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So, the question on everyone's mind over the last few weeks was the following. Who was the architect of the vicious attacks on Roman Reigns, first with the faulty forklift and then with the hit and run incident that the Big Dog just narrowly survived?
This week's show would reveal the following. Rowan was definitely the man behind the attacks on Roman Reigns because even though it was unclear in the footage, Rowan and Daniel Bryan's reactions pretty much confirmed the same.
But Daniel Bryan would begin to start punishing Rowan with a barrage of hard slaps while Rowan protested that he did it for someone else, or at least, so it would seem. Honestly, it would be the anticlimax of the year, if it turned out that Rowan was solely responsible for the said attacks.
So while I list out a name of suspects regarding who it could possibly be, why don't you guys leave a comment and list your very own suspects as well?
#5 Luke Harper
Luke Harper's Twitter still proclaims that he's very much Luke Harper of WWE, to this day. It just makes sense for him to control Rowan's actions considering the fact that Rowan was a Bludgeon Brother as well as a member of the Wyatt Family before this. The two men can capitalize on their history and form a pretty formidable alliance on the blue brand, potentially going forward.
It's a shame to see someone who's as talented as Luke Harper sitting on the sidelines when he is cleared to wrestle and someone like Bischoff may have taken note of the same, I do believe. Which is why this could be a great way to reintroduce him to the WWE Universe, this time not in the hideous Bludgeon Brothers ring gear.
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#4 Eric Bischoff
It's just strange to note that someone like Eric Bischoff is a part of the roster but isn't an on-screen character, as a manager or an authority figure. I mean he was one of the most important components in the nWo, and he was also a very (un)popular RAW General Manager. The very fact that he got a monstrous pop at RAW 25 speaks volumes with regard to his popularity to this day.
If Bischoff has creative sway as well, it stands to reason that he'd want to insert himself as an on-screen character, because we all know how much he likes to be the center of attention! I think that whether it's as an authority figure or a manager for Rowan, he could do a pretty fantastic job on screen.
Most importantly, someone with prominence and power needed to convince Rowan to carry out the dastardly attacks, and Bischoff certainly fits the bill.
#3 Drew McIntyre
There has to be a reason why someone like Drew McIntyre who was touted to win the King of the Ring got eliminated in the first round. I mean sure, Ricochet is getting the biggest push of his career, but could he have convinced Rowan to attack Roman Reigns?
What one must remember is that McIntyre has been revealed as someone who holds a lot of sway with the McMahons, in particular, with Shane McMahon. Therefore, he could have convinced Rowan by saying that his job depends on taking Roman Reigns out of commission.
One must also remember that Roman Reigns and Drew McIntyre have been at odds for many months now and this is a feud that began before WrestleMania. It would certainly make sense for McIntyre to show up on SmackDown Live and in time, aim for the highly prestigious WWE Championship.
I can certainly see him as a future WWE Champion, down the line.
#2 Shane or Vince McMahon
Anytime something goes horribly wrong in WWE, it stands to reason that a McMahon orchestrated the same. I mean, not only have they established themselves as a family comprising of heels, they would be the only ones to wield the power needed to convince a Superstar like Rowan to carry out a vicious attack. Bear in mind that Roman Reigns attacked Vince McMahon during his first night on SmackDown Live.
Not only could this be a way to keep Shane McMahon on TV, but it could also be a way to bring back Vince McMahon into the thick of things once again. Bear in mind that SmackDown's ratings haven't been the best, and Vince McMahon is someone who can make the viewership spike with every single appearance, in my opinion.
While the culprit could be someone completely unexpected like Sheamus, this is an explanation that actually makes sense. Which means that WWE won't go down this route!
#1 Daniel Bryan himself
Honestly, this is the most likely explanation if you consider all of the facts lined up before you. Daniel Bryan shut Erick Rowan with a flurry of hard slaps when he was about to name the man who convinced him to carry out the vicious attacks.
There is more than one reason why Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns should be the highlighted program on SmackDown Live in the weeks and months to come. When the top babyface in the company goes up against the top heel, the result is a money feud.
Moreover, Sportskeeda's own Tom Colohue revealed that Eric Bischoff was very keen on Daniel Bryan slotting back into the main event picture once again, which is certainly a big deal considering how much sway the man has backstage. If you consider all of the facts, Daniel Bryan is, by far, the most likely suspect.
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