WWE Raw Opinion: What Triple H’s Announcement Should Be
By Mike Smith
On Monday’s Raw, Triple H will be making an announcement in response to the end of the WWE Royal Rumble pay-per-view.
Now, as WWE.com points out, it’s obvious that Triple H is going to address The Rock’s appearance at the end of the Rumble Match, in storyline. However, it’s not outrageous to think that, outside of the storyline, this will be WWE’s response to the massive boos that Roman Reigns received throughout his entire appearance in the Rumble, then continued to receive on Thursday’s live SmackDown.
No matter what Triple H’s announcement is, he is almost definitely going to put Reigns’ spot in the WrestleMania main event in doubt.
In my mind, there is only one way for WWE to try and handle this, and that is to put Reigns’ WrestleMania world title shot on the line.
Reigns, not counting the Rumble, hasn’t been in a PPV match since August, when he competed against Randy Orton at WWE SummerSlam, and he hasn’t been in a PPV main event since July, when he was in a Fatal 4-Way for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WWE Battleground. Before he can go on last at WrestleMania 31, he must do it at WWE Fast Lane.
Who would be his opponent? By far, the greatest heel WWE has right now, Seth Rollins.
Rollins has two great qualities to offer as Reigns’ opponent, his promos and his in-ring work.
First, let’s take a look at the promos. Rollins is very good at getting heat, which is something Reigns sorely needs in an opponent. It’s not just cheap heat either, Rollins has had a chance recently to show how great his promo skills are, and that was really on display on SmackDown, just three weeks ago, in this promo with Paul Heyman:
With promos like that, Rollins could help Reigns sell their match as a PPV main event. That is, arguably, the most important part.
Then, you get to the match, which as we all know, can be a struggle for Reigns. In his career, Reigns has been on PPV 21 times, but his only one-on-one PPV match came against Orton at SummerSlam.
Some people, including Steve Austin, have criticized Reigns’ performance in the Rumble Match. On his podcast, the Tuesday after Royal Rumble, Austin stated that Reigns “took a nap,” meaning he laid in the corner, rather than actually wrestle the match.
With Rollins, Reigns will have no such problem.
Rollins is a fantastic in-ring performer, a workhorse, and when he steps in the ring, magic happens. Rollins also has a lot of experience, and he is somebody that Reigns will trust, after all the times that they have worked together in the past.
That experience will allow Rollins to make sure that the match builds at an appropriate pace, and his wonderful move-set will make him look good, as he keeps Reigns down over the middle of the match.
Through the hope spots, and at the end of the match, when Reigns makes his comeback, Rollins’ ability to sell will be on display, and he will make Reigns look like a million bucks, before getting pinned after a spear.
It would also be a good jumping-off point, as Rollins could come out the next night on Raw to complain/explain his loss, opening up the perfect opportunity for the return of Orton.
Of course, a big factor in this match is the history both men have together. While that history is why Reigns will be able to trust Rollins’ superior in-ring knowledge, it is also why fans will be able to get immediately invested in the storyline. It is also logical, because Rollins is The Authority’s “golden boy,” and it makes sense that they would put him in position to take over Reigns’ spot against Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania.
If built properly, they could elevate Rollins, and really put doubt in the minds of fans that Reigns will main event WrestleMania, and make signing up for the free month of WWE Network all the more enticing. Then, in the aftermath, Rollins could jump right into a WrestleMania feud with Orton, and Reigns has a lot more credibility heading into his match with Lesnar.
Everybody wins.
Have any ideas for what Triple H’s Raw announcement should be? Let us know in the comments section below.
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