A Roman Reigns-Paul Heyman Breakup, John Cena vs. Randy Orton, More Quick Takes

Roman Reigns' return to WWE Raw last Monday all but confirmed his direction heading into WrestleMania 41, but what's not known is where he goes beyond that.

Regaining the Undisputed WWE Championship he lost at last year's installment of The Show of Shows surely remains on his mind, but now that he's without his Bloodline for the first time in five years, his character could use a significant shakeup in order to feel interesting again.

A split from Paul Heyman would undoubtedly accomplish that.

John Cena's heel turn immediately injected new life into his once-stagnant persona. Capturing what would be his record-setting 17th world title at 'Mania is the only acceptable next step for him on his retirement tour.

Unlike Reigns, The GOAT'S post-WrestleMania plans seem certain: a championship clash with St. Louis' own Randy Orton at Backlash on May 10. It's the marquee main event that makes the most sense for that show for the incredible atmosphere alone.

This installment of Quick Takes will delve into why it's the best time for Cena and Orton to rekindle their rivalry, the newest addition to the All Elite Wrestling roster, two 'Mania feuds that could use a spark, and more.

WrestleMania 41 Is Prime Time for Paul Heyman to Betray Roman Reigns

Even without anything tangible at stake, the heavily teased Triple Threat between Roman Reigns, CM Punk and Seth Rollins feels like a massive main event-caliber contest for WrestleMania 41.

Tying it into the "favor" Paul Heyman owes Punk from Survivor Series would make matters all the more compelling, and The Wiseman betraying Reigns at 'Mania would provide the perfect payoff.

Reigns and Heyman have been a brilliant pairing in the five years they've been aligned on WWE TV. The Advocate has remained by The Tribal Chief's side post-Bloodline, but now that the story has run its course, Reigns gains little from having anyone else as part of his act at the moment.

Heyman would also benefit from setting his sights on a new client, or perhaps a familiar face in Punk if WWE was to reunite the once-inseparable duo.

Punk convincing Heyman to betray Reigns and cost him the WrestleMania win would be a worthy ending to their Triple Threat. Heyman joining Rollins for the first time is another intriguing possibility, but Heyman and Punk have a proven track record together.

Not only would those two excel as a heel unit, but Reigns being betrayed yet again would also further endear him to the audience as a babyface and give his character a reason to evolve.

Aleister Black's WWE Return Should Be Saved for After WrestleMania 41

The influx of fresh and familiar faces in WWE as of late has added to the growing excitement of WrestleMania season, with fans left wondering where and when they'll show up first.

Penta and Jordynne Grace have already found their footing on their respective brands, Ricky Saints has shown serious promise, and Aleister Black and Rey Fenix are expected to join the fold soon following cryptic vignettes that aired on SmackDown hinting at their imminent arrivals.

Fenix could easily reunite with his brother, Penta, for a tag team match of some sort at WrestleMania, but WWE would be better holding off on Black's return to television until after The Show of Shows to ensure he doesn't get lost in the shuffle.

SmackDown's midcard scene seems largely directionless right now as it is, with there being a strong chance most of them wind up in a predictable multi-man match for the United States Championship on the card.

Black should be prominently featured on Friday nights once he resurfaces, and with a majority of the loaded lineup set in stone, he'll have a much brighter spotlight on SmackDown after WrestleMania season is over.

Mike Bailey Can Be Perfect Addition to AEW Midcard Scene

The kickoff to the AEW International Championship Eliminator Tournament on last Wednesday's Dynamite saw the debut of sought-after free agent "Speedball" Mike Bailey, who sailed into the next round following an impressive outing against The Beast Mortos.

The 34-year-old has been tearing it up on the independent scene for years and just recently wrapped up a multi-year stint in TNA, where he captured the X-Division Championship on three occasions. He's known for his unique offense, most notably his hard-hitting kicks that were on full display in his debut for AEW.

Although Ricochet looks to be the odds-on favorite to earn the next shot at Kenny Omega's international title, Bailey being involved in meaningful matches on back-to-back editions of Dynamite gets him off to a strong start in his new home.

Bailey is bound to flourish if he can continue to be featured consistently on the show and work with notable names. Staying in the hunt for the international title as well as the TNT Championship is where he'll have most success.

What he lacks on the mic he'll more than make up for with his exceptional talent inside the squared circle.

How WWE Can Heat Up Gunther-Jey Uso, Tiffany Stratton-Charlotte Flair Feuds

Although the overall projected card for WrestleMania 41 has plenty of potential on paper, some storylines need extra attention in the coming weeks, specifically the feuds for the World Heavyweight Championship and the WWE Women's Championship.

Gunther and Jey Uso have told a fairly simple story since their last one-on-one encounter at Saturday Night's Main Event in late January. Uso aims to prove The Ring General and the rest of his critics wrong by winning the prestigious prize when it matters most, but most of their recent interactions have been nothing but basic.

Main Event must show he can rise to the level of being a world champion-caliber performer by cutting more passionate promos and enduring more adversity beyond the occasional beatdown and average Raw match with A-Town Down Under.

Charlotte Flair vs. Tiffany Stratton has suffered from a similar issue but is in the process of being improved, as evidenced by their brawl on Friday's SmackDown.

Both elite athletes need to step up their promo work in order to truly connect with the audience and establish why their rivalry is worth investing in.

Both bouts are guaranteed to deliver when the bell rings, but additional development to the respective rivalries and making the programs as personal as possible—with heated social media exchanges being a prime example—can go a long way in increasing excitement levels for fans.

John Cena vs. Randy Orton Must Headline Backlash in St. Louis

Triple H has done an exemplary job of highlighting certain Superstars in their hometown since taking creative control of WWE, primarily with the premium live events. Regardless of whether they win or lose, their matches and moments are enhanced by the electric atmosphere on their home turf.

Gunther, Drew McIntyre, Sami Zayn and even Zelina Vega have all had their time to shine in recent years, and Randy Orton should be next on that list with Backlash emanating from his native St. Louis on May 10.

The Viper is currently embroiled in a ruthless rivalry with Kevin Owens en route to WrestleMania. The two could still be feuding by Backlash, but Orton belongs in a main event matchup on that show against a high-profile opponent.

Finally facing Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship would be a perfectly fine idea, but challenging newly crowned champ John Cena instead would make for a much more appealing dynamic given their storied history.

Cena would need to walk out of WrestleMania with the gold for their bout to have the stakes it should, but otherwise, it'd be nothing short of surreal for them to renew hostilities after so many years with the roles reversed and hometown hero Orton attempting to spoil the veteran's championship reign.

Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, has specialized in sports and entertainment writing since 2010. Visit his website, WrestleRant, and subscribe to his YouTube channel for more wrestling-related content.