How WWE Saved Roman Reigns’ Lifeless Character

All apologies to Cody Rhodes and CM Punk, but Roman Reigns is WWE‘s biggest star and face of the company. No one in wrestling has the aura he does. What makes him work is what also often makes him so predictable. WWE knows what they have with the Original Tribal Chief, and they’re afraid to change him. That was very clear this year when Triple H and TKO decided to reunite the Bloodline. Soon after, it was more of the same old stuff, but none of it hit like it had before. Then came August 2026. In just two weeks on Raw, WWE has found a way to breathe new life into a tired character.

• Roman Reigns vs Seth Rollins was the best match at SummerSlam.
• Knight stood up to the Tribal Chief and held his own on the mic.
• WWE didn’t immediately give LA Knight a title shot that he’d lose.

The problem with Roman Reigns is that you always know what you’re going to get. Every week, when he’s actually there, it’s the same ten-minute walk to the ring, followed by the same promo. Although his WrestleMania 42 feud with CM Punk was fun enough, the months-long pre-occupation with Jacob Fatu only served to destroy the Samoan Werewolf as a main event level talent.

WWE knows they’re in a creative spiral. Fans are bored, and something needs to change fast. The company first began to do something more intriguing with the OTC at SummerSlam. A match with Seth Rollins isn’t what a lot of fans wanted initially. It was a showdown with Oba Femi we clamored for. Still, the two former Shield members had the best match of the PLE, and afterward they buried the hatchet, acknowledging the faction and with a nod to Dean Ambrose as well.

Roman’s not losing his World Heavyweight Championship anytime soon, likely carrying it until the Ruler topples him at WrestleMania 43. But that’s eight months away. What do you do with an already tired gimmick until then? The Raw after SummerSlam was a fun first hint when LA Knight came to the ring and held his own on the mic with the Tribal Chief. Fans really want to see Knight as a world champion at least once. Rather than quickly making a match right there that Knight would certainly lose, the riveting segment left questions unanswered. Knight’s time isn’t now, but he’ll be lurking in the background. Whenever WWE chooses, Roman has a great feud waiting in the wings.

Roman Reigns Is Set To Work With AAA

• Rey Mysterio wanted to run an idea by Roman Reigns backstage at Raw.
• The winner of a luchador tournament will face the World Heavyweight Champion in Mexico City.
• A likely Reigns vs. Penta match in Mexico would be fresh and exciting.

LA Knight isn’t challenging for the World Heavyweight Championship just yet. Someone has to though. If Femi has to wait, and Punk and Rollins have been done, who is left as an exciting option? The answer is an outside-of-the-box solution. Following Raw last week, the Tribal Chief was met backstage by Rey Mysterio, the General Manager of AAA. The WWE Hall of Famer told the OTC he wanted to talk, and the two men walked off camera. What were they up to? With how popular AAA has become, especially because of the match of the year between the two versions of El Grande Americano, the unexpected twist immediately created excitement.

Mysterio answered questions with a later video, announcing a tournament between the luchadors of AAA, Raw, and SmackDown, with the winner set to challenge Roman Reigns at Raw in Mexico City next month. Now, whoever wins the tournament (likely Penta), isn’t going to beat the OTC. What it will do is give Reigns a fresh opponent in a fresh setting. Imagine Roman Reigns vs Penta in front of thousands of screaming Mexican fans!

Roman Reigns Can Make Solo Sikoa a Huge Babyface Star

• Solo Sikoa’s natural charisma and sense of humor have made him a great babyface.
• Sikoa could rejoin the Bloodline and take them down from within.
• Solo could stand up to Reigns and give the OTC a challenge feud.

As great as that match in Mexico City can be, it’s one night. WWE must still fix the long-term with Roman Reigns. That begins and ends with the Bloodline, who are dangerously close to becoming nWo 2000. Enter Solo Sikoa, the most improved superstar of the year, who was once a silent enforcer in the faction, a dull heel leader of the MFTs, and is now a hilarious and charismatic babyface on Raw. For the first time on the main roster, Solo is achieving his full potential. He can’t escape his past though, with his family demanding he return to them. On this week’s Raw, the stipulation was laid out. If Sikoa could beat his real-life brother, Jey Uso, they’d finally leave him alone. If he lost, he’d be delivered to Roman Reigns.

Sikoa did indeed lose thanks to outside interference from his other brother, Jimmy Uso. Now he will be delivered to the OTC. This doesn’t necessarily mean he’s joining the Bloodline. He can, becoming the funny one, like Sami Zayn was, as he takes down the group for good from within. Sikoa could also refuse to return to the family fold, which will get him beat down and set up an instant match with Reigns. Either option gives Roman something fun to do. Two months ago, another Roman Reigns vs Solo Sikoa feud was enough to make you groan. Now, it would be thrilling, challenging Roman Reigns as a character and as an actor for the man who plays him.

WWE needs Roman Reigns. Even when he’s not there, Raw is his show. He’s the A-storyline. When he is in the building, he must not be wasted. Forget the never-ending entrances and repetitive promos. Give him something interesting to do while he’s still here. Sooner rather than later, he’s probably headed for Hollywood. Social media outrage and horrible SummerSlam attendance numbers seem to have woken Triple H and TKO up. In two weeks, they’ve done a complete 180 with their biggest draw. Now they just have to follow through.