Triple H Is Only Heel Who Can Put Roman Reigns over as Top Babyface

Triple H has once again assumed the role of top heel in WWE, thanks to Seth Rollins' recent sidelining injury. The Game may not be a full-time competitor anymore, but there's no denying he plays the part of WWE's primary villain so well that no one else can measure up to him right now.

That fact alone puts him in the absolute best spot to get Roman Reigns over.  The truth is, he's the only heel who can.

Roman's eventual rise has been talked about, debated and stressed over by fans for the better part of a year.  The guy who seemed like the best fit for WWE's top spot was believed to be just one great storyline away from getting there, until his evolution crossed paths with Daniel Bryan.

That ultimately spelled disaster for Reigns, who was soon left out in the cold as an undisputed babyface in WWE.

credit: wwe.com

But the run that saw him main event WrestleMania 31 is over, of course.  After seven months of watching him work hard to get back to that main event status, fans seem to be a bit more supportive now.  The crowd response for him is better, and the playing field is open thanks to Bryan's absence and Rollins' injury.

All he needs now is to get over, to take the last step to truly finish building his foundation for success, and Triple H is the key.

Reigns needs to best the top heel in WWE, to show that he can beat back the one major threat that could stand in his way.  To overcome that main antagonist, to stop him in his tracks, would be the best way for him to show he is ready to claim the title of top babyface.

No one else currently in WWE is strong enough to put him over in that fashion. No one can give him what he needs, and accepting a win over anyone else is to settle for second best.  

credit: wwe.com

Bryan himself had to beat Hunter at WrestleMania 30 before he could even get a chance at the top title that night.  The man who had held Bryan down for so long had to be beaten; he had to be pushed back on his heels.  Without that decisive win over Triple H, Bryan's evolution would not have been complete, and his WrestleMania moment would have been good, not great.

That victory left no question as to just how good Bryan was, nor did it cause anyone to doubt he was truly the top babyface in the company.  He faced his greatest enemy, the one who wanted him gone, and proved him wrong.

Had Bryan not been injured and forced to relinquish the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, his war with Triple H likely would have continued.  But it would not have mattered, because Bryan had already shown he could not be held down.  He had taken the best The Authority had, and his will to win outlasted its efforts to keep him away from the belt.

No matter where the storyline would have taken them, Hunter's character would never truly have the last laugh on Bryan because he could not beat him in a straight-up match.  Bryan's character will always have bragging rights against The Game.

That is exactly what Reigns needs as well.

Triple H is not the top guy he once was but is still on top of WWE, and for him to drop a pin to anyone is a very big deal.  In fact, the last time he lost a singles match was against Bryan at WrestleMania, which could mean there's been no one who's deserved that kind of rub since then.

The circumstances perhaps just haven't been right for it to happen.  Perhaps WWE felt as though Reigns didn't need that kind of help to either be the top face or the top guy.  But while the latter may happen eventually, it may not happen without the former.

The circumstances are now right for Triple H to give the assist. 

The WWE World Heavyweight Championship could very well go to Reigns at Survivor Series on November 22.  That honor may not include the responsibility of top guy, as John Cena is not yet done in WWE. But it will surely put him in the running for top babyface, and many fans would probably be just fine with that.

But if WWE wants Reigns to truly realize his full potential in that role, then he must get a win over the top heel, and right now that heel is Triple H.  Reigns' character will get stronger, and his rise will mean more and will last longer.  

Reigns needs the rub that only beating Triple H can give.  Until that happens, Reigns will be at the mercy of Hunter, which will not help his cause at all.

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