Joe Wins NXT Title, Balor Linked to WWE Payback

In out of nowhere fashion, Samoa Joe defeated Finn Balor for the NXT Championship at a live event in Lowell, Massachusetts.

Joe's quest for the NXT title is now in the books, while many see this as a clear sign that Balor will be moving up to the main roster soon. With Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows present in WWE's angle between AJ Styles and Roman Reigns, the stars seem to be aligned for Balor to join. In all likelihood a Styles/Balor feud is on the horizon, with Anderson and Gallows acting as the former NXT Champion's supporting cast.

WWE Payback could prove to be very interesting in the wake of Balor's title loss to Joe tonight.

Brady Sauvageau
-The Heater

Raw Looking Fresh, WWE Payback Implications

We are weeks removed from WrestleMania 32 and surprisingly enough, things feel a bit different watching WWE. Admittedly, I sat on my ass for a few weeks and didn't write, because honestly, I had a sour taste in my mouth from both 'Mania and Raw the night after. 'Mania 32 had some great moments, but the outcomes left a lot to be desired. 'Nonsensical' is a word that comes to mind. Raw the night after reinforced that belief. But as the weeks have progressed, things seem a bit different.

Now, I'm not going to harp on this, but WWE did a lot to bury the idea of a meaningful finish at 'Mania. From AJ losing to Jericho to immediately becoming number one contender, to Shane being in control of Raw despite losing the stipulated Hell In A Cell match, things don't make a whole lot of sense. But then again, it's WWE. We've been subjected to so much short term booking and contradictive storylines that it's pointless to discuss it. So let's not.

To be quite honest, Raw has been pretty good. Cesaro returned. Sami Zayn is being featured. Enzo and Big Cass have arrived and are already showing a ton of promise. The two were the highlight of Raw the night after 'Mania 32. Apollo Crews and Baron Corbin have also debuted, but with less fanfare than Cass and Enzo. Sami Zayn has made waves with a few good showings in featured spots. His feud with Kevin Owens is still surreal to see play out on such a big stage, considering where they began on the independents. The positive about all though, is that they are fresh faces. The show feels fresh as well.

Here's what we really need to get to here. Roman Reigns is still struggling to get real reactions. Real reactions in that he hasn't gotten a reaction that wasn't driven by fans' disdain for him. The problem remains that his "heat" isn't "heat." Confusing, I know. Regardless of that, his feud with AJ Styles is getting hot.

Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson made their Raw debut by attacking the Usos. It seemed random until you consider that they're Reigns' cousins. Interesting.... A week later, they strike again, this time by beating down Reigns. Now we can see where this is going. The story reads that Reigns believes this is a plan by AJ, since Gallows and Anderson are his friends. AJ denies he ordered the beating and that's where we stand going into the Styles vs. Reigns match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Payback.

This is good stuff. How often has an angle in WWE had some depth like this? Yeah, AJ was booted from Bullet Club in New Japan the night after Wrestle Kingdom 10. Again, you apparently have to play along here and wipe some things from your memory. WWE doesn't expect you to know any of this, but whatever. The positive here is there's so many outcomes to the Payback main event.

Finish #1: Bullet Club Reunites

Can you imagine if Anderson and Gallows really were ordered to beat down Reigns by AJ and they helped him win the WWE Championship at Payback? I haven't worked a minute in the wrestling business and even I know that would be a hot angle. Can you say Shield vs. Bullet Club? Things are changing rapidly coming out of WrestleMania 32 and this would continue that trend.

Finish #2: Balor Club Is Formed

This one has a couple possibilities. Basically, the scenario is Gallows and Anderson interfere during or after the match, Finn Balor is involved, and the three take out AJ with no affiliation to Reigns. Keep in mind that the last news on Balor had him staying in NXT for the better part of 2016. He is still NXT Champion and there is still money in Balor/Joe III. Could he be working double duty? We'll get our answer soon enough. But the fact of the matter is an AJ/Balor feud would be quality, and Anderson and Gallows would add depth to the storyline.

