Roman Reigns' Growth Should Not Be Rushed Due to Gap in WWE Main Event Scene

Roman Reigns is perhaps once again on the verge of something very big in WWE.  Every fan is talking about it, and whether he's loved or hated, the consensus seems to be that it's just a matter of time before he wins "the big one."

But even though the company has a top spot to fill and Reigns appears to be a logical choice, that does not mean it should happen.  Reigns' growth should not be rushed because WWE needs him to be ready.

The question of if he's ready can really only be answered by himself and the powers-that-be above him. When a guy has what it takes, it's obvious to everyone involved and, eventually, he gets his shot.  Fans may believe they know if a guy is prepared for the next level, but what they see and what the company sees can often be two entirely different things.

In this case, however, it could be that WWE saw the hesitation in many fans to readily accept Reigns as a main event guy and decided to cool him off after WrestleMania.  Reigns may have still been a focus of attention on TV but in the months following Mania, he was not the primary focus.

credit: wwe.com

The realization that Reigns still had some work to do likely took precedence over his rise, so instead he leveled out high on the mid-card to the semi-main event.  What followed in the nearly eight months since then has been a maturation process for the former Shield strongman.

Reigns put his head down and went to work.

Now Reigns is in what could be considered the best spot of his WWE career in terms of becoming a long-term main event star.  Instead of being laughed out of the conversation or being disregarded as nothing more than just the "company's choice," Reigns now has more support for a real run at the top.

Many fans now can accept him because he put the effort and the time in.  He may not be completely over in every town WWE visits, but he's made more headway than many perhaps believed he would.

credit: wwe.com

But is he the next WWE world heavyweight champion?  Better yet, is he really ready for that?

Survivor Series is coming up on Sunday, November 22, and Reigns is one of the four men left in the running for the industry's top prize.  While it could be WWE can't wait to put the strap on him, the issue is his growth.

Even with his evolution to this point, has he done enough and has enough time passed for him to be the next champ?  

Getting him over as a main event guy is one thing; trusting that he can succeed with the gold is something else altogether.  Many fans agree that Reigns is likely the next top guy after John Cena and if that is indeed WWE's plan, then the change will happen eventually.

But perhaps Reigns' natural progression should continue as it is now.  To truly get him over with the majority of the WWE faithful, Reigns must be viewed as a hardworking star that deserves the belt and is fully prepared to do the absolute best job with it.

To forge that impression, Reigns must go through a bit more turmoil.  That will make him a more sympathetic figure, one that has earned the opportunity and the spot he's heading toward.

Sheamus is the wild card in this situation, one that could quickly become the turmoil that can get Reigns over the hump.  If fans are still split on Reigns, they are surely in full agreement on The Celtic Warrior. Sheamus may be the one man in WWE that a great majority of fans do not want to see as the new champ.

But Sheamus is Mister Money in the Bank and as long as he is toting that guaranteed contract around, he is a threat to take the title.  If he were to cash in on a newly crowned Reigns at Survivor Series, he would ruin the night for the Samoan star and give him a bitter enemy in the process.

Reigns would need to fight back against the odds, especially if Sheamus is aligned with The Authority. Reigns' character would be on the ropes, and that would certainly cause more support to come his way. That support could continue to build until he finally gets his shot and whether that shot came soon or even at WrestleMania 32, Reigns would surely be ready.

He's done too much work and grown too much to be put in a position to fail now.  The moment that gold belt lands around his waist; he will undergo more scrutiny and face brighter lights than he ever has. When that moment comes, he should be the best option instead of the only option.

Reigns will achieve that championship level at some point, and he should be ready when it happens.

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