Ryan Dilbert's 10-Count: Roman Reigns Set for His Best Bout to Date at Fast Lane

1. Expect Big Things from Roman Reigns vs. Daniel Bryan 

Reigns has to be giddy knowing he's going to face Bryan at Fast Lane and not Big Show, as many folks expected.

That match is going to be light years better than what he could have done with Big Show. Battling the giant would have showed off his physical side and been an entertaining slugfest. Bryan, though, is WWE's best in-ring performer right now.

Like Shawn Michaels and Ric Flair before him, Bryan gets the best out of his opponents.

Fans saw that just last week. His Casket match against Kane was better than anything we have seen from the big man since Bryan vs. Kane at Extreme Rules.

Much of Ryback's best ring work has come against Bryan. The bearded warrior has been able to coax excellence out of a guy not known for composing classics.

Now it's Reigns' turn. And he needs a great performance in the worst way.

Fans have pushed back against his rise to a headliner spot, especially at the Royal Rumble where the crowd in Philadelphia booed him like they would the Dallas Cowboys. 

This match is a proving ground for Reigns, both in storyline and in real life. To quiet his doubters, he needs a strong showing, a statement bout before heading off to take on Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania.

Bryan vs. Reigns will be exactly that. WWE's instructions to Bryan will undoubtedly be "Make Reigns look good." 

Reigns' explosiveness and high-impact offense will marry perfectly with Bryan's mat skills. The former WWE champ will serve as the ring general in aiding Reigns, who has to be wrestling with a Mark Henry-sized chip on his shoulder right now.  

Reigns' singles resume is about to get a significant addition. WWE put him in a favorable position by choosing Bryan as his foe, and the emerging star will make the company look smart by the end of Fast Lane. 

2. Raw Heavy on Entertainment, Short on Sports

Raw has been far from taut. The show often drags, especially in the middle, as WWE turns to filler and recaps too often.

A lack of in-ring action hurts it. It can't be a wall-to-wall showcase of wrestling, as there are stories to tell and shows to sell, but Raw is trending the wrong way.

On Monday's edition, there was just 59 minutes and 30 seconds of wrestling on a three-hour show. And three matches lasted under five minutes.

This is nothing new.

The total ring time of the last four editions of the show before that haven't been great either:

• Dec. 29: 55:34
• Jan. 5: 59:02
• Jan. 12: 41:34
• Jan. 19: 47:03

A 2-to-1 talking-to-wrestling ratio isn't cutting it. Raw needs more action, more of the sports part of the sports-entertainment equation. 

All match statistics courtesy of ProFightDB.com.

3. NXT Tag Team Division Needs New Faces

With The Ascension on the main roster and Kalisto expected to be headed there before long, the once-strong NXT tag division is thinning out.

The developmental branch has Buddy Murphy and Wesley Blake at the top, The Vaudevillains as an entertaining sideshow, The Mechanics (who aren't used nearly enough) and little else. 

This division is a good way for the marginal talents to earn more of the spotlight. WWE should consider finding partners for CJ Parker and Mojo Rawley to add depth to the division and give those guys a new avenue to walk down. Perhaps it sparks something for them and gets them out of their ruts.

Shoot Nation, a stable that has been performing at NXT house shows, needs to be moved to TV as well.

"

NXT's "Shoot Nation" Stable Adds New Member and Mouthpiece http://t.co/r1mBv3p3PS #News #WWE #NXT pic.twitter.com/nTYpkWqBFg

— RSN - WWE News (@RingsideNews) November 21, 2014"

That promising group offers a number of guys a chance to make an impression on the NXT crowd. And it also gives squads like Murphy and Blake some quality competition.

4. WWE Adds Black History Month Content

The WWE Network's archive is celebrating the history of African-Americans in the wrestling business.

In a smart use of the company's video library, WWE is now offering action from Mid-South Wrestling and Global Wrestling Federation to highlight stars such as Junkyard Dog, Iceman Parsons, Booker T and Stevie Ray. Lesser-known stars such as Pez Whatley and The Bruise Brothers pop up as well. 

The Network also has features on Ernie Ladd and Bobo Brazil.

All this content is compiled in a single spot, awaiting fans looking to educate themselves about the squared circle's past or soak themselves in nostalgia. Shrewd use of footage that the company already owns will be one of the keys for the WWE Network's continued growth.  

5. Multiple WrestleManias on Top

In the debate over whether Roman Reigns or Daniel Bryan should headline WrestleMania, there are a lot of valid points to make on both sides. "Bryan already had his moment" is not one of them.

Since when do guys only get one moment?

