WrestleMania 39 - Roman Reigns still champion - did WWE do the right thing?
Reigns' on his way to 1,000 days as Champion
Last week at this time getting ready to embark on Los Angeles for Wrestlemania weekend, I was starting to put my Wrestlemania predictions together.
Being in the crowd for Wrestlemania 39, I think its safe to say 99% of the fans were pro Cody Rhodes and probably 1% pro Roman Reigns –- it was crazy!
As a fan, I wanted Cody Rhodes to have his Wrestlemania moment and to “Finish the story.” But the more I thought about it, it made sense for WWE not to take the titles off Roman Reigns just yet…
The road to 1,000
As of today, Roman Reigns has held the Universal title for 946 days and I emphasize that title only because it was a year ago he beat Brock Lesnar to become the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion holding both titles.
As I told the “Strutting from Gorilla” podcast a couple weeks before Mania (LISTEN HERE) – there was NO storyline to have one of the titles on the line, where it would protect Roman of holding the Universal title and potentially having Cody win the WWE title (the one I think he is chasing as it has more a legacy than the Universal title – formed in 2016).
For today’s wrestling fans, the road to 1,000 is a HUGE milestone and for WWE having their top star achieve this plateau is a huge deal. Yes, Bruno Sammartino held the WWWF Championship for 2,803 days and Bob Backlund held it for 2,135 days. The difference, major different time in the world. If there is ever a prime opportunity to get to the sexy number of 1,000 it’s NOW.
Cody Rhodes reset
When Cody Rhodes made his return to WWE at Wrestlemania 38 in 2022, he sky rocketed to the top of his game and the writing was on the wall for him to climb to the top and get a title shot to eventually dethrone Roman Reigns.
In June 2022, Cody suffered a pectoral injury sidelining him for 10 months. He made a dramatic return at the Royal Rumble, ENTERING 30th and winning the Rumble.
I personally thought the build up to Wrestlemania was not that good between these two. I found it more entertaining and personal with Paul Heyman’s and Cody’s promo in February especially when the late Dusty Rhodes was brought up (WATCH HERE)
And then enter Wrestlemania, where during night one – the Uso’s lost the Undisputed Tag Team titles to Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn – and NO sign of Solo Sikoa. The writing was on the wall for him to have some sort of play during the match – and when he was sent back to the dressing room area, it was certain he was done, until he returned later in the match to cost Cody Rhodes the championship.
Another dirty way for Roman to win and retain
What’s next?
It looks like it’s going to be Brock Lesnar-Cody Rhodes feud for the immediate future. Both Lesnar and Rhodes had GREAT Wrestlemania matches and for these two to have a one on one bout and for Cody to get over the Lesnar challenge and work his way back to the top is a good way to get the momentum back in his favor. Yes, a year ago Cody was on his way to becoming that guy to get the title off Roman at this years Wrestlemania – where I still think it would have been fine to do that, but the 1,000 days is way too precious for WWE right now.
Who & When?
Those are the two looming questions for Roman Reigns
WHO will be the one to dethrone the Tribal Chief as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion?
WHEN will Roman Reigns lose the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship?
Whether you like the story lines or not, WWE has the viewer hook, line and sinker on these two questions to get us watching each week.
If there is any indication from the fans at SoFi Stadium on Sunday night – Roman must lose immediately. But for now, that’s not going to happen until WWE determines WHO will be the one to defeat him and WHEN the time is right.
