Roman Reigns is set to defend the WWE Universal Championship this weekend at SummerSlam, and if “The Tribal Chief” loses, it could derail everything he has worked so hard to build.
In a text-based version of his appearance on Out of Character with Ryan Satin, Reigns explained that the heart of his character is tied to the title, so losing the gold to Cena on Saturday would change his entire dynamic.
“If you’re a superstar who wants to perform in a wrestling ring and on the WWE stage especially, you should be gunning for the Universal Championship. So, for me, it’s tied into my character and the stories that I tell on Friday nights, very much so.
“I think if for some act of God were to happen, and I did lose … it would change the whole dynamic of what I’m doing.”
Reigns’ plan has been to dominate SmackDown as its Universal Champion, and he has successfully done just that since WWE Payback 2020. In doing so, he has elevated the title to new heights, so this heightened prestige adds even more importance to his bout with Cena.
“And I think also, what’s special about this run that I’m on and the stories that I’ve told in just under a year now, I have made the Universal Championship, the most important championship in WWE, the most important championship in sports entertainment,” said Reigns. “When you put as much equity and as much value as I have on that championship and really placed it at the pinnacle of this industry and showcase the juice that comes with it — the power, the respect, the money, everything. I mean everything.”
“The Head of the Table” commended Cena for the strategic timing of his return to WWE, given the fact that he has several movies to promote right now. But he also made it clear that the in-ring result of this comeback won’t be in Cena’s favor.
“I think it’s a very clever, very business-savvy idea he had. It’s just not going to go the way he wants it,” said Reigns.
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