Bray Wyatt vs. Roman Reigns Needs to Continue Past WWE Battleground

Bray Wyatt is conducting a campaign of fear against Roman Reigns in a feud that will see them face off at WWE Battleground on July 19.  The two men are just barely scraping the surface of this feud, and while Battleground is a great place to start, it's not the place to finish; they need more time.

Wyatt is in his element right now, and that is perhaps the biggest reason why this should be much more than a one-and-done rivalry.  For the past few weeks, he has stalked Reigns with one dark promo after another, and he has done so in true Wyatt fashion, using sinister words and riddles.

With each segment, Wyatt has coldly addressed Reigns, speaking to him as if they are sworn enemies on a path of destruction.  He has taken what began as curious interference at Money in the Bank and created so much more.  

Wyatt has laid the groundwork for an epic run that could see both men stoop to levels not dreamed possible in the past.  He himself was the one to draw first blood when he held a photo of Reigns' daughter and sang "I'm a Little Teapot," mocking the former Shield strongman.  It was one of the eeriest moments fans had ever seen from Wyatt, and one that absolutely suits his character.

Wyatt is all about playing mind games with his opponents.  He's been hailed as this generation's Undertaker by many of the WWE faithful due to his ability to completely lose himself in his character and the storyline he's involved with.  Promos are not overtly used to sell tickets for Wyatt, the pull for fans is the intensity he brings and the realism with which he speaks.

This is especially true now, as Wyatt has attempted to discredit Reigns and expose him as a fraud.  "Anyone but you" is a mantra he has repeated several times, and it's a direct shot at Reigns' presumed rise as the heir apparent to John Cena.

While many fans were at one time echoing that sentiment, the fact is that many of them have come around to supporting Reigns.  That means Wyatt's words sound more twisted than true, more warped than wise.  He has essentially taken the position that many others had, or perhaps still have, but the difference is his alternative is not a solution.

Wyatt wants to destroy Reigns under the guise of doing the right thing, but all he really wants is to get Reigns out of his way.  Wyatt is a devious schemer and uses his lies to sway the crowd, but this time he may not be very successful.

That's because the man he's attacking has never been more vulnerable.  Where there once stood a star destined to take the throne now stands a helpless man attempting to take control of a situation he has no control over.  Reigns now looks more human than he likely ever has, and it's that humanity many fans were waiting for him to project.

Now he's one of them, and because of that, Reigns is far more grounded and humble than he ever was before. 

Truth be told, this feud is as much for Reigns as it is for Wyatt.  Reigns is finally in a position to simply have fun with an angle and not be concerned with pressure that surely accompanies the world title picture.

Instead of chasing Seth Rollins or carrying a briefcase that makes him the target of criticism, Reigns is now able to take a step back and breathe. He can work Wyatt in this feud and stretch his wings a bit to add some layers to his character and grow as a performer.

He is now backed into the corner, with no way out except to wither away or come out harder than ever before.  This is not just a test of his mettle as a future main event player, it's a test of his mental strength; he must find a way to overcome the attacks Wyatt is leveling at him.

But none of this is possible if the feud ends before it truly begins.

Battleground cannot be the end.  There is far too much great storytelling left to take place, far too much work to be done entertaining the fans for it to end prematurely.  This is not Wyatt versus Undertaker; Reigns is not a part-time star, he's working to advance in the company.  There is no reason to end this feud after so much time and effort has been put into it.

The emotional investment from fans is building, and to end this with one match destroys any progress made.  The only way to truly build Superstars is to place them in spots where they can shine against other talents, ones that can help better them over time.  If everyone is working toward the same goal, then both opponents will win and the company will thrive.

Reigns needs this feud to continue, and so does Wyatt.  The entertainment value is there, the intensity is there and now the time should be there as well.  It's what both men deserve, and with any luck, it's exactly what they will get.

Tom's work can regularly be found on Bleacher Report, and his podcast, Tom Clark's Main Event, is available on iTunes, Google Play, Windows Phone, Amazon Android and online here.