The situation with Reigns is genuinely fascinating.
The ship ultimately sailed on Roman being 'The Guy' at Mania 32 when we got *That finish* instead of Roman going over Brock. Thing is up until then, most people (including me) were 100% convinced he was going to be the one to get the rub from beating Brock. But Vince hesitated.
Even after that point, most people were 100% convinced (including me) that Roman would *eventually* beat Lesnar.
Then Survivor Series happened.
In a way, everything up to Mania 31 was like a play by play re-run of the lead up to Cena's coronation in 2006 & everything after that point has been like a neat parallel universe where we get to see what would've happened if Vince had decided to go the other way.
It's great for long time fans like me who always like to play the 'what if' game with Cena.
I don't think Vince has gone the other way though. Reigns has still been the most pushed and protected act over the last two years, they've just had to be more bashful about it. An endless loop of deferred coronations for two years that are postponed by his shittiness, then Rollins' injury, then his suspension, then Balor's injury which was supposed to keep him out of the title picture until right about now, when he can fail again. Common sense would say they don't have DA STONES to do Reigns/Strowman at Mania for the Uni and not the U.S., but there's been never been any common sense. I'm pretty sure Owens vs Jericho is not going to be for the world championship, so.
(Oh man, Triple H in the title match again against Rollins! Oh man, is it almost time for rumored Wrestlemania card rumors 2017.)
Also Cena in 2006-07 was cutting good promos and drawing good houses. B. Dog still can only dream about the day that he can and he will. Quality irony as Cena in '16-17 and his record-breaking title program with Styles or Undertaker is going to vastly overshadow Reigns at Mania some 2.5 years after they sacrificed Cena to Lesnar to hand the company to Roman. LOL life is pointless.
Originally posted by JustinShapiroI don't think Vince has gone the other way though. Reigns has still been the most pushed and protected act over the last two years, they've just had to be more bashful about it. An endless loop of deferred coronations for two years that are postponed by his shittiness, then Rollins' injury, then his suspension, then Balor's injury which was supposed to keep him out of the title picture until right about now, when he can fail again. Common sense would say they don't have DA STONES to do Reigns/Strowman at Mania for the Uni and not the U.S., but there's been never been any common sense. I'm pretty sure Owens vs Jericho is not going to be for the world championship, so.
The natural matchup to me seems to be Reigns/Balor (which Balor probably loses, but oh well at least it's not Strowman), but the rumors all seem to suggest that Reigns/Strowman is the match. Man, WWE is dumb.
This is the rumored WM lineup as of last week:
Cena vs Undertaker (WWE Title) Goldberg vs Lesnar Reigns vs Strowman (Universal Title) HHH vs Seth Jericho vs Owens Charlotte vs Bayley (Raw Womens) Shaq vs Big Show Andre battle royal
I'd imagine Styles is in a match of some importance, and I'd hope Ambrose is in there somewhere, and maybe Shaq/Show is just a rumor, and maybe Balor just isn't ready by Mania, but it's still a better lineup than WM32 so far.
Originally posted by WONRight now when it comes to Undertaker, while it is likely Cena, the other opponent considered is Roman Reigns with the idea that Reigns is the future, Cena vs. Undertaker doesn’t build the future, and this may be Undertaker’s last match.
some thought that Mania musical chairs will leave AJ Styles with Brock Lesnar's original opponent ( ) Shane McMahon, I guess in a takeoff of the feud he was going to do with Rob Van Dam in 2001 over who truly is the WWE's most spectacular athlete.
At least AJ/Shane gives Styles a spot you know they'll promote, instead of just putting him in the IC Title ladder match, or putting over the new Fandango. It probably gets promoted over Jericho/Owens on the card.
Silly Vince, still thinking Reigns is the future.
Assuming this is it for Taker (which is assumed every year now), I think if Taker could end HBK's career, and he wasn't the future, then Cena should be ending Taker's. Especially since Taker was there on Cena's first night.
They've already tried indirectly having Taker put over Reigns via Brock from WM30-WM31 and that didn't work out so well, so of course that's something Vince is very seriously considering.
Originally posted by SKLOKAZOIDAt least AJ/Shane gives Styles a spot you know they'll promote, instead of just putting him in the IC Title ladder match, or putting over the new Fandango. It probably gets promoted over Jericho/Owens on the card.
Yes, while Shane being treated as the new Rock of Wrestlemania is uproariously funny, it would still be a protected spot for Styles in the vein of Jericho/Mickey Rourke in 2009 or Punk/Undertaker where the champion who carried the show all year is given a special consolation prize. "Why not Reigns/Balor and Styles/Nakamura" becoming both the obvious and obvious-why-not countersuggestions.
Meltzer also says - Charlotte/Bayley is the new top title program for the women going forward, - but Sasha Banks is still planned for a major Mania match, - and a multiple-person women's championship match is likely on the Raw side.
I kind of think they're going to give them the Mania ladder match spot for another first-ever-history-making deal. If so, I hope Becky is allowed to be in it since Nikki's championship comeback is probably the Smackdown WM story.
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