Opinion
WrestleMania 36 Top 5: Who Can Replace Roman Reigns?
Roman Reigns is out at WrestleMania 36, leaving us to wonder who will replace him against Universal Champion Goldberg. Here are five options!
Roman Reigns is out at WrestleMania 36, leaving us to wonder who will replace him against Universal Champion Goldberg. Here are five options!
Let me start in the most important way: I hope you and yours are happy and healthy. Wash your hands. Make good choices. Love one another. We’re going through some crazy times, and for many that’s just piling on with whatever they already had going on. Be smart, and be good.
By now you all have heard the news from last night: Roman Reigns is out of his WrestleMania 36 showdown with Universal Champion Bill Goldberg. This isn’t shocking news as “The Big Dog” is considered immunocompromised and that is simply something you don’t want to play with in the COVID-19 world we are living in. I know it’s widely reported that Roman pulled out of the match, but if you think there wasn’t any doctor involvement, you’re crazy.
We also know that more WWE superstars are likely out of their WrestleMania 36 match-ups, which again isn’t surprising. WWE is playing it safe, at least on the individual level, and it will impact the card.
But the show must go on…or at least the show IS still going on. Must? That’s another article for another day.
But if the show goes on, Goldberg needs a new opponent. While the replacement has likely already filmed the match with Goldberg, we are left spoiler-free and wondering who that might be. With all apologies to Jinder Mahal, let’s take a look at the candidates (mostly) from the WWE SmackDown brand.
5. Baron Corbin faces Goldberg at WrestleMania 36
Not exactly an upgrade, but it’s hard to upgrade from Roman Reigns. But in this case, it’s a serious downgrade. Baron Corbin has been a reliable performer for the WWE, and could–at minimum–generate some heat for an ass-kicking at the hands of Goldberg. I don’t see Goldberg putting Corbin over, and nor do I think he should. But it’s at the very least a possibility.
4. Mojo Rawley gets the shot
Yes, you read that right. Mojo Freaking Rawley. It makes sense from a creative standpoint, as Rob Gronkowski is the host of WrestleMania 36 and can logically book the match, giving his boy the opportunity of a lifetime. I personally enjoy Mojo Rawley, but even saying that I would also say he isn’t where he needs to be to be challenging anyone for the Universal Championship anywhere, let alone at WrestleMania and let along against Goldberg.
3. Finn Balor is the crowd pleasing choice
The Prince is out of his match with Walter at either NXT Takeover: Tampa or NXT UK Takeover: Dublin (or both), or at the least that showdown is postponed. Balor, especially as The Demon, makes the perfect unannounced surprise replacement, which is unfathomable for any WrestleMania world championship match except this one. I don’t think it’s THAT far fetched to see Balor fill the role, and would definitely be a fan pleaser.
Would Goldberg be willing to put him over? Money talks, and there is some mythos to The Demon character, so it could work.
2. Shinsuke Nakamura gets another big chance
Thanks to Sami Zayn walking around as Intercontinental Champion, Shinsuke Nakamura seemingly doesn’t have anything to do for WrestleMania–at least not in an official capacity. Goldberg does have some affinity for the Japan style of wrestling, and this would be a unique pairing that we’d never see again. The match might not be that great, but with the magic of editing it would work out in the end. Despite where he is in the card, Shinsuke is a believable Universal Champion, and a potential SummerSlam program with Roman Reigns would be one I could get into.
1. Braun Strowman replaces Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 36
Let’s be honest, “Plan B” is likely “Plan Braun.”
It’s not a very well kept secret that Braun Strowman was the back-up plan for Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 34, and he was also the back-up plan for Seth Rollins vs. Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 35. WWE always has an emergency plan for a last minute issue, and that seems like what WrestleMania 36 is going to need.
Braun is believable, he’s over, and he’s a legitimate monster. He can have a quick brawn with Goldberg, hit him with a couple of ultra-safe powerslams, and walk out as the new Universal Champion.
One thing we do know is that it won’t be Roman Reigns. Who will it be? Hit me up on social @ChairshotGreg and let me know!
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Opinion
Chris King: The Wyatt Sicks’ Wasted Potential By WWE
Chris King takes a look at the WWE and their wasted potential of Uncle Howdy and the Wyatt Sicks faction.
Chris King takes a look at the WWE and their wasted potential of Uncle Howdy and the Wyatt Sicks faction.
It’s that time of the year again, folks; it’s unfortunate and downright awful that so many WWE superstars got released today. I’m not going to list all of them, but I am going to talk about one of my favorite factions,
The Wyatt Sicks. Nikki Cross, Joe Gacy, Erik Rowan, and Bo Dallas (Uncle Howdy) were something special. After Bo’s brother Bray Wyatt’s tragic passing, WWE felt like there was a hole that needed to be filled. Wyatt was one of the most creative and brilliant characters, and Bo would be taking over his brother’s concept and bringing it to life. In 2024, at the end of an incredible documentary highlighting Wyatt’s career and struggles, Bo appeared on the screen portrayed as Uncle Howdy. The last time Uncle Howdy was seen on-screen was at the 2023 Royal Rumble, where Wyatt defeated LA Knight in a Pitch Black Match. Howdy jumped off a structure onto Knight.