Still, that's something one hears in debates on social media. Some fans say that Bryan already main evented the marquee show and won the WWE title, so now it's time for him to move on. That's not how WWE history has played out.

The list of men who have headlined more than one WrestleMania in a row is long:

• Hulk Hogan: I, II, II
• Randy Savage: IV, V
• Hulk Hogan: V, VI, VII, VIII
• Yokozuna: IX, X
• Steve Austin: XIV, XV
• The Rock: XV, 2000, X-Seven
• Triple H: XX, 21, 22
• John Cena: 22, 23
• John Cena XXVII, XXVIII, 29

While one might be quick to then say that Bryan is no Hogan or Austin, he certainly won't be if he is shut out from future headlining opportunities. Imagine if WWE had told Austin to play a midcard role for WrestleMania XV because he already had his moment in the sun the year before.

All event info from TheHistoryofWWE.com.

6. Throwback Video of the Week: Buddy Rogers

When Triple H spoke with Steve Austin on a live edition of Austin's podcast, he gave a somewhat surprising answer for his dream opponent. The Game said he would love to face the original Nature Boy—Buddy Rogers.

Rogers was an innovator and one of the best showmen of his era. Watching him take on Lou Thesz in Chicago in 1951, one can see some of the ways that he influenced Ric Flair and others.

The challenger pulls out a number of familiar heel tactics, from pulling Thesz's hair to begging off punishment, as Flair would famously do years later.

Wrestlers performed a more subtle artistry back then. Rogers began to infuse some of the flash and flair that has become commonplace today.

7. Missing Main Event

The WWE Network is currently missing one of its best assets.

Main Event has not been airing. Legal issues with broadcasting have held the show hostage, per F4WOnline (h/t Wrestle Zone).

That has meant diehards have one less way to satiate their WWE hunger. One could always count on at least one good match from the show. It usually gave guys lower down on the card more ring time than they would get on Raw. 

It does eventually air on Hulu Plus and various international markets, but that's limiting its viewership. The week hasn't felt complete without it.

8. Steve Austin/Triple H Hit List

Austin and Triple H met as friends and peers in the podcast interview that aired after Monday's Raw. Seeing them in such close quarters stirred up memories of when they were throwing bombs at each other every night.

Their rivalry doesn't get talked about enough as one of WWE's best. Relive their best work against each other (or in one case as partners) to better appreciate their rivalry and the alliance that came out of it.

• Triple H vs. Steve Austin (Anything Goes): No Mercy 1999
• Triple H vs. Steve Austin vs. Rikishi vs. Undertaker vs. The Rock vs Kurt Angle (Hell in a Cell): Armageddon 2000
• Triple H vs. Steve Austin (Three Stages of Hell): No Way Out 2001
• Triple H and Steve Austin vs. Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit: Raw, May 1, 2001

Austin and The Game were at their best together when the rules were thrown out. Their greatest matches together involve chair shots and brawling. With the help of those fun stipulations, they managed to create a palpable intensity again and again.

9. Filling Out Fast Lane with the Tag Team Division

Daniel Bryan is set to face Roman Reigns. John Cena takes on Rusev. Paige challenges Nikki Bella.

Beyond that, WWE has to be careful with how it completes the card. It can't just trot out filler nor give anything too good away, as it needs to save the best stuff for WrestleMania.

One solution is to set up the tag title match at WrestleMania with a tag team tournament to crown the No. 1 contender. Some of the early rounds can air on Raw or SmackDown, but the semi-finals and finals would be a good fit for Fast Lane.

Credit: WWE.com

In addition to division regulars such as Cesaro and Tyson Kidd and Los Matadores, WWE can bring in The Lucha Dragons from NXT. Have Ryback and Erick Rowan form a partnership as well, building on their Team Cena relationship.

This is where tag team feuds can kick off, The Miz and Damien Mizdow can finally split and The Ascension can go on an impressive run.

10. Jim Cornette Rants on The Young Bucks 

In an interview with In Your Head Wrestling Radio (h/t PWInsider.com), Jim Cornette explained his issues with The Young Bucks. In talking about a match of theirs, he highlighted a big problem on the independent circuit and in WWE as well—the lost art of in-ring psychology.

Cornette said:

"

You couldn't tell who was whose partner. Nobody got over; it was a mess. They had to go out there in 15 minutes. Eight guys did every move they'd ever known and ever learned to each other. Nobody registered it. You couldn't tell who was on whose side. You couldn't tell who was going to try to win this thing. 

"

He could have been describing any number of matches.

Athleticism in wrestling has certainly increased over time, but grapplers too often neglect selling and realistic strategy. Many of today's stars would be wise to watch some of the duos Cornette has managed to study those nuances of the game.