Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns: Challenger Has Chance to Win Fans over

Roman Reigns is a heel.

At least, that's the feeling among many fans in Santa Clara for WrestleMania. During Friday's WrestleMania Axxess session, Paul Heyman reveled in the adoration for client Brock Lesnar, while inciting aggressive jeers toward challenger Reigns.

When it comes to the unstoppable, conquering hero and upstart babyface, fans have their minds made up. The news isn't pleasant for Reigns.

Despite battling the remaining backlash from the Yes Movement and those in support of Lesnar's re-signing, Reigns can still escape the WrestleMania main event with sympathy.

If WWE plans on keeping Reigns as a babyface, it must manipulate the booking of his match against Lesnar. If Reigns takes the unmerciful "prison beating" that Heyman promised he would, fans will naturally rally behind him. This is where blood can be of use, with the brave challenger showing championship resolve. The same type of blood turned Stone Cold Steve Austin babyface at WrestleMania 13, and he never looked back.

Reigns' Royal Rumble would have been smoother if his story emphasized struggle and fighting against all odds to establish his legacy. This is a story that WWE can still tell in the ring with great effect.

A major reason fans soured on Reigns is predictability. Fans became restless with the presumed plans of Reigns facing Lensar at WrestleMania, which was reported by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter back in July (h/t WrestlingInc.com).

But Lesnar re-signed with the WWE earlier this week and predictability isn't as much of an issue. Now, anything can happen. In fact, Reigns is suddenly the underdog, since Lesnar is in a position to continue his reign as champion. Just as the predictability turned Reigns heel, unpredictability makes him a babyface.

Lesnar was the one on ESPN talking about the WrestleMania main event. Lesnar is the one fans will welcome back to WWE with open arms. WWE gave Lesnar the greatest honor a WWE Superstar could have when he beat the streak. Reigns no longer seems like the chosen one.

He didn't even get to speak during the go-home edition of Raw.

Reigns' new credo is "I Can. I Will." That's not exactly the language of an heir apparent; it's something Rudy Ruettiger would say.

In a sea of hardcore wrestling fans, support for Reigns will be few and far between. With so many underdog themes associated with Reigns, a smartly booked match will earn him respect from a tough crowd.

Alfred Konuwa is a featured columnist and on-air host for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @ThisIsNasty, and listen to his weekly wrestling podcast.