If Reigns turns, be it soon or later, he won’t be with Paul Heyman. He’ll be with Trips and Chyna Jr.
You can’t take Reigns out of the main event. You can’t devalue the Royal Rumble. The winner challenging for the WWE title at ‘Mania sells the Rumble.
So, WWE’s only real options for the ‘Mania main event are Reigns-Lesnar, or a Reigns-Lesnar-Bryan three-way.
WWE is playing a risky game feuding Reigns and Bryan. In trying to harness and control the negative reaction to Reigns, they might dilute Bryan’s babyface pop. On second thought, perhaps that’s exactly the game WWE wants to play.
The ‘Mania main event aside, WWE needs to pay Lesnar and turn him babyface at ‘Mania, or not long after. Have Heyman and The Authority chase Lesnar’s title with a rotating cast of heels. Heyman = Grand Wizard. Trips = Blassie. Chyna Jr = Albano. (No offense, Steph. SOMEBODY had to be Albano.)
WWE is in an intriguing phase. It’s the mid-card era (c. Bruce Mitchell). Everyone is at or near .500. The WWE training center isn’t developing talent so much as funneling established independent talent to WWE, taking great care to rob them of their individuality.
Like I said, intriguing. Except for most of what’s on TV.
Should WWE sign Samoa Joe? Yes. Will WWE sign Samoa Joe? No. Should TNA have treated Joe and other TNA “originals” like A.J. Styles and Velvet Sky better? No. None of ‘em drew money, not for TNA. It’s a business, and it’s about time TNA cut out sentiment.
Then again, TNA still stinks. Totally, totally unwatchable.
Follow Mark on Twitter: @MarkMaddenX
