The idea of Roman Reigns leaving should strike fear in the WWE

Roman Reigns gave the WWE Universe a panic attack this weekend as WrestleMania Backlash loomed on the horizon. The dominant star took the microphone while in Trenton, New Jersey, and dropped some lines that made the wrestling community think Reigns is heading out of the company sooner rather than later. As more details about Reigns’s future with the company come to light, it is clear that if he were to leave that there would be a massive void at the top of the promotion.

During an in-ring promo at the end of the show, Reigns broke character and talked about his run in the company. It was his statement about that show potentially being his last in Trenton that caused a lot of people to express concern. Is Reigns leaving? Is he winding down his position as a full-time performer for the WWE? Is Hollywood calling?

According to Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio, Reigns is secured with the company for the future, signing a new deal.

“The situation is that he got a new deal, and the new deal is for far less dates, so he’s not gonna be doing, I don’t know how many house shows he’s gonna be doing, but it will be much less than the number that he’s doing now,” Meltzer said. “It’s one of the perks of being there for a while and being valuable there is you can kind of call certain shots. And he’s got the power to maintain the championship and work fewer dates like Lesnar had and Hulk Hogan used to have.”

That should give WWE fans a bit of a reprieve, but the fact remains. WWE will have a massive drought of star power the moment Reigns steps away, whether it’s to join the film industry or because of injury. It’s a problem the company has brought on itself and one that it seems they are too inept to fix.

The men’s roster is a dessert when it comes to stars. Brock Lesnar is gone, and fans were growing tired of his same presentation leading into WrestleMania 38. Big E, someone who had crossover appeal and proved that during his brief run as champion, is out due to a serious neck injury that threatens his career. Drew McIntyre is back in the main event picture and has a glimmer of hope to finally get his opportunity as a central draw that escaped him due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. But others like Finn Balor, AJ Styles, Ricochet, and more are left in mediocrity, all while fans clamor to see them in the main event scene.

There’s so hope in the women’s division at least. Becky Lynch is a consummate star, always ready to be the face of the company. Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair are two women who have rabid fanbases ready to see them become the top draw, but WWE consistently hesitates to do so. Then there’s the fact that WWE continues to lazily book the entire women’s division, devaluing the group along the way.

Reports pointed to Austin Theory as being the handpicked star to get a major push, but the fans’ response to him has been tepid at best since joining the main roster.

WWE’s ineptitude to book more men as draws will not only hurt the long-term interest in the company, but it’s going to impact Reigns’ current run as champion. Even though WWE has mastered the rematch and rehash, the interest in doing the same thing over and over will turn individuals away over time. There is an opportunity to infuse a quick boost by turning to individuals like Carmelo Hayes and Bron Breakker on WWE NXT 2.0, but again the question is whether Vince McMahon has the patience in building these men into pillars for the future.

Roman Reigns gave everyone a scare over the weekend, and even though he may not leave soon, WWE needs to scramble to build a roster that can support the proverbial table without its “head.”