6 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE SmackDown (Feb 5)
3. In No Mood For Games
Roman Reigns' opening salvo set the tone for what his eventual feud with Edge will be. It laid down a clear marker for the champ's role in that rivalry. Namely, Roman will believe that Edge's comeback is a threat to his rule over the WWE kingdom, and he can't be having any of that.
The 'Island Of Relevancy' must be protected, after all.
His show-starting promo here was exactly what it needed to be, and it was better for dragging on a little. That sounds weird, yes, but Roman's character is so strong that he can handle these repetitious segments that would otherwise tank with the wrong person. He's truly on fire right now, and works as a villain who adores the sound of his own voice.
The top heel in the land wanted Edge's WrestleMania 37 answer, and he wanted it ASAP. That was logical, and so were Paul Heyman's reactions to some of Roman's lines. He does such an expert job of looking like he's struggling to keep Reigns in check.