Finish #3: The Roman Empire Is Formed

This seems unlikely, but then again, things much more dumb than this have happened. I'm not a fan of this scenario, but it's been talked about and speculated by many. This scenario sees Gallows and Anderson look as if they're going to help AJ, but end up turning on him in favor of Reigns. I'm going to interject my opinion here. THIS BETTER NOT HAPPEN. I understand the mindset, though. Turn Reigns completely heel and do it in a shocking fashion. The problem here is, Reigns becoming a heel will make or break him. The fans have accepted Gallows and Anderson quickly. They like AJ and the two together. It just seems that if WWE were to go this route, they would be running the risk of getting even more bad heat on Reigns. The fans might believe that WWE is doing another thing to push Reigns as the guy (sorry for that unintentional promo reference), but this time at the expense of two new guys that they like. Again, this is probably the most unlikely Payback finish of the three, but still very possible.

Speculation on the direction WWE is going has been rampant. Whether or not people hate that WWE didn't live up to the Undertaker/Shane stipulation, one thing is certain: the show feels different. It feels like this may be the beginning of a new era of WWE. With as many new faces and feuds that have entered the fold, WWE has a golden opportunity to capitalize on their momentum and genuinely improve the product. Payback will be a must-watch event for the company, and that is definitely a good thing.

Brady Sauvageau
The Heater

WWE & WrestleMania 32, In the Wake of NXT TakeOver: Dallas

Just hours removed from NXT TakeOver: Dallas, we as fans are reeling. At the risk of speaking for everyone, TakeOver was everything we wanted from a wrestling show. It had fast-paced athletic contests, breathtaking drama, despair, reflection, happiness, and every emotion in between. We saw Bayley valiantly fight until she couldn't any longer. Gable and Jordan emerged as the top tag team of NXT. We saw Shinsuke Nakamura make a lasting first impression that no one will ever forget. Finn Balor escaped Dallas with his title by narrowly defeating Samoa Joe. It was a night for NXT and professional wrestling that can only be summed up with one word: Historic.

Wrestlemania 32 is this Sunday. The question now, in the wake of TakeOver: Dallas is, how the hell do you follow it? It's a question we'll all know the answer to soon, though. From top to bottom, TakeOver was stellar. The entire card had meaning. Every match had the crowd interested and at times, completely gripped. Can the same be said about the 'Mania 32 card? Not top to bottom, surely. But there are some matches that could really compete with TakeOver.

The Intercontinental Championship ladder match is high on the list of anticipated 'Mania bouts. This match is going to be fun. Fun as hell. Like so many mid-card wrestlers of the past, the guys taking part in this one are going to look to steal the show. Sami Zayn has so much momentum coming out of his TakeOver match with Nakamura and will be looking to continue it. Kevin Owens will be making his 'Mania debut and is always a prospective show-stealer. Don't sleep on Ziggler, The Miz or the rest of the match's participants either. They're just as stoked to be in the spotlight as the rest of them.

Triple H vs. Roman Reigns has been heavily built, regardless of peoples' thoughts on Reigns and his character direction. I'm not going to get deep into this, simply because much has been discussed about a Reigns heel turn that seems completely hopeless to wish for at this point. The story here is, how can Reigns and HHH put together a match that captivates the 'Mania crowd if the finish really is Reigns over Hunter? There has to be something coming. At least, a lot of hope there is. But if not, what do we really have here? Just another "point A to point B" scenario? Let's hope that some kind of swerve makes us all wish we'd never bashed the Reigns/Triple H matchup.

The last match to really hit here is Shane McMahon vs. The Undertaker. This might be the most important, if not, the most anticipated match of Wrestlemania 32. Let's set the plot holes aside here. If Shane wins, he gets control of Raw while The Undertaker will never wrestle at 'Mania again. Vince McMahon has pitted the Undertaker against Shane, while Shane feuds his father. The Undertaker is trying to protect his own legacy, though it means doing the bidding of Vince. The dynamic here is strong. Shane has promised change in WWE if he wins, something that the fans are in strong favor of. But The Undertaker never wrestling again at 'Mania? It's quite the move by WWE to set this up. They have to get credit for this storyline. They went outside of the box. They actually presented something different and cannot be faulted for the attempt. This is one of those matches that you can't imagine until you're actually witnessing it, and that is best for business.

Taker vs. Shane certainly has the potential to emotionally move its audience. But Wrestlemania 32 has a goliath task of living up to, or past, NXT TakeOver: Dallas. But why is that? Conventional wisdom would say that the main brand's biggest event of the year should never be in jeopardy of being outperformed by its "developmental" brand. That seems to be the case, though.

