Roman Reigns Must Win vs. Seth Rollins at Night of Champions

Following their frequent clashes on WWE programming in recent weeks, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins are scheduled to settle their differences once and for all at the Night of Champions pay-per-view.

If WWE writers are thinking sensibly, they will script Reigns to go over in Nashville, Tennessee. It's the correct booking option. Reigns' momentum must continue in order for him to progress further up the WWE card.

Vince McMahon clearly has a great deal invested in the former Shield member. He's been more protected than almost any other star on the roster. He has rarely lost or been made to look weak or vulnerable on television. He garnered a clean win over established main eventer Randy Orton at SummerSlam last month too—a sure sign the company sees him as a cornerstone of its future.

Credit: WWE.com

A showdown with Brock Lesnar over the WWE World Heavyweight Championship seems inevitable.

Lesnar has been booked so strongly over the past year that it's clear it is going to take someone special to stop him. Thanks to his size and his winning streak, Reigns is by far the best candidate. Honestly, he may be the only candidate considering how Lesnar has decimated other top babyfaces, including John Cena and The Undertaker.

A major main event match between the two at next year's WrestleMania event could be a possibility. Reigns vs. Lesnar is arguably one of the few "dream" matches the company has left. It has to be protected.

So why scrap all the good work WWE has done with Reigns over the past year and book him to lose at Night of Champions? It doesn't make any sense, does it?

Credit: WWE.com

It will taint his credibility in the eyes of the fans—at a time when they desperately need to be sold on him.

OK, so you could say that Rollins will be damaged by a clean loss—which is a valid point. But really, when has Rollins ever been booked as some unstoppable monster who never fails or loses? That's not a part of his act. He often sells and bumps for the good guys and makes their offense look tremendous.

He's bounced back from losses before; he can do it again. Getting pinned at Night of Champions will do him no real harm in the long term as long as WWE gives him a good program to rebound on.

Credit: WWE.com

This is the key difference between the two men. Rollins can handle a big loss on pay-per-view right now; Reigns really can’t.

On paper, the Rollins vs. Reigns clash at the pay-per-view looks like a great match that could potentially steal the show. Both men are certainly talented enough to pull it off. Booked correctly, it could also be a notable and crucial step on Reigns’ path to the top of the company.