Top 5 Roman Reigns moments from WWE SummerSlam over the years

Roman Reigns is regarded as the top star of the current generation of pro wrestling. The widespread recognition and respect is owing to his astonishing accolades, including a 1300-day plus World Championship reign that will never be matched.

The former Shield member's aura is incomparable. Considering the important positions he has held in the spotlight for the last decade, Reigns has also had his fair share of moments at SummerSlam- the second-biggest premium live event of the WWE calendar.

The Tribal Chief also has an impressive win-loss record at The Biggest Party of The Summer, bagging six wins in eight matches, including a no-contest. On that note, let's look at the top five Roman Reigns moments from WWE SummerSlam over the years.

#5. The Big Dog triumphed over Randy Orton at SummerSlam 2014

Roman Reigns' first SummerSlam singles match was impressive. [Image Credits: WWE.com]

After The Shield shockingly split in June 2014, Roman Reigns embarked on a singles run as The Big Dog, and his first major feud was with Randy Orton, whom he had previously fought during The Shield's war with Evolution.

Their long feud reached its climax at SummerSlam 2014 at the Staples Center. Considering it was his first marquee singles match at a major show, Reigns was expected to go over Orton, and that is precisely what happened.

As for the in-ring quality, it was a decent affair. The Big Dog survived an RKO out of nowhere as The Viper countered his Leaping Clothesline into his devastating finisher.

Since this was early in Reigns' run as a singles star, he was relatively green in storytelling and ring work. Furthermore, Reigns vs. Orton had been booked multiple times on free television in the previous months, which detracted from the appeal of the bout. Nevertheless, this win was a clear indication that WWE was launching Roman Reigns to the stratosphere as a top babyface.

#4. Roman Reigns topples Brock Lesnar to win his first Universal Championship

Braun Strowman never took his eye off the ball. [Image credits: WWE.com]

In the summer of 2018, WWE was still committed to pushing Reigns as the top babyface amid controversy and fierce fan opposition. It was only a matter of time before he ascended to the summit as World Champion.

Reigns' coronation came at SummerSlam 2018 when he finally defeated Brock Lesnar in the main event. This wasn't a complete debacle as The Big Dog received a slightly positive reaction upon his victory, but it pales in comparison to his other noteworthy wins.

The Beast Incarnate had held the Universal Championship for a year-and-a-half as a part-timer with only a handful of title defenses, drawing criticism from the fan base. The WWE Universe had grown tired of his reign and would have cheered for anyone to dethrone him.

Secondly, the company had unnecessarily prolonged the feud between Reigns and Lesnar, and fans had lost interest. WWE did try to spice things up by having Braun Strowman as Monster in the Bank observing the bout at ringside. Therefore, this wasn't the feel-good moment that Roman Reigns should have had with his eventual coronation as Universal Champion.

#3. The Tribal Chief thwarts John Cena from creating history before staring down a familiar foe

The night many believe that The Tribal Chief became the new 'Franchise Player.' [Image credits: WWE.com]

SummerSlam 2021 had serious hype because it was the first one with a live audience in two years. With the return of the WWE Universe, John Cena came back home for a blockbuster Universal Title match with Roman Reigns at The Biggest Party of The Summer.

Reigns had announced that he would leave if he lost, and Cena showed that he only needed a three-count on The Tribal Chief to win his 17th World Championship, demonstrating the same with a roll-up.

Needless to say, the eventual bout at SummerSlam lived up to the hype as both men told a wonderful story, with Reigns as the tyrannical villain bad-mouthing the loveable veteran hero chasing glory.

In the end, as expected, The Head of The Table pinned The Franchise Player with a spine-jarring Spear. However, his celebration was short-lived as Brock Lesnar returned with a fresh look for the first time since April 2020.

The Beast and The Tribal Chief stared daggers through each other with a distraught Paul Heyman screaming in the background as SummerSlam 2021 went off-air.

The face-off was needed to maintain interest towards the final months of 2021, and Roman Reigns going over Cena was the correct booking decision.

#2. Roman Reigns puts his famed rivalry with Brock Lesnar to bed with a dominating victory

The saga between Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar which started at SummerSlam came to a close 12 months later in a brutal, memorable, and universally praised Last Man Standing Match.

It's hard to find a single complaint with the final chapter of the Reigns-Lesnar saga. "Farmer" Brock Lesnar entered the match in a tractor, true to the origins of his current babyface character.

From Lesnar toppling over the ring with a tractor to him F5-ing Heyman through the announce table, there was no dull moment. Let's not forget The Conqueror squashing Austin Theory during his failed Money in the Bank cash-in mid-way during the match.

The finish saw The Usos run to the ring. The Bloodline dismantled The Beast and buried him under a pile of rubble, consisting of announce tables, steel chairs, and steps. Reigns raised his finger to the sky as the referee counted to ten with Michael Cole begging the official to count faster.

Considering that Reigns had already defeated Lesnar multiple times, the outcome was a foregone conclusion. Yet, WWE constructed a wonderful story and one of the best SummerSlam main events in recent memory.

#1. Roman Reigns returns as The Tribal Chief with unforeseen ferociousness, wrecks everyone, and leaves

The tagline of SummerSlam 2020, occurring in the ThunderDome Era, stated "You'll Never See It Coming!" As the show went off-air, WWE had delivered on this promise as Roman Reigns, who had taken a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, returned with newfound aggression and wreaked havoc.

Reigns Speared The Fiend, who had just won the Universal Championship from Braun Strowman. The returning star obliterated Strowman and Bray Wyatt with steel chairs as the fans were left questioning his inexplicable actions.

A few days later, Reigns aligned with Paul Heyman and won the Universal Championship, marking the beginning of The Tribal Chief era and the greatest title reign in recent memory.

Fans had been clamoring for a character change for years, and Reigns finally turned heel at SummerSlam 2020. This felt natural and organic, allowing the top star to reach new heights. It was the dawn of a new era of top-tier storytelling and unprecedented dominance, led by The Tribal Chief.

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Edited by Gurjyot Singh Dadial