10 Awesome Wrestlers WWE Sacrificed For The Greater Good

3. Roman Reigns (WrestleMania 34)

Brock Lesnar Roman Reigns
WWE.com

Many a wrestler has been sacrificed for Roman Reign's good since 'The Big Dog' became 'The Guy,' but it was the other way around at WrestleMania 34.

Reigns challenged for Brock Lesnar's Universal Champion. Built up for a full year, it was supposed to be his grand coronation, with Roman finally seizing the big red belt in a rematch of their fantastic 'Mania 31 scrap. It was seen as inevitable. You could bet your house on Reigns walking away as champion, though much of the anger surrounding his push had long since turned to apathy.

And then he lost.

The Greater Good:

WrestleMania itself.

The story goes that Vince McMahon didn't want his biggest show of the year to end on overwhelming negativity again, so he made a last-minute decision to have Lesnar retain the Universal Championship, forcing Roman to wait until SummerSlam 2018 before finally seizing the belt. WWE went all in on trying to generate sympathy for 'The Big Dog,' too. Lesnar cut him open with shoot MMA-style elbows, and Reigns' head was pouring with blood by the final bell. Still, Brock's triumph was met with near silence.

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Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. 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.