This post-credit scene sparked so much speculation and excitement that Wyatt’s brother would carry on his legacy and possibly debut the faction that was Wyatt’s concept. On the June 17th episode of Monday Night Raw, The Wyatt Sicks made their dramatic debut ,destroying the backstage area as well as “murdering” Chad Gable. It was such an iconic arrival for Howdy as he made his menacing walk from the back into the audience who were chanting “Holy Shit.” The Sicks and American Made (Chad Gable and The Creed Brothers) battled for months, with The Sicks being victorious. On the September 9th episode of Raw, The Sicks defeated them, with Howdy getting the win with Sister Abigail.
The following year, The Sicks would move over to Friday Night SmackDown, and it seemed like WWE had a plan in place. They would win the tag team championships from The Street Profits and start to look dominant. Now, what should have happened next is Howdy should have won the United States title. The Sicks could have held all the gold over on the blue brand, but it never happened. The Sicks entered into a never-ending feud with The MFT’s (Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, JC Mateo, and Talla Tonga.) It started off exciting, and the WWE Universe was red-hot for their interactions.
After months of repetitive matches and The MFT’s stealing their lantern, the feud grew tiresome and boring. Even Tama asked Solo why they are still holding onto the lantern, as it was destroying them as a whole. Finally on the SmackDown before Mania, Tama
gave the lantern back to Howdy against Solo’s wishes. Please explain to me why both factions fought almost every single week instead of just having one final blowoff match at WrestleMania.
It should have been either a massive street fight or a falls count anywhere match on the grandest stage of them all. Instead, it turned into a meaningless week-after-week extravaganza that benefited no one. The MFTs won the rivalry, and The Sicks don’t even work for WWE anymore. This was the same criminalized creative process that Wyatt dealt with during his first run in the company.
We’ll never know how much of a dangerous force The Wyatt Sicks could have been in the WWE. For all their careers’ sake, I hope they stay far away from the company for as long as possible. Every superstar that was cut deserves better!
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Opinion
Chris King: Bloodline Saga: Is This the Right Call For WWE?
Chris King questions the WWE’s logic in setting up Jacob Fatu as the next challenger for World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns
Chris King questions the WWE’s logic in setting up Jacob Fatu as the next challenger for World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns is once again World Heavyweight Champion after his dominant win over CM Punk at WrestleMania 42. On the following night on Monday Night Raw, The OG Bloodline came back together as a well-oiled machine as The Usos stood side by side with Roman. With the WWE Universe asking who would be the first to challenge “The Tribal Chief,” Jacob Fatu shocked the world by answering the call.
Fatu is running hot after his impressive win over Drew McIntyre and feels like he is ready to become the new world champion. This bloodline segment ended Raw, and it picked right back up on SmackDown with even Solo Sikoa and the MFTs involved. This is now two shows that have been centered around The Bloodline saga, and it’s made me question whether or not WWE should be retelling this story.
The Bloodline (Roman Reigns, The Usos, and Solo Sikoa) ran WWE for over four years as Reigns’ henchmen, doing his dirty work to retain his title. Even though Roman has declared he doesn’t want Jey and Jimmy to serve him, it sure seems like WWE are spinning their wheels. Fatu could add a whole new chapter into the story, even if he’s not able to beat Roman at Backlash. “The Samoan Werewolf” could be forced to do the same thing as Jey did all those years ago and fall in line.
In my opinion, I feel like Fatu should be challenging for the Undisputed WWE Championship because that’s a title I feel like he should win. I understand standing up to your blood and trying to prove you’re the best, but I don’t think this is the right move. It feels like 2022 all over again, as The Bloodline is the central focus on both shows. If Fatu doesn’t win, what happens to all his momentum he’s been building over the last two years?
Why did WWE make this the best choice for storyline purposes? Why couldn’t creative have come up with a different challenger for Roman? There are so many other superstars that could challenge The Tribal Chief, such as Rusev, Bron Breakker, Gunther, or even a returning Sheamus.
I just can’t help but question WWE’s logic here, and it kind of reminds me of all the times The Shield reunited. Could WWE be pushing the same storyline too many times here? Could the WWE Universe get tired of this rinse and repeat cycle of The Bloodline Saga?
Are we about to see all the weekly episodes solely focused on The Bloodline again? Will it be cinema… Yes. Is there still money in The Bloodline… Yes. Was it the right call? That’s to be determined!
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Attitude Of Aggression Podcast: The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history) Unidentified History (Ufology) & Game Gone Wrong (Game of Thrones Universe)
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