Highlights
- Roman Reigns’ transformation into the “Head of the Table” has captivated fans and solidified his position as the leader of The Bloodline.
- The original plan was for Reigns to face The Rock at WrestleMania 39, but the match fell through and Reigns defended his crown against Cody Rhodes instead.
- The idea behind Reigns’ “Tribal Chief” storyline may have been conceived with a future showdown against The Rock in mind, potentially creating the company’s most significant storyline in years.
Few characters have captured the imagination of fans like Roman Reigns’ transformation into the “Head of the Table.” Over the past three years, Reigns has embodied this persona, becoming the Tribal Chief and the undisputed leader of The Bloodline, thereby asserting his dominance as the face of the company and its biggest star. This title, while unofficially, once belonged to none other than Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who made a surprise appearance on SmackDown recently, eliciting thunderous cheers from the WWE Universe.
Coincidentally, during the same week, The Rock, disclosed that the original plan had indeed been a showdown between him and Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39. However, the match fell through, and Reigns ultimately defended his crown against Cody Rhodes. This revelation has sparked fervent speculation about the possibility of The Rock and Reigns locking horns at WrestleMania 40, though this remains speculative for now.
Dave Meltzer, the veteran wrestling journalist from The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, has added an intriguing layer to the “Head of the Table” narrative. In his latest report, Meltzer notes that Reigns’ entire “Tribal Chief” storyline may have been conceived with a future showdown against The Rock in mind. The underlying concept would revolve around The Rock arguing that he, not Reigns, is the rightful “Head of the Table.” The idea seems to have been born from the long-term plan to build towards a Reigns vs. Rock clash, potentially setting the stage for the company’s most significant storyline in years.
It’s an interesting statement or observation, if for no other reason than it sounds like WWE put that gimmick on Reigns for the sole purpose of having one, marquee match.
Will Reigns Lose The Gimmick At Some Point?
While Meltzer also emphasizes that any eventual match between Reigns and The Rock hinges on several critical factors, there’s a fascinating question that needs to be asked: if WWE was going to give the title to The Rock at some point, is that still the case if these two ever do square off? Considering The Rock’s limited availability and how successful the whole gimmick has gotten for Reigns, it would seem like an odd choice to take it away.
And, if it’s not The Rock that eventually takes that title, is there someone else in line for the gimmick? One would think that WWE might working out a plan to remove the moniker in some grandiose way, especially since it sounds like it was never really meant to take on the life that it did.