So why is 'Mania facing this kind of adversity? Well, NXT has really thrived during its existence. I'll speak for myself on this one. When I watch Raw or any of the main roster's productions, I feel like I'm seeing a formula repeat while participants are filtered in and out. It's stagnant, though once in awhile, a person comes comes onto the scene and adds a freshness and edge to the show that it desperately needs (For example, Shane McMahon). When I watch NXT, it just feels more personal. Maybe you have to be a fan of wrestling outside of WWE to feel this way, but I'll explain nonetheless. Let's use Sami Zayn as an example.

Like so many people, I've watched Sami Zayn grow up on the independents before he finally got his break in signing with WWE. In NXT, we saw him grab opportunity by the throat and deliver in the most high-pressure situations. It was personal for me to see Zayn, when given the chance, show what he can bring to the table if brought up to the main roster. Not only that, but he illustrated how he can help WWE evolve as a product through his believable character and incredible ability to adapt his style to WWE's. Evolving should be at the top of WWE's priority list when it relates to the main roster.

WWE must evolve. It can't rely on The Undertaker and part-time performers forever. People could argue that point all day, but the product has suffered as a result of its reliance. You know, I don't necessarily want to see Roman Reigns defy the Authority and culminate his journey by winning the WWE Championship in the main event of Wrestlemania. There's something innate about Reigns that you can hate, but WWE refuses to deviate from the formula and take a risk by turning him heel.

Yes, guys like Kevin Owens, Dolph Ziggler, and Dean Ambrose represent the new guard of WWE. But so far all of them have hit a ceiling on the main roster. It's certainly not because of a lack of ability that they've hit a ceiling, but rather the constraints that go along with being a main roster talent. At NXT, the guys and girls are given open opportunity to prove themselves. Along with that, it appears that they have a lot of extra freedom to showcase their talent. They aren't made out to be just like everyone else in the middle of the card.

NXT feels real. It makes you want to suspend your disbelief. The emotion that has radiated from the product time and time again is special. Grown men shed tears when Bayley beat Sasha Banks in Brooklyn. People were moved as the Four Horsewomen of NXT embraced and threw up the four fingers shortly after. It was emotional because these performers were revolutionizing women's wrestling. It was real and the fans knew it. They knew how much that match meant to Banks and Bayley, let alone what it meant for women's wrestling. It wasn't forcibly billed, nor disingenuous in nature. On the main roster, Roman Reigns' initial title victory at this past Survivor Series felt forced and was certainly expected for quite some time. The people could see WWE's initiative to position Reigns at the top of the card as opposed to wanting to see him win the biggest prize in the company. There was nothing organic about anything leading up to that moment and the crowd reacted negatively.

As stated, NXT's emotional moments have come organically. At TakeOver, Sami Zayn vs. Shinsuke Nakamura told a story while the two hadn't even interacted face to face prior to the match. Nakamura debuted as the new hero looking to make a lasting first impression, while the man that helped build NXT stood and listened to the crowd's outpour of support for the newcomer. It seemed for a moment that they'd forgotten Sami and everything he had accomplished. Nakamura shined to open the match, but Zayn responded, reminded the NXT faithful that he nearly built the product they were watching. They battled intelligently until both men were exhausted by the bout. After seeing his own blood, Nakamura stomped Zayn's head violently. Zayn again responded, doing the same to Nakamura. The match culminated at its peak, with Nakamura gaining the victory. He celebrated, but then turned his attention to Zayn. He extended a hand, and Zayn accepted. Nakamura left the ring to Zayn as the crowd sang the familiar tune loudly, 'Ole.' While fighting back tears, Zayn acknowledged the NXT fans for what might have been his last time as an NXT competitor.

The emotion was real, in every sense of the word.

The point of all of this is we want to feel what we felt tonight watching NXT when we watch Wrestlemania 32. At times during 'Mania, we will. But we also know that there will be moments during the show that we'll surely forget. The truth is, WWE needs to evolve and it takes time. NXT is the model for which WWE should follow and learn from. Fans want to believe in the wrestlers. They want to feel emotionally attached to them. Most all of us feel that way about Taker after his incredible career of endurance, evolution, and ability to adapt. At the same time, not all of us have immediately felt that way about Reigns, as it seems we've been told to emotionally invest ourselves into him. WWE needs to allow their fans to attach themselves to any given performer. When that happens, it would be refreshing to reward the fans' commitment, even when it's for a person the company may not view as a "top guy."

