Roman Reigns' Road to WrestleMania Begins at WWE Money in the Bank

Roman Reigns has been biding his time as the backup for former Shield teammate Dean Ambrose.  While Ambrose has been chasing Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, Reigns has been there to support him every step of the way.  But Money in the Bank will begin a new path for Reigns.

Reigns was believed to be the next top guy, the one to supplant John Cena as WWE's primary moneymaker and main event star.  He seemed to have all the tools necessary; he had the look, the intensity and the marketability to make it big, and nothing seemed to be standing in his way.

But losing at WrestleMania 31 stopped any forward progress Reigns was making.  Yes, he had main evented WWE's biggest night of the year, but in the eyes of many, he was done. It was Rollins' time, and Reigns would have to take a back seat to him.

However, the lack of pressure on Reigns meant he could finally get better, and that is exactly what he's done.  He's climbed the main event ladder once again and now seems primed to take the next step.

Money in the Bank is the perfect opportunity.  Reigns can do what Rollins did in 2014 and grab the briefcase, which hung over Reigns' head like a bad omen for so long when he was pursuing the championship. Now, it's come full circle.

There's no better way to get Reigns back in the title picture, no better way for him to begin that upward climb once again.  But this time, his fight will be against Rollins, not Brock Lesnar.

Getting over on Lesnar is a tall order for anyone, much less a main event newcomer such as Reigns.  The Beast Incarnate had a world of respect and accomplishments behind him, and all Reigns had was fire. But Reigns has had time to grow, improve in the ring and become the kind of star WWE needs him to be.

He was not allowed to overcome Lesnar, but he did earn his stripes against him.  Now, he must overcome Rollins and prove he belongs.

With Ambrose as the current top contender, Reigns has no choice but to win Money in the Bank if he's going to pursue the belt once again.  While Ambrose could win the championship, he's likely just a fill-in challenger until Lesnar returns.  The Beast will surely want revenge on Rollins, and that means taking the strap from him.

But while the two men are feuding, Reigns will be in the background.  He will be doing exactly what Rollins did, looming in the shadows with the briefcase in hand.  He will be waiting for his moment to capitalize, to run down to the ring and cash in for all the glory.

That glory should come at WrestleMania 32 and not a moment sooner.  Reigns is not a heel, and he will not be looking for the easy way out to win the big one.  While he has heat with Rollins and wants to beat him, he will want to do it with the whole world watching on the grandest stage of them all.

Some people might believe inserting Reigns in Mania's main event again is the wrong move considering he did not win last time, but he must be there.  If he were to win the belt before then, the title picture would become cloudy. There's more drama with Reigns vs. Rollins or perhaps a three-way with Ambrose than there is with any other possibility.

But the biggest reason Reigns should work WrestleMania's main event again is for the sake of growing his character.  Every top Superstar in WWE history has had to overcome some sort of adversity along the way.

Stone Cold fought the system every time he stepped into the ring. Daniel Bryan fought back against incredible odds to win the championship. John Cena fights against fans who hate him merely for being himself.  In each case, the guy's character was questioned and his will was put to the test, and in each case, he prevailed.

Reigns cannot win a title that's been handed to him.  He has already endured that criticism.  If he is going to become WWE world heavyweight champion, he must fight back and go through a long war.

Months of struggling to get there will only build his character, and fighting for the opportunity to become the man is important.  When Reigns wins Money in the Bank, it can't stop there; The Authority must do everything it can to take the briefcase from him.

This will add to his fight and put him under fire more than he already is.  Fans need a reason to rally behind him and give him the kind of support they give Ambrose, and this is the best way to do it.  Reigns could become WWE's next top guy, but he must get there as a loved, respected and battle-tested soldier.  Nothing else will do.

Winning Money in the Bank will put Reigns on the road to Mania, get him going in the right direction and give him even more time to show he can handle the pressure.  Pulling down the briefcase is a step to much bigger things.