WWE Payback 2015: Triple Threat Match Will Further Roman Reigns' Rise

WWE Payback 2015's Triple Threat match need not crown Roman Reigns for it to be a victory for the rising star.

The bout offers another high-profile stage on which to work. It features opponents who will help him deliver another standout performance and a stipulation that could soften the blow of defeat. Regardless of whether he walks out of Payback with the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, he will have taken more steps toward the top tier.

Beginning with Fastlane, Reigns has gone on an impressive stretch of pay-per-view showings.

He deserves credit for rising to the occasion each time out, but WWE has done its part to set things up well for him. Pairing him with Daniel Bryan at Fastlane all but assured him a great match. Few guys can coax the best out of a guy than the now-injured grappler.

A month later, Reigns had the benefit of working with an all-time great in Brock Lesnar. The shock of Seth Rollins' intruding elevated what was already a vicious, compelling contest.

Credit: WWE.com

At Extreme Rules, Reigns and Big Show used a succession of big spots to wow the crowd. The two enemies stole the show thanks to sending each other through table after table.

Some fans will see all that as crutches that Reigns used. You will hear the argument that Bryan and Lesnar carried those matches. And some may view the clash with Big Show as more spectacle than wrestling.

No one carried Reigns; WWE just wisely put him in favorable spots.

Having him compete with tremendous in-ring performers is a no-brainer move. Not only does it help him produce better matches, but he's bound to learn from those experiences. That is set to happen yet again at Payback.

Working with a veteran such as Randy Orton is always a plus. And Reigns' chemistry with Rollins is sure to equal success. The Triple Threat stipulation also puts less pressure on Reigns, allowing him to execute in short bursts, which is when he is at his best.

It's a safe bet that this bout is going to be highly entertaining. Pairing the explosive Reigns with two ring generals in a match designed to create chaos assures that.

The more Reigns is involved in high-quality action like that, the better. Respect from fans comes with piling on the classics.

The stipulation also keeps losing from stinging so badly. Were he to go head-to-head with Rollins and lose cleanly, it would certainly affect his momentum. Things are different in this type of match. 

Reigns can knock Orton out cold, only to have Rollins come in and steal the win. That's certainly not a standard loss.

As Bleacher Report's Dan Pecoraro points out, this can contribute to a "close but no cigar" narrative for Reigns that makes it easier to sympathize with him:

WWE putting the belt on Reigns too early threatens to have him receive the John Cena treatment from fans. Cries of "don't push him down our throats" are sure to come. Instead, having him grow his following organically, add to his collection of quality matches and remain on a prominent part of the card is the best way to have him ascend.

The Triple Threat match helps Reigns achieve all of those things.

Being placed in that spot is a victory in itself. Hitting a home run alongside Orton and Rollins will keep Reigns' career trajectory heading in the right direction.