Wrestlemania 32 has an incredible task ahead. The emotion and excitement that TakeOver: Dallas evoked has posed a legitimate threat the "grandest stage of them all." NXT has proven to be an evolution within the WWE product. Now, the time has come for the main roster to respond. But will they?

Well, we all hope so.

Brady Sauvageau
-The Heater

Previewing NXT TakeOver: Dallas

This Friday, April 1st, will mark a historical night in professional wrestling. NXT TakeOver: Dallas will illustrate how truly broken down the invisible wall between WWE and the rest of the wrestling world really is. We have to remember, it wasn't very long ago that WWE wouldn't acknowledge other wrestling promotions. An independent wrestler had about a 1% chance of getting to WWE, let alone get a push. Well, it's 2016 and things are drastically different. Independent talents are getting matches on NXT television. Hell, Johnny Gargano picked up a singles win on the last NXT episode going into Friday. It's a wild time to be a fan of professional wrestling.

Let's get to some of the smaller matches on the TakeOver card. Austin Aries will be making his in-ring debut for NXT taking on Baron Corbin. Aries has proven himself everywhere he's ever gone and NXT should be no different. Corbin has been improving ever since he made his debut and running as a heel has accelerated that process drastically. Expecting a solid match from these two, solidifying both as important figures in NXT.

The Revival will be defending their tag team titles against American Alpha. Dash and Dawson are the ideal old school throwback team, making an impact during their title reign. Jordan and Gable have also established themselves as a force, though. This match could be a show stealing bout, as evident by The Revival's title defense at WWE RoadBlock with Big Cass and Enzo Amore.

Also on the card is Apollo Crews vs. Elias Samson. Maybe the least attractive match at the event, but a chance for Crews to shine nonetheless. Crews hasn't had much room to shine since debuting, so look for him to try to make an impact vs. Samson.

Time to get into the meat of this card.

Bayley (c) vs. Asuka 

NXT Women's Championship Match

The women of NXT have changed everything we thought we knew about women's wrestling in WWE. Bayley has been an intricate part of it as well. Asuka fits right into the movement we've seen from these women over the past couple years. Fans of NXT know how good Bayley is. No one will ever forget her matches against Sasha Banks in late 2015. I'm not sure though, how many people truly understand how good Asuka is.

Now, I could go on and on about Asuka's career in Pro Wrestling Wave and Smash, where she wrestled under the name, Kana. The fact is, she's one of the best in the ring, man or woman, in WWE. Wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer has gone on the record saying that Asuka might be the best worker in all of WWE. If you don't know Meltzer, well, he's been around the block and he knows what he's talking about. Asuka has already become a fan favorite since debuting a short time ago. The girl knows how to get over.

Bayley vs. Asuka is going to be another huge moment in the "Divas Revolution." I'm not a fan of the term "Diva," but whatever. I can't really predict the finish of this match. That's ok though. It's good really. I can see Bayley dropping the title to move to the main roster, but for some reason it just seems too soon. She's ready, no doubt. But there's still women for her to work with and most importantly, women to learn from her. I can't wait to see this match, which is fantastic considering how women's wrestling has been billed in the past in WWE.

Finn Balor (c) vs. Samoa Joe

NXT Championship Match

The first Balor/Joe match was spectacular in London. The two have incredible chemistry and tell a fantastic story in the ring. Joe has been built up to be a monster heel while Balor has solidified himself as NXT's number one babyface. Though we've seen this match before, it's still standing up as a dream feud for wrestling fans. For so long, Joe has been known as one of the best performers in the world. We can go back a decade to Joe's series of matches with CM Punk in Ring of Honor. Believe this: Joe hasn't slowed down since that.

Finn Balor, as Prince Devitt, really broke through during his time in New Japan Pro Wrestling. There's something that people need to understand about this accomplishment. Think about this: New Japan doesn't allow just any foreign wrestler to be featured as a top act. Balor became an ultra high level babyface and heel in the promotion. He's credited with founding Bullet Club, a stable known to pretty much everyone, whether they've actually seen New Japan or not. The man has made an impact all over the world. Now he's doing it in the United States in NXT.

