Roman Reigns Must Stay Out of the 2017 WWE Royal Rumble Match
By Dean Siemon
Roman Reigns has received the main event spotlight for a few years. But maybe it should shine on someone else for the 2017 WWE Royal Rumble match.
There is truth about having too much of a good thing. People can have the same thing over and over again, but they grow tired of it after a while. Many fans within the WWE Universe tired of Roman Reigns in the Royal Rumble spotlight for a few years now. That’s why it’s a very good idea for Reigns to stay out of the 2017 WWE Royal Rumble match.
It all started with Roman Reigns getting pops during the 2014 Royal Rumble match. Part of that was because the fans were hoping anyone other than Batista would win the match. They were also sour of the fact that Daniel Bryan wasn’t in the match at all. But Reigns showed potential in being a main event star.
With 12 eliminations, Reigns also broke the 13-year old record of Kane’s 11 Royal Rumble eliminations in one match. The crowd booed when he the last elimination to send Batista to the WrestleMania 30 main event. While he was cheered mostly in spite of The Animal, the WWE seemed to take notice and started to build around Reigns.
One year later, Roman Reigns had the exact opposite reaction as he mowed down the Royal Rumble competition. While it was about half of the eliminations from 2014, he still got the push that he got last year. But the fans would boo each elimination. They knew what the WWE was planning.
Fans had hoped they could force the WWE to change their plans to another superstar, like Daniel Bryan. But they couldn’t do it a second year in a row. Roman Reigns went on to main event WrestleMania 31 against Brock Lesnar for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. However, they did swerve the end with Seth Rollins cashing in Money in the Bank.
More from Royal Rumble
- CM Punk will return to WWE after 10 years at Royal Rumble 2024 (Prediction)
- Early predictions for WWE Royal Rumble 2024 winners
- Top three moments from the 2023 Royal Rumble
- Listing 5 wrestlers who should have won a Royal Rumble match
- Top five Iron Man (and Woman) performances in the WWE Royal Rumble
Last year’s Royal Rumble once again surrounded around Roman Reigns. He was established as “the guy” as the WWE World Heavyweight Champion. The WWE attempted to make Reigns a defiant hero against the Authority (like “Stone Cold” Steve Austin). But fans were certainly hoping for him to lose the championship. Just about everyone was being rooted for – from AJ Styles to Curtis Axel.
There was a big pop for Triple H when he came out at number 30. But fans had known that he was going to face Reigns at WrestleMania 32. It was predictable. The rest of the storyline and feud for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship was predictable.
Short championship reigns and a supposed failed drug test later, Roman Reigns hasn’t been the guy for a while. The WWE doesn’t need to have the same superstar be the focal point every Royal Rumble. It’s time for another superstar to step into the spotlight. Anyone would be better. Even if it’s John Cena, since he’s spent most of 2016 not in the championship picture.
Next: How to Book Ellsworth as a Heel
The talent on the WWE roster, there are so many other superstars who have waited patiently for their turn. WWE features a lot of young superstars waiting for their turn to run with the ball. Fans have grown tired Roman Reigns’ Royal Rumble dominance and could use a break.