10 Big Mistakes WWE Will Probably Make Before 2017
1. Making Roman Reigns Universal Champion
Like it or not, Roman Reigns is on his way back to the top. His dalliance with the United States Title was but a temporary vacation away from the main event scene following his wellness suspension, and he’s firmly entrenched in the Universal Championship hunt. Even if he doesn’t win on Monday, he’s going to be featured in or around the champion’s affairs for the foreseeable future, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it.
WWE aren’t going to turn the corner on Reigns, and they’re not going to turn him heel either. He reverted to his miscast face role throughout the Rusev feud, and with Finn Bálor down, it’s only going to continue. WWE need a babyface to fill the Irishman’s main event slot, and they’re not going to elevate Sami Zayn or Cesaro; Reigns is their guy, and he’s headed back to the top.
One of Reigns and Seth Rollins is most likely to walk away with the belt on Raw, and if rumours are to be believed, another long-term program between the two is in the pipeline. It’s disappointing that WWE would choose to go down this familiar path instead of elevating another upper-midcard star, but it’s almost certainly happening.
Reigns may have regained the slightest whiff of crowd support when facing Rusev, but that’s going to go out the window as soon as he lays hands on Rollins. Seth, an apparent heel, is infinitely more popular than Roman, whose role is so miscast at the moment that it’s almost comical. If the belt ends around Reigns’ waist by the end of the year then it’s going to be met with universal disdain, but when has that ever stopped WWE in the past?