Finn Balor vs. Samoa Joe is important for a number of reasons. Like I said earlier, there was a time when there was no chance that we'd see a non-WWE created guy featured strongly on a WWE show. Think about what we're seeing here. A guy that made his name in Japan taking on a guy that destroyed the independents and accomplished so much for TNA wrestling. They're not WWE guys and they're headlining a WWE show for NXT's biggest prize. Think about that. These guys are paving the way for future international and independent wrestlers to succeed in WWE. This match is very important and make no mistake about it, they will deliver. Oh yeah, how great would it be to see Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson pop up soon with 'ol Finn? It's an exciting time, people.

Sami Zayn vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Continuing the theme of matches no one thought they'd ever see at a WWE associated event, we have Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sami Zayn. Even though we're this close to the event and seeing this match, I still can't believe it's happening. This past January, Nakamura wrestled AJ Styles at New Japan's premier event, Wrestle Kingdom for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship. If someone had asked me if four months later they'd both be wrestling for WWE, I would have said probably not. The barriers were breaking, but I still couldn't wrap my head around the future that was ahead of us. Well now they're in WWE. It's a reality that I could never imagine.

This match on paper is insane. Sami Zayn has proven himself time and time again as a major player in NXT. His transition to the main roster will be difficult considering the track record of NXT call-ups outside of Kevin Owens. He has the ability though, to make a huge splash on Raw and SmackDown. Zayn has a knack for delivering in big time situations. He has an incredible track record in Ring of Honor and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, wrestling under the name and character of El Generico. He was a part of what is arguably the greatest NXT match of all time against Adrian Neville at TakeOver R-Evolution. What I'm saying is, Zayn is ready for this type of big-fight matchup. 

Shinsuke Nakamura is not unfamiliar with pressure as well. For New Japan, Nakamura delivered outstanding performances on a regular basis. Just looking at the past two Wrestle Kingdoms, Nakamura's matches against Kota Ibushi and AJ Styles respectively both stand as match of the year level work. If you don't know who Nakamura is now, you will be absolutely blown away by him on Friday. His charisma is unmatched and his in-ring ability is elite. WWE should feel lucky to have signed him, honestly. 

I'll throw out a prediction for this one. Nakamura will beat Zayn in an incredibly hard fought bout. I understand that Nakamura is a newcomer to WWE, but I think it makes sense. Zayn doesn't need the win and he's currently transitioning to the main roster. I mean I could be dead wrong on this. But I don't see WWE bringing in a guy like Shinsuke and beating him on his first night in the company. Regardless of the finish, expect and match of the year candidate from these two at TakeOver Dallas.

So that's it. Are you excited yet? Yeah, you didn't need any hype to get you stoked on NXT TakeOver: Dallas. The fact of the matter is, this show might outperform Wrestlemania 32. Sounds crazy, I know. But if you really look at it, you'll understand. The NXT crew is looking to prove a point. The point? They're the new blood. They're the evolution of wrestling and the WWE brand. They're all looking to steal the spotlight over 'Mania weekend and I can't wait to see them do it.

Brady Sauvageau

The Heater Wrestling

Seth Rollins Will Return To WWE Better Than Ever

Seth Rollins' injury last November could not have come at a worse time. In the midst of his first WWE World Heavyweight Championship reign, it seemed that he was never able to reach the full potential that his run had. Not to say he wasn't on his way to getting there, though. Rollins had classic matches with Cena and Ambrose, an intriguing battle with Brock Lesnar, and even added the United States Title to his resume on the way. But a torn MCL and ACL abruptly cut short a reign that may have been leading him to a main event match against The Game, Triple H. Guess we'll never know what would've been. But that's what makes Rollins' pending return to the ring that much more interesting.

Recently, it's been reported that Rollins has been training and is well on his way to returning to WWE. Seth isn't the only wrestler out due to injury. Cesaro, Tyson Kidd, and Neville are also on a long list of injuries that have downright plagued WWE since 2015. No disrespect to any of the other wrestlers that are out, but Rollins' return seems to be the most important, or at least most impactful one.

