WWE Elimination Chamber 2021: 5 reasons why Roman Reigns isn't competing inside the structure 

WWE is in the unique position of having both a face and a heel World champion currently representing the company.

Monday Night RAW's Drew McIntyre will be put through the wringer this weekend to prove his worth as champion. However, that won't be the case for Roman Reigns, who currently runs SmackDown.

McIntyre's WWE Championship will be on the line against five challengers in the Elimination Chamber. Meanwhile, the Universal Champion negotiated his way out of defending his title inside Satan's Structure.

Reigns will instead face the SmackDown six-man Chamber match-winner. The field includes his cousin Jey Uso and longtime rival Kevin Owens.

With WrestleMania now less than eight weeks away, there are several different creative options for WWE and their Universal Champion. However, why is one champion being forced to work harder than the other this weekend at Elimination Chamber?

There are several reasons why WWE wouldn't want Reigns inside the structure this weekend; here are just five.

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#5 WWE needs to show that Roman Reigns has power on SmackDown

Roman Reigns has been on quite the roll since returning to WWE back at SummerSlam 2020. During his current run, he has shown several times that he has a lot of pull backstage.

Reigns has been able to retain his title using illegal tactics several times and has even been able to overrule WWE Official Adam Pearce.

Pearce likely had the plan for Reigns to be added to the Elimination Chamber match a few weeks ago. However, with Paul Heyman's help, the champion was able to negotiate his own terms.

This could be an underlying storyline slowly building in the background. Only a member of the McMahon family could be able to make their return and put Reigns in his place.

Reigns' refusal to defend his title in matches that Officials have planned for him, and his constant pushing against authority figures, could lead to a McMahon showdown. He could even face NXT head Triple H in the future if he continues down this path.

#4 The Universal Championship has never been defended inside WWE's Elimination Chamber

The Elimination Chamber match has been a staple on the road to WrestleMania in WWE for several years. Traditionally, the battles inside the structure are pointed towards WrestleMania. They tend to set up championship matches for the Biggest Show of the Year, but that isn't always the case.

In the past, the Women's Tag Team, Intercontinental, SmackDown Women's, Men's Tag Team, and the WWE Championship have all been defended inside the structure. However, the Universal Championship hasn't.

The title was only unveiled in 2016, but WWE has kept the title away from the Chamber over the past five years. It could be part of a bigger overall plan.

WWE could unveil the statistic in a few years. Therefore, they can make a bigger deal out of the fact the title has never been on the line in one of the company's most brutal matches.

#3 WWE doesn't want to risk injury to Roman Reigns this close to WrestleMania

As already noted, WWE's Elimination Chamber is one of the most brutal that the company has to offer. Furthermore, it's no secret that WrestleMania is now less than two months away.

Roman Reigns missed last year's WrestleMania after the COVID-19 pandemic sent WWE into lockdown. His absence meant that Braun Strowman had to replace The Tribal Chief at the last minute.

Reigns was scheduled to take on Goldberg, but The Monster Among Men was able to do the job. He won the Universal Championship, despite his lack of time to prepare.

This year, WWE will want to avoid the same scenario. Roman Reigns is supposedly expected to defend his Universal Championship against Royal Rumble winner Edge.

Reigns' 'Mania match is one of the only ones currently locked in on the card. If the current champion suffered an injury this weekend, it would give WWE a vast creative headache heading into WrestleMania.

#2 The winner of the SmackDown Chamber match could feud with Roman Reigns ahead of WWE Fastlane

WWE has pay-per-views coming thick and fast with Elimination Chamber taking place on Sunday night, followed by Fastlane in just a month. Then, WrestleMania goes down around two weeks later.

There has to be some seeds planted for a future Universal Championship feud tomorrow night if WWE hopes to build up a decent feud heading into Fastlane.

It's already clear that Edge will challenge Roman Reigns at WrestleMania in April. That feud can continue in the background. But the Universal Champion will be in action at Fastlane as well and is in dire need of a challenger.

The Elimination Chamber structure could crown a new No. 1 contender. If that star is then screwed out of his title shot later in the night, WWE has to hand him a rematch in four weeks at Fastlane.

#1 WWE needs to fill the Elimination Chamber card

WWE Elimination Chamber hasn't had the best build-up. One match has already been scrapped, while Keith Lee has seemingly been pulled from his battle for the United States Championship.

The former North American Champion is reportedly struggling with injury, while Asuka's title defense against Lacey Evans is off. The Sassy Southern Belle announced her pregnancy this past week on RAW.

As of this writing, there are just five matches on the official card since the Women's Tag Team Championships were added to the show on SmackDown.

Roman Reigns' match against the SmackDown Elimination Chamber winner means that WWE doesn't have to think of another clash to add. It's unclear if WWE will add any more matches or if five will be enough to fill the required timeslot.

It is also much easier for Roman Reigns to illegally retain his championship if it's a straight wrestling match.