WWE News: Plans For Two Matches At The Top Of The Card At ‘Roadblock’ Pay-Per-View


Next up on WWE’s calendar of pay-per-view events is the highly-anticipated, dual-branded Survivor Series, so it might seem a little presumptuous to be discussing Roadblock. However, the wrestling rumor mill never stops churning, especially considering that Roadblock(technically Roadblock: End Of The Line) is the final pay-per-view of 2016.

As noted, Survivor Series will feature superstars from both RAW and SmackDown, highlighted by three inter-promotional traditional elimination matches and the fantasy warfare pitting Goldberg against Brock Lesnar. Both the Intercontinental and Cruiserweight Championships will also be defended with major implications on the line. SmackDown regains the spotlight just two weeks later with TLC, and then RAW closes out the year with their brand-exclusive Roadblock.

Neither the WWE Universal Championship or the WWE World Championship will be up for grabs at Survivor Series, as Kevin Owens and AJ Styles will both be involved in the most high-profile of the three elimination matches. But we do know they will defend their titles at their next respective pay-per-views. The program between Styles and Dean Ambrose should reach its conclusion in December when they battle in a TLC match. On the other hand, Owens’ next program appears just to be getting under way.

[Image by WWE]

While there was a lot of consideration given to breaking up the best-friends angle between Owens and Chris Jericho sooner than later, Owens will be defending his Universal Championship against Roman Reigns at Roadblock. Reigns, of course, is the current United States Champion, but as of now, only the Universal belt will be on the line at the pay-per-view.

The positive thing to take out of the news that Owens and Reigns will headline Roadblock is that Jericho might be sticking around longer than some had expected. There are still plans to dissolve Jeri-KO, as evidenced by the finish to this past Monday’s main event on RAW. However, the breakup might be pushed back now to the beginning of 2017.

As seen at Hell In A Cell, Jericho was not booked in a match despite backstage discussions about inserting him into the main event in what would have become a triple threat match. Y2J was involved in the bout, however, sneaking into the Cell and playing a major part in the finish.

According to Daily Wrestling News, Jericho will have a singles program this time around, leading to a match at Roadblock as a marquee addition to the undercard. Roadblock will emanate from Pittsburgh, and the venue (PPG Paints Arena) is advertising that Jericho will take on Seth Rollins at the event. The two have engaged in singles matches recently on RAW, but this will be the first encounter between the two on a pay-per-view.

[Image by WWE]

It should also be noted that Jericho and Rollins have been paired up at live events this fall and through the winter. Their house show matches are booked as street fights through the course of their tour, but it has yet to be confirmed whether that stipulation will be added to their match at Roadblock. Regardless, the top of the Roadblock card appears to be strong more than a month away from the show.

Inserting Roman Reigns back into the Universal Title picture has been met with mixed reactions, and Reigns continues to get negative responses from the live crowds. There’s a general sentiment circulating that the WWE must turn him heel if he’s to take the belt from Owens.

If Owens’ championship reign continues beyond Roadblock (and beyond his program with Roman for that matter), Jericho will make sense as his next challenger if they give the break-up angle the green light. That doesn’t necessarily mean Jericho has to beat Seth Rollins, and the expectations are that Seth would win heading into the Royal Rumble and his eventual mega-feud with Triple H.

Much more of the Roadblock blueprint will become clearer once the dust settles from Survivor Series, but the top two matches appear to be set in stone as of now.

[Featured Image by WWE]

Share this article: WWE News: Plans For Two Matches At The Top Of The Card At ‘Roadblock’ Pay-Per-View
More from Inquisitr