Triple H's Attack on Roman Reigns Continues to Blur Lines in Rivalry

Wrestling feuds have traditionally been built on good vs. evil or heel vs. babyface, but the current Reality Era in WWE is signalling a change in how rivalries and matches are booked these days.

That was vividly apparent during the closing segment of Raw this past Monday, when Triple H's attack on Roman Reigns signified just how different things are in WWE these days. In terms of their own personal feud, it continued to blur the lines and the clarity of their rivalry. 

It wasn't so much the attack that made things confusing, though, but rather the way it was booked, the timing of it and the reaction of WWE's often unpredictable fanbase.

Let's look at it in closer detail. Less than 24 hours after Roman Reigns, the guy WWE wants to be its top babyface, was booed out of the building at Fastlane after beating the legitimate top two babyfaces in the company, the company was looking for a way to give him some momentum with fans yet again.

So what it decided to do made little sense. Fans were baying for Reigns' blood from the start, and amazingly, they actually got it. It's the latest in a series of confusing booking decisions for Reigns that just creates more confusion about what's going on.

Anyone with a basic wrestling knowledge who was dropped into Raw on Monday night would have known in no uncertain terms that Roman Reigns was the heel in that feud and that Triple H was the babyface.

The crowd were literally chanting Triple H's name over and over as he continued to beat Reigns down and hammer his face into the announce table. If it wasn't somehow apparent to WWE Creative that it had failed in making Reigns a likable babyface, then those closing moments of Raw should have made things clear.

But from here on out, where does the company go with its booking of the rivalry? It's got to keep trying to work Reigns as a babyface and somehow get him over, even though the chances of that seem slim. The crowd have adopted Triple H as the babyface for the rivalry, with most fans now keen to see him win at WrestleMania 32.

The lines are blurred, and it's difficult to see a way out of it. There was an out option at Fastlane in turning heel, but as soon as that was ignored, it was obvious there would be plenty of confusion going forward.

WWE could have even had Triple H turn The League of Nations on Reigns, as that would have provoked a much less positive reaction. Instead, it has one of the greatest champions in the company's history viciously attack Reigns in a manner similar to the Attitude Era, the time we all loved in professional wrestling.

The reaction of fans on a weekly basis will be interesting to watch as WrestleMania approaches. Will they eventually give up on their support of Triple H as the novelty wears off, or will they keep trying to convince the company that this isn't the way forward?

Whether they do keep it up or not, you fear that WWE will not listen. This is a confusing feud, but sadly, the only thing that's clear and predictable is the result.