When Reigns was forced to defend his WWE World Heavyweight Championship in this year's Royal Rumble match, and then forced to enter at number one, we were all supposed to view him as a sympathetic figure. How on earth would brave Roman outlast 29 other men to regain his title? Maybe by taking an extended break in the back. That'd probably help... Yes, Roman was dragged from the ring and slammed through the Spanish announce table by Rusev, but we've seen similar things happen to resilient main event babyfaces all the time. Usually they bravely return after an extended nap on the outside, or are taken to the back on a stretcher, only to fight their way back to ringside. Reigns did neither. He allowed himself to be walked to the back by EMTs, proving that he was well enough to stand, but could still do with a little break from the Rumble. I'm not sure how WWE expected this spot to portray the Big Dog as a valiant hero upon his return to the match - he simply looked like a shirker.
