Although WWE has changed their plans in the past based on how the fans have reacted, one thing they are simply refusing to budge from is the fact that Roman Reigns will become the face of the company.
Fans have been against the push The Big Dog has been receiving for years, and that reaction might only get worse following what occurs this Friday when the company heads to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for the Greatest Royal Rumble event.
THE GUY
Reigns is battling Brock Lesnar for the Universal Championship. Although the WWE can easily drop another swerve here - like they did at the Grandest Stage of Them All - the expectation is that Reigns will leave the Middle East as the new champion in front of a more receptive crowd and that could potentially mark the end of Lesnar’s WWE career.
However, with fans not ready to accept WWE’s plans to make Reigns ‘the guy,’ it’s apparently drawing some conflict backstage as officials reportedly believe Braun Strowman should be in that role instead, per Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer.
Speaking on the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Meltzer has claimed that there are a mixture of feelings backstage, with some sticking with the plan to continue the Reigns push while others believe The Monster Among Men should be the new champion by defeating Lesnar instead.
CHAMPION
According to Ringside News, he said: “There’s a feeling that he’s better off not being champion [...] I agree that Roman’s not the guy. I think that’s been the case for years.
“Well, they know that [Braun Strowman] is the most popular guy and I know there are people in the company who definitely think he should be the champion and he should be the guy that beats Brock Lesnar.
“Look, I think that’s probably better, we’ll see. Maybe, in the end, that’s what they’ll do.
“But Roman needs to be a heel, that’s all there is to it whether he wins the title or not, he needs to be a heel. You know this is a John Cena who’s selling a tonne - I mean, I know his sales are good but if you put Strowman in the same spot - and also the other thing is that freaking lame ‘get these hands’ chant that was so lame, yet people are picking up on it. So yeah, that’s another thing.”
A lot has been made about Reigns turning heel, especially since there won’t be any top villains to go up against him if he does end up slaying The Beast.
With reports circulating that WWE wants Lesnar to lose two matches on his way out, perhaps having Strowman send him to the UFC wouldn’t be the worst thing to happen, with the fans getting a Universal Champion they actually want holding the title.
What do you make of the feelings towards Braun Strowman backstage? Have YOUR say in the comments section below.