Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins 2016 Feud Will Transition WWE out of John Cena Era
Roman Reigns versus Seth Rollins is a major rivalry that's coming back. Of course that will likely not happen until sometime in mid-2016, but when it does, it should be huge. The reason for that is the work that's been done to elevate Reigns as the new WWE world heavyweight champion and also because he never truly got his revenge against Rollins for The Shield's destruction.
There is such a great backstory here and so many different intriguing elements in play that it could be much bigger than fans even realize right now. The fact is, this feud will help WWE transition from the John Cena era.
It's a process that has taken some time to happen, but it's one that's happening nonetheless; Cena has been subtly moved out of the title picture.
It's not a situation that fans are used to, however. Cena has been in or around that level for over 10 years now, and he is the go-to guy every time the company needs a guaranteed moneymaker to wear the gold. This came as no surprise to WWE fans through the years because Cena has been the top guy for so long that he's expected to always be within an arm's reach of the championship.
He's usually been the plan A for the duration of his time on top.
But Cena has not held the title since June 2014, and since he's been gone this time, WWE was forced to make a change with Sheamus and now Reigns. The former Shield strongman has been under fire for nearly a year, thanks to the opinion of many who felt he was not ready for his main event run. Because of that, WWE could never quite seem to get everyone on the same page in support of him.
Of course, thanks to both Triple H and Vince McMahon, that's all changed now.
Now Reigns is riding a wave of support he's really not had since The Shield first turned babyface. When fans look at him, they no longer see an undeserving Superstar; they see a rebel with a dangerous edge to him.
Reigns is now the man in WWE, and while that may not mean he's the face of the company just yet, it does mean the company has taken another step forward. The step took place in spite of Cena's place in WWE, and the truth is, it had to happen.
Cena will eventually move on from the top spot, and while WWE surely does not want to see him go, preparations must be made for when the time comes. That means a new star must be in place and new feuds must be on the horizon that will keep fans tuning in and will keep putting money in the bank.
Reigns is satisfying the top-guy position right now, but he will only be successful if the feuds he's booked in are captivating and intense. Nothing will be more intense than when Rollins returns and their rivalry begins again.
This is the rivalry fans want to see, it's the one that will be beneficial for both guys and it should bring very positive reactions when it finally happens. Fans need a reason to tune in, the product needs to be interesting and exciting for them to care and Reigns versus Rollins will deliver on both fronts.
WWE has leaned on Cena for the bulk of its main event work over the years, and now Rollins and Reigns can share that work. They may have feuded before, but it will be on a much-different level when Rollins comes back.
When Triple H's right-hand man went out with injury, he was the top champ and the top heel. He had a psychological edge over Reigns' character due to The Shield's dissolution, as he never had a real moment of revenge. Rollins sold his soul to Triple H and sold out his brothers, but he never had to pay the price for doing either.
Reigns was the guy who couldn't get the job done no matter how many times he got the chance. He wanted to destroy Rollins but could not get close enough to make it happen. He was seen as the hero under construction; his evolution was continuously halted, thanks to The Authority.
But everything has changed, and when these two come together in 2016, it should be fireworks like fans haven't seen in a long time.
Cena has not been involved in any of this thus far, and unless something goes wrong or Reigns gets hurt, he may not be involved when he comes back. If WWE is to eventually begin moving on with other talent, then the primary championship must first be secure, and it definitely should be in the Reigns-versus-Rollins war that will surely erupt in 2016.
Tom's work can regularly be found on Bleacher Report and his podcast, Tom Clark's Main Event, is available on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Android, Windows Phone and online here.
