Roman Reigns Heading Into Shield Feud Instead Of Universal Championship Feud


When Braun Strowman fell to an injury, it really changed everything the WWE was planning for this summer. However, with recent rumors that Strowman would return faster than expected from his injury, it looks like the WWE can keep Roman Reigns out of the title picture like they originally planned. Forbes reported that it looks like the WWE might be considering a Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins feud.

Of course, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins are involved in a huge match coming up at Extreme Rules where they will fight Finn Balor, Bray Wyatt, and Samoa Joe. The winner of that gets a shot at the Universal Championship against Brock Lesnar at Great Balls of Fire in July.

However, the WWE wants to keep Roman Reigns out of the Universal Championship scene until WrestleMania 34. That means he needs to lose, and what better way than because of Seth Rollins? While Paul Heyman has hinted at Finn Balor winning the title opportunity, there is a chance that Brock Lesnar plays a face for a while and that means Bray Wyatt or Samoa Joe might be the best opponent in July.

If that happens, Forbes believes that a prolonged Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins feud might be what the WWE has planned now. The two have a long-standing relationship since they broke into the WWE together as part of The Shield. Rollins then turned heel and brutally beat down Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose to end the most popular faction the WWE had built up in years.

Now, all three members of The Shield are on the same brand on Monday Night Raw and it looks like they could be headed for a reunion. Interestingly, the rumors from before Braun Strowman’s injury indicated that Roman Reigns was headed for a feud with The Miz.

[Image by WWE]

Right now, Dean Ambrose is feuding with The Miz. Meanwhile, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins are booked to fight each other next week on Monday Night Raw after Roman Reigns accidentally hit the Superman Punch on Rollins on Monday night this week and caused Seth to lose to Samoa Joe.

If Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins feud coming out of Extreme Rules and Braun Strowman really does return and start his program with Brock Lesnar for a SummerSlam match, the WWE could have their summer plans in place for all of their top stars. It also could lead to the eventual reunion of The Shield on Monday Night Raw.

ESPN came up with the exact same prediction as Forbes after Monday Night Raw as well. As ESPN reported, the WWE has failed to get Roman Reigns over with the vocal part of the WWE Universe since they started pushing him to the moon. However, Roman Reigns was never more popular than he was when he was in The Shield.

ESPN believes that the best way to finally solve what they called the “Roman Problem” is to have Roman Reigns turn heel, reunite with The Shield, and beat Brock Lesnar for the Universal Championship at WrestleMania 34 as a heel. The Shield could then come out on Monday Night Raw the next night and stand victorious as the heels they used to be — united again — and holding the biggest title on Monday Night Raw.

The WWE needs to figure out what they are going to do about Roman Reigns and to somehow do something that will fix their declining ratings as well. With Brock Lesnar as the No. 1 champion, who is never on television, and Braun Strowman out of action with an injury, ratings have slumped.

[Image by WWE]

Wrestling News World reported that Monday Night Raw hit a 2017 low of 2.696 million viewers on May 8 when Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman were both out of action. Even when Roman Reigns was out injured, Braun Strowman was the focus on a show that was getting over 3 million viewers every week.

Cageside Seats reported that The Shield was one of the top merchandise movers in the WWE in 2014. When they split up, the three men remained in the Top 10 on their own. Even now, Roman Reigns ranks No. 2 behind John Cena and ahead of every other full-time superstar in merchandise sales.

A huge storyline of former Shield brothers fighting again in Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins might actually get fans excited again. Mix in Dean Ambrose somehow and build to The Shield reunion by the time that Roman Reigns fights Brock Lesnar for the Universal Championship, and they could finally have that success.

[Featured Image by WWE]

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