The Post’s Joseph Staszewski brings you around the world of professional wrestling every Tuesday in his weekly column, the Post Match Angle.
Roman Reigns’ historic championship run could be entering a dangerous place.
One where the epic tale being told just might be running out of ways to keep it feeling fresh, where years of interference finishes can not always be camouflaged by epic story strokes. One where failing to pull the trigger on Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 39 leaves the story with an assumed end date that sucks the drama out of anything else that comes before it.
Reigns’ match at Crown Jewel against LA Knight — one of WWE’s hottest acts no less — felt like the first time in a long time one of the Tribal Chief’s clashes was as tired as an old rerun. It felt like watching “The Sopranos” rooting for the FBI and knowing Tony is going to wiggle free like he always does.
It took just simple interference from Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso to end Knight’s chance at the Undisputed WWE Universal championship — during a match where the Saudi Arabia fans chanted “CM Punk!” of all things. It took just a second spear to put Knight down. On the bright side, Reigns didn’t kick out of Knight’s finisher, instead needing Uso to put his foot on the rope.
In the past, there were things to make you forget about Reigns continually winning the same way over and over again. There was Brock Lesnar lifting up the ring with a front loader at SummerSlam, Sikoa’s debut at Clash at the Castle, Sami Zayn epically taking a chair to Reigns at the Royal Rumble, Jimmy Uso super kicking his cousin at Night of Champions or just the pure emotional letdown of Rhodes not finishing his story at WrestleMania.
Note to WWE. It is OK for a babyface to lose just because he isn’t good enough on that night without being protected.
There was no extra story at Crown Jewel, just Reigns standing tall as Knight likely needed to get screwed over like the rest of WWE’s babyfaces in-order to set up this year’s WarGames match at Survivor Series.
But here’s the thing for the future.
Sikoa is the only person left to turn on Reigns and that might just seal his fate if WWE uses the Samoan Spike as a call back to how Rhodes lost to finally allow him to dethrone the Head of the Table. Sure, Jimmy could turn again, but we have already seen that. Does WWE debut more Bloodline members?
Granted, Reigns may only defend his title one or two more times before WrestleMania 40. But what if WWE goes with Reigns vs. The Rock in Philadelphia and pushes Rhodes’ moment back to SummerSlam and Reigns needs a few more defenses in between?
Eventually, when you remove the hope and the feeling that anything can happen in wrestling, it gets stale. The danger that comes with each defense is something that really elevated all of Seth Rollins’ defenses of the World Heavyweight championship.
But most fans feel like Reigns’ story has a set end date and opponent, and that comes with the risk of everything else now feeling more like filler after 1,160 days.
Does the inevitability take away — ever so slightly — from Rhodes’ expected victory?
It’s the dangerous game WWE is now playing with Roman Reigns and endangers one of wrestling’s greatest stories.
Everyone is benefiting from the “Hangman” Adam Page-Swerve Strickland storyline, which is now getting a Part II at Full Gear. Moguel Embassy’s plan to distract Page worked perfectly, giving them some credibility as heels after winning the Ring of Honor Six-Man tag team championships.
The best Elite story is one of strife and distrust, which now exists with The Young Bucks angry at Hangman for bailing on them and Kenny Omega for being sidetracked by Chris Jericho and The Don Callis Family, making that feud even more intriguing.
Did anyone else find it cringe-worthy watching LA Knight, Drew McIntyre, Bayley and Bianca Belair gushing over their Saudi Arabia experience and its airline in what felt like an infomercial for the state-owned Saudia Airlines during Crown Jewel, considering the government’s horrendous human rights record? No amount of money should be worth putting your talent in that position.
B-Fab is an excellent choice to join The Street Profits and Bobby Lashley if WWE makes good on its tease. It’s a move that can really elevate her instead of adding an established star.
It feels like Carmelo Hayes and Bron Breakker are nearing the end of their time in NXT . After Night 2 of Halloween Havoc, they could be set up to put over Trick Williams and Von Wagner, respectively, on the way out as NXT looks to anoint new stars.
MJF, who used to be so cocksure of himself while making associates, has become so much more relatable in his uneasiness seeking out new friends to tag with on Dynamite last week with the injured Adam Cole away. Despite losing, MJF scissoring with The Acclaimed was a feel-good moment. Will Max Caster pick up the pieces of MJF if Cole does betray him? Caster being behind The Devil is possible as an attempt to help MJF but just doesn’t seem to fit.
Almost forgot about Charlotte Flair and Shotzi’s loose alliance. I think WWE has something here if it invests in it. Maybe some off-site odd couple-type vignettes? Calling Bruce Prichard!
Very straight finish to the fatal-four way to become the No. 1 contender for the the Intercontinental championship. The Miz and Ivar went for pins at the exact same time, but only the A-Lister could keep his opponent’s shoulders down for the three. Ivar beat up Miz in frustration afterward in what could be the next step in a babyface turn for Miz after he was taunted and taken out by Gunther a week earlier.
Tony Khan’s “important” announcement was All In tickets coming on sale Dec 1 and yes it was underwhelming. But this actually had people thinking he was announcing a TV deal. I guess people haven’t caught on to the Tony Khan announcement code yet for just how big one might be.
Kind of digging the story MLW is setting up with Matt Cardona, who has the car gifted to him by World Titan Federation’s promotor Mister Saint Laurent stolen before he faces a Loser Leaves MLW match with Mance Warner at Fightland on Nov. 18. Should he lose, Cardona forfeits his MLW world championship match at One Shot on Dec. 7 at Melrose Ballroom and Saint Laurent can pick a mystery challenger.
Danhausen is set to return for AEW this week. Here’s hoping he gets a real story put around him and is not just a sidekick or the guy who appears from under the ring. There is so much potential there to connect with the audience and it’s time AEW sees what it has in him.
Digging that WWE continues to rebuild Xia Li while using her to keep Becky Lynch away from Rhea Ripley before WrestleMania. This keeps The Man from taking extra losses before then.
Zoey Stark, WWE
Stark has made good on the opportunity to impress during her role in the Trish Stratus and Becky Lynch feud as she is now set for the biggest match of her career. She will face WWE women’s world champion Rhea Ripley at Survivor Seres after winning a battle royal on Raw, eliminating Shayna Baszler to do so. Stark then looked every bit ready when she confronted Ripley backstage.
Samoa Joe vs. Keith Lee for the Ring of Honor television championship on AEW Dynamite (Wednesday, 8 p.m., TBS)
Magic usually happens when two big competitors with the athletic prowess of these two get together. This will be the first ever meeting between Joe and Lee, with their only other interaction being at the 2020 Royal Rumble. While it might be better saved for Final Battle on Dec. 15, Joe losing the TV title isn’t out of the question here.
Bryan Danielson vs. Kazuchika Okada II was announced for Wrestle Kingdom 18 on Jan. 4.