The WWE Universe Revolves Around Roman Reigns as WrestleMania 41 Season Begins

As WWE prepares to embark on the road to WrestleMania 41, its Superstars and storylines once again revolve around one man: Roman Reigns.

The Tribal Chief and the Bloodline Saga that he has been at the forefront of since 2020 remain the catalyst for every major storyline in the company, regardless of the brand. Superstars from Raw and SmackDown have their own personal programs, but they all have roots in the overarching Reigns-led story.

Regardless of whether Reigns holds championship gold, he remains the centerpiece of the WWE Universe. The high tide that raises all ships.

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Justified Villains

Drew McIntyre and Kevin Owens have become bad guys in the WWE narrative, but they are actually completely justified in their feelings.

Both opposed Reigns and did their part to combat his tyrannical run as Undisputed WWE Universal champion. They challenged him and stood alongside friends as they battled The Bloodline together, but they ultimately failed to unseat him.

Imagine their dismay when The Tribal Chief was finally defeated at WrestleMania 40, the power he possessed from holding the championship gone. Cody Rhodes finished his story and saved WWE, carrying it into a new era, only to watch The American Nightmare assist Reigns in battling Solo Sikoa and the New Bloodline six months later.

Owens was right to feel betrayed, especially after he stood by Rhodes' side and waged war with Reigns and Co. leading into the 2024 Showcase of the Immortals. He sacrificed himself, took years off his career, and suffered significant losses, only to watch someone he trusted and befriended disregard it in the name of "doing what is right."

McIntyre's loss to Reigns changed him. It consumed him. As late as Monday's Raw, he warned the world that The Tribal Chief, reunited with the ula fala, was slowly and slyly resuming power in WWE while everyone the fans trusted was going out of their way to help him.

Or, in Seth Rollins' case, doing nothing at all to stop Reigns from acquiring power.

And therein lies the genius of the creative involved in this overarching story.

First, Reigns does not have to appear every week to be at the forefront of multiple ongoing storylines. Second, even top-tier feuds such as McIntyre vs. Rollins, CM Punk, or Owens vs. Rhodes are satellite feuds connected to the Bloodline Saga. The issues between those men can be traced directly back to Reigns and the effect that man has on his fellow Superstars.

In a prior era, details did not matter. Stories were one-dimensional, with the idea that the audience was too stupid, ignorant, or unobservant enough to pay that much attention. Today's WWE features layered storylines that have ties back to previous ones.

Every little thing matters, which has never been more evident than with McIntyre and Owens. They are desperately trying to warn their peers that the same guy who made all of their lives a living hell is about to regain power because they directly assisted him.

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Babyfaces With Ties to The OTC

Jey Uso became his own man after breaking free from Reigns but set aside his own goals to help his cousin knock off Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, Tama Tonga, and Tanga Loa.

Sami Zayn broke free of Reigns' gaslighting and manipulation in 2023 but returned to serve under the Tribal Chief in time for Survivor Series: War Games, gleefully embracing his "Honorary Uce" title.

CM Punk made a deal with Paul Heyman for an as-of-yet unknown favor that Reigns owes him, but he still saddled up with The Head of the Table to combat the New Bloodline.

Only Jimmy Uso made sense as, outside of one momentary lapse, he never really left Reigns' side, a loyal soldier in his quest to rule over WWE.

Jey, Punk, and Zayn all still have ties to Reigns. Uso continues to seek that defining win that announces to the world that he is more than a tag team wrestler and member of a famous wrestling family. Punk has that favor that will hang over his path to WrestleMania 41 and, potentially, longer until it is revealed to the world.

Then there is Zayn, who Rollins bluntly asked when he would stop being at Reigns' beck and call and do things for himself.

Speaking of The Visionary, Rollins might be the most interesting character at play here.

Yes, he took shots at all three for helping Reigns regain power, but he has also managed to stay away from Reigns and his business. This, despite being the most important crusader in the battle against The Bloodline, thanks to the effect he has mentally on The Tribal Chief. It was, after all, Rollins who provided the distraction that allowed Rhodes to best Reigns at WrestleMania.

With mounting frustration over his feud with Punk, and a teased alliance with McIntyre, will Rollins become too bogged down in other side quests to remain at the forefront of the story or will he once again emerge from all of it as the one man who can prevent Reigns from reclaiming his throne as the top dog in WWE?

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Then there is The Rock and Paul Heyman to consider and how intricately linked to Reigns they are. Is The Final Boss angling to take down Reigns and become Tribal Chief himself or is their relationship still strong, with Rock a powerful ally?

Is Heyman still the awe-inspired Wise Man or is he the master manipulator, advising Reigns and clearing his way back to the top by convincing the same men who led to his downfall to pledge their allegiance?

There are no short of 10 moving pieces in this storyline, one many thought would end with Reigns' defeat at WrestleMania a year ago. Instead, it continues to captivate and engross fans, thanks to its ability to evolve and adapt.

Reigns remains the centerpiece of the WWE Universe, its catalyst, but also the man whose star power is not reserved strictly for his own success and fame, but also for those who work with him and are involved in this epic Bloodline Saga.

It does not matter if he is a heel or babyface, champion or challenger. The Tribal Chief is the guy in wrestling's top promotion, whether he is on any given episode of Raw or SmackDown or not. With an entry into the 2025 Royal Rumble, a match he has not won in a decade, that is not poised to change anytime soon.

Given the red-hot state of WWE and the quality of its storylines, that is a good thing.