Roman Reigns Will Steadily Work His Way Back into WWE's Main Event Scene

Roman Reigns is once again getting a shot at championship glory when he faces off against Randy Orton and Seth Rollins at WWE Payback.  It's the first time he's challenged for the company's top title since WrestleMania 31, and while his critics are likely not happy about it, the fact is the timing is nearly perfect.

Reigns is steadily working his way back into WWE's main event scene.  And it should only get better from here.

That could probably not be said of Reigns immediately following Mania.  The man whom many pegged as the future of WWE had been booked on the Grandest Stage of Them All, yet he was booked to lose.  .

Where does a guy go when he gets a shot at immortality, only to fail while the world cheers?  For Reigns, the answer was back to the drawing board.

credit: wwe.com

WWE pulled the Samoan strongman back, allowing him to breathe and refocus.  It was the best and really only move the company had; otherwise Reigns quite possibly could have kept enduring the Mania hangover until there was nothing left for him.

But now that Reigns is no longer being viewed as the next big thing, the tide seems to be turning for him. The crowd is beginning to respond positively to him, treating him like the babyface he's been since before he was put into the main event scene.

Apparently, being told they should accept him as a top guy was not working for fans; simply letting him earn it was.

Now that he's in that spot, it will be much easier for him to succeed.  And he has room to maneuver, as Brock Lesnar is out of the picture and Daniel Bryan is once again on the shelf with an injury.  The pressure is off Reigns to be an invincible Superman, now he can just be himself.

credit: wwe.com

And next to Orton, there's no talent better equipped to run as a top-level protagonist.  

This is where Reigns' celebrated positives come into play.  His size, his strength, his swagger; all of this bodes well for him as fans begin to take a second look at him. Suddenly, he's looking like a viable main event option again.  

Fans see him with a fresh set of eyes now, as Reigns is no longer the Superstar being forced upon them but just as a guy working hard to get over.  But where does he go from here?

Being booked at Payback does not mean he's winning.  Reigns just came from that drama, there's no need to put him up to his neck in it again.  Booking him at Payback is likely just a way for the company to get him back in the fold, to provide some intrigue and get Rollins' character on the defensive like never before.

credit: wwe.com

And Rollins is a great heel with some swagger of his own; he's over in his own right.  He's also arguably WWE's top hand in the ring, and to take the championship from him now would be a mistake.  He's just not had enough time to fully establish himself in that role.

And there's no real reason to put the belt on Orton right now either.  The Viper is in a spot where he doesn't need the championship in order to get over.  He's a perennial favorite, a veteran capable of carrying the company without the title.  He's just as effective challenging for the strap as he is actually wearing it.  He's a solid second option if WWE ever needs to change it up; for right now, he's good where he is.

The same can be said for Reigns.  Payback is less about forcing him back into the main event spotlight than it is getting fans accustomed to the idea of seeing him there again.  If he performs well and the crowd responds positively to him, he will likely be seen there more often.  

WWE is in short supply of top-tier guys these days, and Reigns can definitely fill the void. Other than Orton, Rollins and John Cena, no one has the potential to immediately step up and have the main event impact Reigns can.

He's been there once already, he's weathered the storm of pressure and criticism and he's come out better for it.  Being battle tested means he's ready to deliver, to prove himself and be on the main event path again.  

Reigns is working his way up, and if he's indeed meant to be there, it will all work out this time.