Sheamus' WWE Championship Win Will Make Roman Reigns a Stronger Babyface

Coming out of WWE Survivor Series, Sheamus became WWE champion and nobody turned heel. 

WWE brilliantly manipulated its storytelling to get fans talking about who would become a villain. This made for an even more exciting finish when a familiar antagonist stole the WWE World Heavyweight Championship from valiant babyface Roman Reigns.

A major heel turn would have shrunk an already limited pool of babyfaces, which WWE can ill-afford with both John Cena and Randy Orton gone. Without Dean Ambrose or Reigns, who would be the No. 2 babyface? Kalisto?

By putting the title on Sheamus, not only did WWE create a suitable replacement for Seth Rollins, they continued to add sympathy to Reigns as he continues his long chase for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

Sheamus winning the WWE World Heavyeight Championship is not about giving the Celtic Warrior another shot. WWE is not putting all of its eggs in his basket, if any. Sheamus won the WWE World Heavyweight Championship as a measure to create a final obstacle in Reigns' journey to becoming a world champion so he can enter WrestleMania as a stronger babyface.

Throughout the night, Reigns encountered boos from a vocal minority who feel he is being given too much, too soon. To counter this sentiment, WWE has positioned Reigns as a lovable loser. After failing to put Ambrose away in their finals match, the announcers played up Reigns' doubts as he constantly gets close with no cigar.

By winning his first world championship only to lose it due to the meddling Authority, WWE is recreating the Daniel Bryan storyline from WrestleMania XXX. Reigns is no Daniel Bryan, nor will Bryan's rabid fanbase accept him as such. But by overcoming endless obstacles to win what he deserves, this will resonate with the majority of casual fans who move the needle for WWE's business.

As WWE prepares to end the year with its TLC pay-per-view, a very physical, entertaining, high-stakes ladder match will add to a feud many hardcore fans will scoff at on paper.

For Reigns, regaining the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in a potential ladder match would be poetic. All he has done over the past year is climb WWE's corporate ladder despite being derailed by forces both in and out of the ring.

On screen, The Authority does not view Reigns as the company guy who is suitable to carry a world championship. Behind the scenes, negative fan reaction to Reigns' title hunt seemed to scare WWE away from crowning him with a world championship victory at WrestleMania 31.

With a legit heel carrying the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, Reigns is in the best position possible to become a top babyface.

Alfred Konuwa is a featured columnist and on-air host for Bleacher Report. LIKE him on Facebook, and subscribe to his weekly wrestling podcast.

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