Roman Reigns Vs. Adam Pearce Contract Signing Added To WWE SmackDown

Protest though he may, Adam Pearce signs his contract to face Roman Reigns on WWE SmackDown tonight.

by Andy H Murray
Roman Reigns Adam Pearce
WWE

WWE has booked a contract signing for Roman Reigns vs. Adam Pearce on tonight's episode of SmackDown, as announced on the promotion's official website.

Reigns is expected to defend his Universal Championship against WWE's last authority figure standing at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view on 31 January. This follows on from Pearce "winning" a gauntlet match to determine Roman's next number one contender, pinning an out-of-it Shinsuke Nakamura after Jey Uso blasted him with a Superkick in the bout's final stage, draping Pearce's motionless body over the Japanese star for the three-count.

'The Tribal Chief' had bullied Adam into participating in the match in the first place, doing so in last week's opening segment.

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Current speculation states that Pearce vs. Reigns may not even go ahead, with Kevin Owens pinpointed as a potential replacement for the former NWA World Heavyweight Champion. KO has been absent from SmackDown since Reigns and Uso threw him from halfway up the ThunderDome structure on 1 January.

Nakamura vs. Uso is also on deck for tonight's episode of SmackDown, as well as Rey Mysterio vs. Baron Corbin, which was added to the card alongside the contract signing.

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Channel Manager
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.