WWE WrestleMania 34: Build for John Cena vs. Roman Reigns Must Start at SummerSlam

If WWE wants to set up John Cena vs. Roman Reigns for WrestleMania 34, SummerSlam is exactly the time to start moving.

For John Cena and Roman Reigns, the Road to WWE WrestleMania starts early this year. Talk of the two marquee guys fighting it out on pay-per-view is hardly new. But, with Brock Lesnar potentially leaving after SummerSlam, the highly-rumored Lesnar/Reigns rematch is out as well. That opens WrestleMania up for the match we all know is coming, and the build has to start right here at SummerSlam.

Technically speaking, Reigns is a face and so is Cena. There’s no room for run ins or post-match beatdowns between the two. Instead, this program should about how Reigns doesn’t feel he gets the respect he deserves. He works his butt off and is met with boos. Cena, in response, reminds him that you don’t get to demand respect in the WWE, you have to earn it. He also knows a thing or two about working harder and getting booed. Cena would believe that if Reigns is only doing this for the love and glory, he should get out right now. Reigns, of course, resents the fact that Cena thinks he knows him. The stage is set for Reigns to challenge Cena in hopes of proving he belongs and earning the veteran’s respect.

Cena is the kind of part-timer that fans tend to prefer. For all the time he takes off, when he is in a program with WWE, he’s there every night. He wrestles on free TV and we see the belt when he’s champion. It’s easier to build a story with that than if he was only around for a segment here and there. Still, by the time Cena comes back for WrestleMania, it’ll have to be a quick one. Alternatively, we can start now, and incorporate the breaks into the storyline.

Every time Cena shows his face, for a string of matches or to promote Total Bellas, Reigns is there to remind him that this isn’t over. Their back and forth, including the pistachio jokes, might actually have time to breathe. It shows that for once WWE doesn’t have short term memory problems. Reigns might have other programs in between but he’s not going to just forget that he wants to beat Cena.

Meanwhile, the Royal Rumble haunts Reigns. Okay, maybe we’re the ones who are haunted by it. Since his win in Philadelphia, there’s a slight sense of dread surrounding Reigns and the Royal Rumble. WWE always seems to double down when it comes to Reigns, so we know it’s only a matter of time. Eventually, once Reigns has broken through or accomplished so much that it doesn’t matter, that will great. This year, though, it’s probably not the best option. If Reigns starts planting seeds that he wants Cena at WrestleMania, it’ll take the Royal Rumble out of the equation. We’re not going to go into the Royal Rumble half-expecting to hear his music playing at the end of the night.

Many WrestleMania feuds start there in the Royal Rumble, with friends and foes alike eliminating each other. For Reigns and Cena, it’ll be better if they go into the Royale with their feud already in motion. If we already know how Cena feels about Reigns and vice-versa, the story tells itself in looks from across the ring, they hardly even need to fight. It builds tension and saves the good stuff for the Show of Shows. After months of dancing around each other, the pair finding themselves alone in the Royal Rumble, even briefly, would be powerful momentum.

How do we start this feud at SummerSlam? First, Cena, who doesn’t currently have an announced match, must win to keep his teeth sharp. Second, Reigns must lose the Fatal Five-way. Specifically, he must be the one to get pinned. While the new Universal Champion ducks Lesnar, Reigns can take his frustration out on literally everything in his path backstage until he comes to Cena. The veteran gives him some sage advice about respect and Reigns shrugs him off. That makes way for Reigns to vent the next night on Raw and Cena to decide he’s heard enough.

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It doesn’t even have to really be a part of SummerSlam. The WWE Youtube channel needs content that impacts the show. It adds an air of realism and keeps the focus on the championship while letting side feuds develop in their own way. The important thing is that this feud starts now, it doesn’t wait until a month before WrestleMania. If WWE doesn’t wait to be 100% sure that they don’t need Reigns in the main event they can dedicate this time to building something really special with Cena and Reigns. We all know this feud is coming, so why not do it justice?