Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt: A Reigns Win Would Crush Wyatt's Character

Stop me if you’ve heard this before.

Bray Wyatt pines about lost opportunities and seeking redemption through a series of promos aimed at a certain WWE Superstar. Wide-ranging and often cryptic, Wyatt’s intentions are finally revealed, his opponent named.

The missives are dark, the message is warped, the delivery is mesmerizing. Wyatt’s opponent first feels fear, then anger. Finally, our babyface opponent overcomes the darkness and defeats Wyatt.

This has been the formula for every Bray Wyatt feud. The problem is that the longer WWE continues to use this recipe, the harder it is for the WWE Universe to believe in Wyatt as a formidable opponent.

Battleground 2015 needs to be a launching pad if WWE plans to make Wyatt’s character anything more than a caricature.

Wyatt’s Success Is A WWE-Generated Myth                           

WWE has always strived to make Wyatt look as strong as possible leading up to the climactic ending of each feud. That way, his opponent's win will be seen as a major accomplishment.

John Cena, Dean Ambrose, Undertaker: All were targeted. All prevailed in some way, shape or form over Wyatt. All were considered heroic for defeating The Eater of Worlds.

But the fact is that beating Bray Wyatt isn’t nearly as special as it is made to be.

While his televised match record is a healthy 10-4-1 according to the Internet Wrestling Database, multiple wins over the trio of Jack Swagger, Zack Ryder and R-Truth pad that statistic.

So how does a slightly-better-than-average wrestler become a cult hero and main eventer? By staying true to the formula. Haunting vignettes, ambiguous references and apoplectic sermons all keep Wyatt as a mythical figure, while his in-ring presence—usually run-ins to disrupt existing matches or sudden appearances—is kept to a minimum.

It worked for a while. But the sweet recipe has started turning sour in 2015. As stated in Bray Wyatt’s midyear report card earlier this week, he’s more bluster than bite.

The Wyatt narrative has moved away from its roots as a mysterious figure setting out to conquer the world. It’s instead become a perennial cycle of hyperbole.

How to Change the Recipe for Battleground

Heading into WWE Battleground this Sunday, the Wyatt recipe has once again been dusted off and put on display. This time it’s Roman Reigns’ turn to feel unsettled, unleash anger and prevail in the face of fear.

If Wyatt loses to Reigns at WWE Battleground, it will have been all for naught, leaving Wyatt as a mercurial figure who is no real threat to anyone.

That’s why Wyatt needs to not just win, but win big. Wyatt needs to physically, emotionally and psychologically dismantle Reigns throughout the match.

This is what Wyatt’s character is all about. Wyatt needs to take Reigns past his breaking point and instill a fear in him that’s he hasn't experienced before.

Since costing Roman Reigns a win in the Money in the Bank ladder match at last month's pay-per-view, Wyatt's campaign of terror on the Superstar has been perfectly executed heading into Battleground.

WWE has shown it can handle this part of the Wyatt character. It worked against Cena, who was frozen by some haunting children. It worked against Ambrose, who fell victim to a hologram. It’s even worked against Reigns, whose fatherly instincts have driven him mad following Wyatt’s teapot segments on Raw.

The follow-through has been WWE Creative's downfall. It's never provided Wyatt with a complete story arc that lets him assert his madness when the match actually starts. That's where things need to change. 

Reigns is a perfect foil for this, as well. He is the future "face that runs the place." Most fans know this and even understand it, as much as they might not like it. That's why Wyatt's "Anyone But You" campaign is so perfect. It plays on the fans, who have gone from loving Reigns to loathing Reigns and back. 

A Wyatt win could help Reigns draw that crowd back to his side, especially if the fans believe Wyatt is truly a threat to him in more than the win-loss column. But it's Wyatt who would gain the greatest benefit from a convincing win. 

Allowing him to feast on Reigns’ insecurities would build Wyatt's character back up. Letting him break Reigns in the middle of the ring would strengthen his credibility as a contender. Showing a frail Reigns falling into post-match depression would allow The New Face of Fear to finally make good on months of promise.

Battleground can’t be yet another redemption story for a Wyatt opponent. At some point, Wyatt needs to flex his muscle. He’s running out of time.

A Roman Reigns win at Battleground will only confirm that Wyatt has become nothing more than a caricature, someone so good on the microphone that you forget his real role in the greater pecking order of the WWE: jobber.