10 Predictions For WWE's Direction After SummerSlam 2016

9. Roman Reigns Leaves The Doghouse

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WWE.com

It’s pretty clear at this point that WWE aren’t going to turn Roman Reigns heel any time soon.

Despite the countless ways in which his face run has proven to be an unmitigated disaster, Reigns has been paired-up with Raw’s most notable monster character, who also happens to be one of the red brand’s most loathed heels. This is a conscious move from WWE to try and rebuild their failed project, and whether it succeeds or not, we can expect to see Reigns back in the main event scene before long.

Reigns’ Wellness Policy violation has hit him hard. Since failing, he’s been pinned cleanly in the Battleground main event, then again on Raw to lose his opportunity at the Universal Championship, and now he’s been shunted down to the midcard. He’s well and truly in Vince McMahon’s bad books at the moment, but it won’t last much longer.

Raw’s main event scene is too thin for him to be absent for too long and, depending on his match with Rusev, there’s a strong chance he’ll be in the Universal scene post-SummerSlam.

His stay in the doghouse isn’t over yet, though. It might not be a clean pin or submission, but expect him to lose to Rusev at SummerSlam, then start working to regain his lost momentum. Whether or not his long-term WWE future lies as a face or heel remains to be seen, but regardless of alignment, Roman Reigns will soon be back in the spotlight.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.