Roman Reigns Would Be a Poor Choice to Win Money in the Bank Ladder Match

For Roman Reigns, the WWE World Heavyweight Championship is like a heel turn. The closer Reigns gets to the title, the more unpopular he becomes.

It's not his fault. The Reality Era fan is more agitated at what Reigns represents than what he is. What is he? A fast-rising star who not only delivers in every big spot but lives past the hype.

Unfortunately, he represents corporate wrestling, a seemingly hand-picked top star for the top wrestling promotion with no history on the independent circuit. As a result, he has to earn or win over every fan he gets.

Becoming Mr. Money in the Bank, thereby receiving an exclusive opportunity that almost guarantees a future world championship win, is a bad fit for Reigns. If Reigns is going to win over the stubborn WWE fanbase, he'll have to do it with character.

Competing three times in one night while at odds with The Authority on Monday night was a good exercise in character-building. Walking around with a guaranteed title shot is not. As long as WWE links the careers of Reigns, Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins, Reigns will always seem like an undeserving rookie in contrast.

It's the same contrast that made Daniel Bryan the desired choice over Reigns leading up to this year's Royal Rumble. Like Bryan, Rollins and Ambrose had prolific independent wrestling careers. For them, world championship wins will not incite any backlash from the limited but loud and cliquey hardcore fans.

Fair or not, some fans just see Reigns as a pretty boy who just as easily could have played for the NFL. For some, he's too mainstream. If Ambrose is Nirvana, Reigns is U2.

Over the years, Money in the Bank evolved into a sacred franchise. While it does serve a purpose in developing stars, it's far from a developmental title. To carry Money in the Bank is to be named the WWE Superstar to watch—not in the future, but now.

If there are no plans to turn Reigns heel, he needs to continue his extended journey toward the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Money in the Bank works so great with heels because it is seen as the ultimate shortcut.

One could go from midcarder to opportunist simply by climbing a ladder; then all he'd have to do to win a world championship is wait for the right moment. 

There are ways to turn the Money in the Bank gimmick babyface. Announcing a cash-in ahead of time, especially for a potential rematch against Brock Lesnar, would be a valiant move. A performance similar to his WrestleMania match against Lesnar would make fans forget he won Money in the Bank in the first place.

But given the pitfalls Reigns has dealt with as he vies or his first world championship, it's only fitting that such a monumental win comes with more obstacles.

Simply winning a golden briefcase would eliminate most of them.

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

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