Keep in mind, Rollins never lost the WWE Championship. There's loose ends to the storyline of Seth as champion. So many angles could come out of this. Triple H will most likely lose the title at Wrestlemania 32 to Roman Reigns. This is a longshot, but could Rollins be involved in some capacity of that main event? Will he return and take back his spot in the Authority? Surely, Rollins will receive a huge positive crowd reaction upon his return. I know, he's supposed to be a heel. But think back to Triple H's return at Madison Square Garden over a decade ago. Full blown heel, but got one of the biggest pops of all time when his music hit. Rollins may experience something similar. That's where things get tricky. If the plan was for him to eventually feud with Triple H, does Rollins ride the momentum to become a babyface and move into that program? And what about the title? Will we see Rollins take on Reigns, assuming we know the finish of 'Mania 32? Like I said, there's so many possibilities.

There's no risk in saying that Seth Rollins will return better than ever, even though he's coming off a serious injury. He's a rare athletic specimen. Before the injury, he was really hitting his stride on the mic and as a character. The spoiled, protected golden boy was becoming a man, a real force in WWE. His match with John Cena at last year's Summerslam illustrated how good he really is. Who could forget Rollins taking the cross body from Cena, rolling though, lifting him up, and tossing him onto his shoulders for the Attitude Adjustment? That sequence alone said so much about Rollins. He can take on anyone and deliver in the most high pressure situations.

Seth Rollins is a student of the game. His rapid rise to the top of Ring of Honor and the WWE's main roster didn't happen by accident. The guy is constantly learning, training, and doing anything he can to get better. Right about now, he's itching to get back into the ring. He's desperate to show that this injury did not derail his momentum. He's ready to take it. Sometimes, for a guy to break through to the next level, it takes something catastrophic to allow reflection. Rollins has had a lot of time to reflect, to see the little holes in his work, and how he's going to get to the highest tier of WWE.

Rollins' return to WWE is going to shake things up. It's going to jump start the brand in a way it so desperately needs. With Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose currently filling the top of the card, Rollins immediately has "top guy" feuds to enter. Looming is the possibility that he will square off against his mentor, Triple H. The stars could be aligning for Rollins, and make no mistake about it, he's ready to cement his status as the best wrestler in the company.

The fact of the matter is WWE needs Rollins. His importance to the future of the company is unquestionable. What's interesting is that long term, the more important thing about 2016 might not be Wrestlemania 32, but rather the return of Seth Rollins.

That's a bold statement, but one that Rollins can't wait to prove to be true.

Brady Sauvageau
The Heater

Roman Reigns & WWE: Highs, Lows, & the Future

It's obvious, WWE has positioned Roman Reigns as the face of the company regardless of the negative feedback his presence has invoked in many arenas around the country. He seems destined to take the spot of John Cena as the company's flag bearer. For more than a decade, the most polarizing figure in WWE has been Cena. Many have deemed him as a corporate champion, a guy that doesn't know how to wrestle, and one that lucked-out in attaining to position he has in the company. Here's the truth of the matter with Cena: Sure, his in-ring work maybe a bit unorthodox, but make no mistake about it, the man can work. Some might say, "If he's so good, then why does half the crowd boo him while the others cheer?" I don't have a complete answer for that. But think about it this way....Whether it's 50% cheers and 50% boos, the fact is that 100% of the audience is reacting. Unlike Cena, it seems that Reigns' work as a top babyface hasn't quite matched the position he possesses in WWE. Cena has had over a decade to become what he has. Reigns has been expected to rise to an elite level in a matter of a few years, a daunting task.

It's been quite a couple of years for Roman Reigns. From debuting with the Shield (possibly the best booked three guys of the past 10 years) to rising as a singles wrestler, Reigns has had his fair share of highs and adversity. As it stands right now, he will be facing Triple for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in the main event of Wrestlemania 32, his second straight 'Mania headlining match. Here's the adversity: a large, vocal majority of the audience isn't too stoked on the match, or him, for that matter. Let's take a look at the highs and lows Reigns has experienced, starting with the 2014 Royal Rumble.

Before we start, try to remember a day when you didn't flat out hate the guy. Remember how great the Shield was? He was in that. Yeah, he was. He played his role well, too. But here we go with the Rumble.

