In the world of WWE, Roman Reigns has undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving from a formidable member of The Shield to the current dominant heel known as “The Tribal Chief.” Reigns’ character shift has seen him rise to prominence as the face of the company, but recent absences from WWE TV have left fans questioning his role as the Universal Champion.
Roman Reigns, as “The Tribal Chief,” has firmly established himself as one of the most dominant heels in the current era of WWE. His character demands acknowledgment from fans, and he has become the central figure in the company’s storyline. Reigns has systematically conquered top names on the roster, solidifying his status as a force to be reckoned with.
However, a decade ago, Roman Reigns was a different kind of heel, part of one of the most dominant factions in WWE history, The Shield. This group, consisting of Reigns, Seth Rollins, and Dean Ambrose, operated as hired enforcers who would take down anyone in their path.
On September 6, 2013, WWE’s then-COO, Triple H, enlisted the services of The Shield to protect him in the WWE ring as he made a shocking announcement. Triple H revealed that Cody Rhodes had been fired from WWE RAW on September 2, 2013, following his loss to Randy Orton. The injustice didn’t stop there, as Cody’s brother, Goldust, also faced termination.
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#OnThisDayInWWE 10 years ago on #SmackDown:
“Cody Rhodes fired Cody Rhodes”
– Triple H on why Cody was “fired for just cause” pic.twitter.com/lheLEgNjl4
— On This Day in WWE (@OTD_in_WWE) September 6, 2023
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In response to these actions, The Rhodes Brothers relentlessly invaded Monday Night RAW, eventually clashing with The Shield at the 2013 Battleground pay-per-view. The Rhodes secured a victory over The Shield, earning themselves fresh WWE contracts.
Now, in a surprising turn of events, Roman Reigns, the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, has been conspicuously absent from WWE television. His last appearance coincided with Jey Uso’s departure from SmackDown, and since then, Uso has returned as part of the RAW roster, while The Tribal Chief remains missing.
According to reports, Roman Reigns is expected to make his return after WWE Fastlane, marking the second premium live event without his participation since Payback 2023. Fastlane is currently scheduled for October 7, 2023. Notably, the promotional material for the event does not feature the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.
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The absence of Reigns from regular title defenses has not gone unnoticed by the WWE Universe. Many fans believe it may be time to dethrone him and usher in a champion who actively represents the title during live shows. Even World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins weighed in on the situation, remarking, “It almost feels like Roman Reigns is the championship as opposed to Roman Reigns is the champion.”
Roman Reigns’ journey from Shield enforcer to The Tribal Chief has been a captivating one, but as questions linger about his absence, the WWE landscape may be on the brink of a significant shift.
