Cena, I don't think the heel turn would be ‘merchandise worthy’.
If WWE’s plan was to make Roman Reigns the figurehead of the company, and have the kids buy his T-shirts, hats and hoodies, then turning him heel is actually a bad idea. But then again, should he have been the figurehead of the company in the first place?
Well, looking at his work-rate and dedication, he absolutely deserves it. He just needed better booking purely as a babyface. Here’s how I would have booked Roman Reigns post-Shield.
Step 1: Separation from The Shield
Firstly, I’d have him kept away from Seth Rollins for a very long time, let Rollins and Ambrose have their awesome set of matches. Keep his booking the same all the way up to Summerslam, where he faces Randy Orton.
I’d have Orton win via shenanigans, just to make a marquee Roman Reigns win all the more must-see. He’s then off for surgery around Night of Champions, also missing Hell in a Cell and Survivor Series. There is absolutely no mention of Roman Reigns the entire time.
Also read: My simple 5 step booking plan to get Roman Reigns cheered
He doesn't return at TLC to help John Cena win the tables match, Seth Rollins gets the win with the help of J&J security, hence entering the WWE World Heavyweight Championship match at the Royal Rumble.
We don't have Reigns appear for a very long time in fact. Fans are wondering as to where on earth is Reigns.
Step 2: The Royal Rumble
Now comes the most controversial part of the Roman Reigns booking. The Royal Rumble. The fans dumped on the Rumble for two major reasons, Daniel Bryan not winning and his early elimination.
Unfortunately, we’d still have that here, but we won’t have Roman Reigns win this Rumble. Roman Reigns enters the Rumble as a surprise entrant maybe before Daniel Bryan. I’d have Reigns, Bryan, Bray and Rusev be the final four, and one spot remaining in the Rumble. No. 30, is The Undertaker.
The Undertaker wins the Royal Rumble after last eliminating Daniel Bryan. The fans would definitely not want to boo the Deadman after the Rumble, The Undertaker shakes Bryan’s hand as a sign of respect.
This sets up the Undertaker vs Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania, with the whole revenge storyline. Back to the rumble, Roman Reigns eliminates Rusev, and the camera cuts to Rusev who looks visibly pissed.
Step 3: Rusev feud
Keep in mind, Rusev in early 2015 was one of the most dominating heels on the roster, he was undefeated and still wasn't a victim to the terrible booking that he's been having currently.
So next night on Raw, Rusev attacks Roman, brutalising him with a chain or something and waves the Russian flag on Roman’s prone body. Setting up for a match at Fastlane. Rusev wins clean, just like how he beat John Cena clean in real life.
This entire time, Roman hasn't been given the microphone or anything, he’s just a man with a point to prove and while Rusev is beating down babyfaces, Roman Reigns is running roughshod on heels.
Roman challenges Rusev to a No holds barred match at WrestleMania for the US title, Rusev declines.
Next week, after Rusev squashes yet another babyface, Roman attacks Rusev from behind viciously beating him down, as the crowd presumably chant, “U-S-A” or something, Roman wraps Rusev around a chain and demands a US title shot from Lana, looking at her man in such pain, she accepts the challenge on his behalf.
At this point, the fans are loving this tough and badass babyface, who isn't immediately pushed into the main event picture, and fans ought to cheer him cause, America. Roman Reigns beating an undefeated monster at Wrestlemania not only increasing his stock but also increases the credibility of the US Championship.
Keep him off the mic, away from Triple H, and in the upper-mid card till at least Survivor Series, and then fans will not only respect Roman for elevating a mid-card title but would also be invested in potential main event matches against Brock Lesnar or The Undertaker in the near future.
But here’s how I would transition this strong upper mid-carder to the main event scene.
Step 4: Bray Wyatt feud
Bray Wyatt challenges Roman Reigns for the United States Championship at night of champions. The Wyatt Family get involved and cost Reigns the title, giving Bray his first ever singles title.
Reigns invokes his rematch at Hell in a Cell, and to keep the Wyatt Family from interfering, it’s a Hell in a Cell match.
They have a brutal hellacious match, just like they did in real life, and in the end, I’d have Braun Strowman make his debut by literally coming (in his black sheep mask) out and breaking the cell door, just like how Kane did back in 1997.
Strowman beats Roman down, Sister Abigail, Bray is still your US Champion. We have the Wyatt Family attack Kane after his match against Seth Rollins later that night, and also attack the Undertaker, just like they did in real life.
At Survivor Series, 25 years of the Undertaker, I’d have a blockbuster main event. The Brothers of Destruction, Undertaker and Kane alongside Roman Reigns and his brother Dean Ambrose take on the Wyatt Family in a 4 on 4 elimination match.
Reigns and Ambrose don't have mid card titles, but they are firmly established as credible main event talents now, and after getting a rub from a legend like the Undertaker, there’s no way the fans would boo him.
Now, he’s in a very good position to win the Royal Rumble without fan apathy or maybe to even challenge the Undertaker at WrestleMania.
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