Reigns, as a member of the Shield, was working heel in the Rumble match, so until the end, the crowd reaction wasn't overwhelming yay or nay. The important part came at the end of the match. Yes, this was the year that Daniel Bryan wasn't in the match and yeah, he should've been, and you and I all freaked out at home. So when it came down to just Reigns and Batista, most of us including the live crowd, sided with Reigns. To this day I'm not sure he's ever got this positive of a reaction. Sure, this could've just been the product of a lack of D-Bry, but sometimes that's the kind of spotlight or opportunity a guy needs to be seen in a different light. This was that exact opportunity.

Batista and Reigns went at it and make no mistake about it, it was about 99% Reigns and 1% Batista in terms of crowd reaction. When I watched all of this unfold, I was convinced that this was the break Reigns needed. And to a degree, it was. Reigns looked natural in the ring. His showmanship in between spots didn't come off as overacting as it seems to now. Hell, the crowd chanted "ROMAN REIGNS." Again, I get that Bryan not being there was a huge catalyst, but the fact is that Reigns still seized the opportunity and performed well, regardless of what the planned finish was.

After that, things started to go downhill. Reigns' position was climbing, as he was featured more and more as a top star. We can debate this all day, but I believe the beginning of his downturn started with his freak hernia scare. Reigns' had to have emergency surgery, which halted his momentum. This is when it seemed like WWE started to get a bit too involved with getting Reigns over with the audience. The "live via satellite" interviews absolutely exposed him and his lack of promo experience. Maybe he wasn't ready, but regardless, it wasn't good. Then WWE seemed to get even more involved with his promos. Who could forget the infamous "sufferin' succotash" line that may or may not have been written by a certain boss within the company. At this point, it was clear. This wasn't natural and certainly not organic. It wasn't even really Roman anymore. It was WWE working their vision through a young wrestler.

In early 2015, Daniel Bryan made his return from injury, an injury that forced him to vacate the WWE World Heavyweight Title. When he came back, the fans were instantly back into his corner. Fast forward to the 2015 Royal Rumble. Bryan is eliminated early and eventually, Reigns wins the match. For Reigns, it was an accomplishment. For the fans, it seemed like a repeat of the previous year when WWE tried to strap the rock onto Batista's back. In the match, The Rock came out to save Reigns from a beatdown and in the process give him the "rub" that many felt he needed to be viewed as a true top superstar. Maybe Philadelphia wasn't the place for this to happen. The crowd initially popped huge for Rock, but once it was clear that he was backing Reigns, they turned. The look on Rock's face when he heard the loud boo was priceless. I'd hate to laugh, but the moment was a bit comical. It was the wrong place at the wrong time for Roman. The fans wanted Bryan to win again, but plans had changed and Reigns was WWE's pick. It was a tough spot to be in, but to Reigns' credit, he handled the situation well.

Soon, all eyes were on Fastlane, the pay per view right before 'Mania 31. Storylines had developed following the Rumble. Reigns vs Bryan for the right to face Brock Lesnar for the title at 'Mania was penciled in as the show's main event. Simply put, the two had a phenomenal match. Reigns ended up winning it, but it may have heightened many of the fans' disdain for him.

The fans didn't change their minds when 'Mania came. The Lesnar/Reigns main event delivered, but Seth Rollins ended up cashing in his Money In The Bank briefcase to steal away the title at the end of the match.

Now here we are again. Reigns is in the main event of 'Mania 32 and the fans aren't exactly 100% enthusiastic about it. WWE has done everything they can. They've had the Authority stack the deck against him, beat him up, screw him, everything. It's just not working the way it has with past wrestlers. WWE seems to be trying to put him in the role of Steve Austin or Daniel Bryan. One where the Authority tries to hold him down but he keeps fighting back, eventually dethroning the powers that be and accomplishing his goal. The problem is that Reigns is not Austin or Bryan. That role can't be filled by just anybody. It's no knock on Reigns. He can be the guy WWE wants him to be, it just clearly isn't through the path they've laid out for him.

It's just impossible to believe that Roman Reigns is as bad as he's been made out to be. It has to be realized that WWE got to this guy and like anyone else who had been in his position, he listened. Possibly to his own detriment, but he listened. Wrestlemania 32 hasn't happened yet and unless some kind of miracle happens, the detractors will remain unfazed after the event.

