5 reasons why No Mercy may be the turning point in Roman Reigns' career
For quite a while now, two and a half years to be precise, the WWE has resisted crowning Roman Reigns and handing over to him the keys to the empire.
Now, why would a promotion that unyieldingly stuck with John Cena through all of the dissent from fans during the entirety of the PG era, put off Reigns' coronation just so that the people who boo can quieten down a little?
As long as their top guy can put bottoms on seats, push merchandise and serve as a stand-up ambassador for the company, the WWE has shown itself conveniently deaf to the way the audience reacts on numerous occasions.
Why change the way they operate all of a sudden?
If you recall correctly, Reigns was initially slated to defeat Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 31 and claim his proverbial throne before the WWE pulled a last minute swerve with Seth Rollins, having him cash in his MITB briefcase.
But we're creeping up on WrestleMania 34 now and the man is still no closer to winning over the fans than he was then.
And yet, rumours year-round seem to suggest that the WWE's wait is almost over. Vince McMahon wants Brock Lesnar to lose the WWE Universal Title to Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 34.
Apparently, something seems to have given the powers-that-be a notion that this is indeed Reigns' time. Perhaps it was too early for him three years ago, but something about him seems to inspire confidence in them now.
What it is, as John Cena says, isn't entirely clear to the audience yet.
But it is in the hope that it will be that the Leader of Cenation has been booked opposite the Big Dog at No Mercy.
Borrowing from Christopher Nolan, when an irresistible force meets an immovable object... a storm is coming.
As far as Roman Reigns is concerned, however, it could be the perfect storm.
Here then, are five reasons why No Mercy will be the turning point in his WWE career.
#1 It's a heel turn
The WWE tried bringing the Rock on board to validate Roman Reigns, but it utterly flopped. They tried having him destroy Triple H and Vince McMahon, but it didn't stick.
Finally, they had him go over The Undertaker. And barring a sense of resentment, that didn't even matter.
To be honest, the WWE is running out of options as far as Reigns is concerned as the fans are just as unconvinced by his invulnerable persona as they are by his rocket-strapped push to the moon.
Really, the only card left for the WWE to play was the heel turn.
Yes, this isn't a full-fledged heel turn as per conventional wisdom but with the way John Cena rips into him on the microphone, it may as well be.
What we've witnessed the past couple of weeks hasn't been Roman Reigns, the unconquerable Big Dog. It's been the failure of Roman Reigns, the project -- laid bare for the world to see.
And while that seems to be a counterintuitive way of getting someone over, I've personally never looked forward to a Roman Reigns segment as much as I do in this feud with John Cena.
Cheer him or boo him, that is exactly what the WWE wants.