One of the rumored matches for WrestleMania 33 is The Undertaker vs. Roman Reigns. WWE teased this bout during the Royal Rumble match and it looks like it could be coming to fruition. Here’s how they can make The Deadman vs. The Big Dog look like a million bucks.
Read my words, Vincent K. McMahon: Roman Reigns can become a star in your company as a heel, not as a babyface.
You’ve already proven that.
After Roman Reigns entered the 2017 Royal Rumble match this past Sunday in the Alamodome as the No. 30 entrant, WWE continued to make the same mistake they’ve been making since the disbandment of The Shield, and that’s Roman Reigns isn’t going to be the star you want him to be as a babyface.
You literally booked him as a major heel. You had Reigns eliminate The Undertaker; arguably the most beloved star in the company. Either that, or you just love trolling your fanbase, which I could totally buy because we’re all pretty gullible at times.
How was Reigns booked as a heel on Sunday? Well, for starters, any suspense of Samoa Joe, Finn Balor, Seth Rollins or any surprise entrant from the No. 30 spot was dashed with Reigns’ appearance. He had already wrestled earlier in the night against Kevin Owens and really showed no ill effects from that brutal no disqualification match.
Then, he threw out a popular pick to win the Rumble and a man on his last legs in the business.
But, hilariously enough, WWE did themselves a gigantic favor.
The Undertaker vs. Roman can be a fantastic matchup at WrestleMania 33. I know The Deadman’s hip is pretty much dust at this point, but this match can work. It really can.
And, I’m going to explain how.
You have a clear babyface vs. heel matchup, which is a basic concept (but good!)
The tricky thing with booking matches sometimes is that the story is a little fuzzy. Who are we supposed to cheer? Who are we supposed to boo? In this match, Roman Reigns is going to be booed regardless, so please, take advantage of that. No matter what you do with him from now until April 2, he’s going to be booed mercilessly out of the stadium.
This is where you make the money, WWE. Book Reigns as the heel. Don’t tease it with a sly line in a promo. Don’t hover on that line. Turn Reigns into a full-blown heel. You have plenty of time to make him “the face of the company” like Vinny Mac wants him to be. Trust me. But for now, make people truly despise Reigns.
Have him come after The Undertaker. Take out Kane. Make it personal. (Don’t go into the whole Paul Bearer thing like that one guy who shouldn’t have his name chanted anymore did a few years ago. That was just awkward for many.)
Hell, bring back the dead parents angle from when The Deadman was younger and battling in wars with (Masked) Kane. Book Reigns as the monster in this match. Similarly to Shawn Michaels in past WrestleMania showdowns, have Reigns get inside Undertaker’s head. Make Reigns the true most hated man in the company. It will work.
A lot of fans want to boo Roman Reigns. Give them a reason to. Guys and gals go through all kinds of changes in this business. This one could save Reigns’ career trajectory in the eyes of many (including myself). He’s not a bad performer by any means, but it doesn’t help him when the “you’re Vince’s boy” thing is hovering over him.
(On an unrelated note: There’s no telling how much more The Undertaker has left anyway, so booking him as a bad guy here makes no sense. He deserves a proper send-off if this is really it for him, which it should be.)
Passing the torch (which is what I personally think you’re trying to do anyway)
Look, it’s no secret that Vince McMahon wants Reigns as his next poster boy. (You’ve had a good run, John Cena.) Everybody with a pulse that watches wrestling can see that with how many chances in the spotlight Reigns has been given since The Shield split two years ago.
If you’re going to “pass the torch” to “your guy”, Vince … this has to be the match to do it. That means no more Deadman after this. It may not be the prettiest-looking match with Undertaker’s health issues, which is another reason for him to call it a career after this one. The Undertaker’s career deserves to end at WrestleMania. It wouldn’t be right anywhere else. His career is defined by WrestleMania.
Plus, you can give Roman Reigns his WrestleMania moment –that doesn’t involved muted microphones tuning out the boos from WrestleMania 32– and have this end with a handshake or something, followed by The Undertaker’s usual send-off after a match in the ring.
I may be in the minority of thinking this match can be really good in Orlando if that’s the plan for these two, but it can work. It has to.
The Undertaker is the shell of a man he once was in the ring.
Roman Reigns can’t win no matter what he says or does.
These two need each other and this match. Make it work or we riot … or something like that.
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