How could WWE change the minds of those unsold on Reigns? It's probably not possible. But here's what they haven't tried....and again, I'd hate to say it for the ten billionth time, but turn Roman Reigns heel. Everything has been tried when it comes to getting him truly over as a babyface. Nothing's worked the way it should have. Turn him heel, set him loose, and allow him the freedom to curse the people that have booed him during what should've been his most triumphant moments. He can look the fans in the eye and speak from his heart. He would be able to convey real emotion instead of continuing to portray the good-guy persona he's been forced to.

If the crowd wants to boo him, then let them. In the process, he'll have the chance to develop some depth to his character, which is something he desperately needs. If he's allowed to really sink his teeth into a heel run, the fans might see him in a different light. He could earn their respect and pay his dues by shedding the character that they hate so much. As time goes on, he could eventually turn back towards a babyface role while bringing the fans back with him. We as the audience would be given the chance to watch him evolve organically, instead of how his character and storylines have progressed over the past two years.

I've discussed a Reigns heel turn so many times that it's almost nauseating for me to write it again. There's just not really any more options left except for the one WWE will probably opt for: move forward as if nothing is wrong. This article isn't the product of disdain for Reigns. It's actually quite the opposite. Reigns has all the potential to be the top babyface in WWE and many of us want that for him. Just not this way. Not at the expense of his future. Whether WWE realizes it or not, there could be a major consequence to the route they've taken. The lack of audibles in the Reigns vs. the Authority storyline is a red flag to many fans that they aren't taking into consideration their feedback. WWE seems to be waiting for fans to give into this version of Reigns, and that's a slippery slope. A lot of people love him, sure. But a lot of people don't and I don't believe that it's as small of a percentage as it has been described.

Regardless of the way Wrestlemania 32 and the future plays out, Roman Reigns will most likely remain at the forefront. WWE must understand that they are rolling the dice here. Interesting that normally a top babyface heel turn would be considered "rolling the dice." But Reigns is an interesting case. A product of an era where the average fan might know too much for their own good about the way the business works. With all of this being said, it'll be an interesting 2016, maybe for the wrong reasons. The question of it all is, if the future is already laid out for you to see.......will you watch?

Brady Sauvageau
The Heater

WWE Roadblock Was What We Expected

Well, WWE Roadblock was sadly everything I thought it was going to be. I wish I had been wrong, I really do. But in the end it was a house show. A house show with some damn good matches, some average ones, and very little immediate importance. There were high points though, and some things that can be built on moving forward. But let's just talk about the main event, which the show was built around.

Make no mistake about it, Dean Ambrose vs. Triple H was a fantastic match. HHH looked good despite his very limited match schedule. The crowd could've shown some more enthusiasm for the first three quarters of it, but it was a great bout nonetheless. Yes, Ambrose pinned Triple H and for all intents and purposes, proved that he could beat him and win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. That's great. Here's where I have a problem with the finish: what about that match changes or adds to Wrestlemania 32? Unless I'm getting ahead of myself (which is doubtful, sadly) and this Monday's Raw sees Ambrose getting closer to a title match rather than a singles vs. Lesnar, then we're right back where we started. If we even went anywhere in the first place. There could have been a heel turn, a storyline shift to add interest to 'Mania....anything.

So, again I ask, what about this main event made me more excited for Wrestlemania 32? Unfortunately, nothing. I'd hate for this to be a completely negative article. We must keep in mind how good Ambrose looks coming out of this loss. This match will probably benefit him in the future. But what about Roman Reigns vs. Triple H? It's going to be damn near impossible for them to follow the main event we just witnessed at Roadblock. Now there's just hard evidence that the wrong main event will take place at 'Mania 32.

On Monday, we will watch Raw and hope for something to change based on Roadblock. I'd hate to give my hopes up again, seeing as how it hasn't seemed to work out too well. Believe me though, Lesnar vs. Ambrose will be one helluva match, but that doesn't feel the same as the "what if's" we had going into Roadblock.

Again, the Roadblock main event was fantastic and fun. It's just the context and the point and time we're at that leaves a bit to be desired. I'm not sure what else to say except, we'll have to wait and watch this Monday for Raw. But hey, maybe that's a good thing. At least I 'hope' so.

Brady Sauvageau
The Heater

-It should be noted though, Bray Wyatt and Brock Lesnar never really got into it during the handicap match that included Luke Harper. We'll have to wait and see if this is addressed sooner, rather than later (Wrestlemania match implications).