The Rebooking Series - Part V (Roman Reigns, Part II)

Just over a month ago Jonathon and I posted the third edition of the rebooking series where we rebooking the 2015 Royal Rumble match. As we were doing that we debated whether or not to book Roman Reigns from there all the way up until Wrestlemania. Ultimately we decided against it.

Our reasoning for that was twofold. Firstly we wanted to get the article out as quickly as possible to get as many eyes on it as possible given the volatile reactions to that particular match. But secondly, and most importantly, it was because we wanted to see how WWE would book Reigns after the Royal Rumble.

After all, what is the point of rebooking something that doesn’t yet need rebooking? Of course after a couple weeks we had figured out that we were probably going to have to do another article on Reigns and rebook him on his way to Wrestlemania. And as Fast Lane came to its end we had fully embraced this realisation. We decided we would just build on our booking of Reigns at the Rumble which you can read by clicking here.

So since then, whenever we’ve both been able to get spare time (and when we weren’t busy procrastinating by talking about wrestling in general, sport or other such non-rebooking related topics) we’ve been writing Reigns. It was finished on Friday night and now it’s ready to be written up, so here we go – the rebooking series takes a second look at Roman Reigns’ 2015 booking.

1^st RAW after the Royal Rumble

The snow affected RAW following the Rumble stays exactly the same.

2^nd RAW after the Royal Rumble

The Authority opens the show but Roman Reigns interrupts. Triple H makes Roman Reigns vs. The Big Show, starting right now.

Reigns defeats the Big Show by disqualification when Big Show uses a chair on him.

Post-match Kane and Big Show deliver a double chokeslam to Reigns through the announce table.

The main event is Dean Ambrose vs. Kane

Ambrose wins after hitting Dirty Deeds on Kane but before he can even stand up he is immediately Curb Stomped by Seth Rollins.

Rollins stands with one foot on Ambrose and his Money in the Bank briefcase raised in the air as RAW comes to a conclusion.

3^rd RAW after the Royal Rumble

Rollins opens the show and gloats about what he did to Dean Ambrose last week.

Ambrose interrupts Rollins’ self-congratulatory promo and challenges him to a match at Fast Lane.

Rollins accepts the challenge, with a caveat, it will be a tag team match and The Big Show will be Rollins’ partner.

Rollins taunts Ambrose and says “if you can find a moron crazy enough to team with you.

A video package is show of Roman Reigns working out as Brock Lesnar’s theme plays. Reigns is using this as motivation for his Championship match at WrestleMania. We then see Reigns studying Brock’s matches looking for any weakness he could exploit and formulating a gameplan for the biggest match of his career. As the package comes to a conclusion Tom Phillips attempts to interview Reigns but he is too focused and does not say a word.

This week’s main event is Dean Ambrose vs. The Big Show.

Once again Ambrose comes out on top after hitting Dirty Deeds on Big Show.

After the match though Rollins enters the ring and he and Big Show destroy Ambrose until Roman Reigns’ music hits and he makes the save.

4^th RAW after the Royal Rumble (and final before Fast Lane)

Rollins opens the show with the Big Show and talks about he created, moulded and destroyed The Shield.

“I made Dean Ambrose. I made Roman Reigns. And at Fast Lane, I will end them.”

Reigns and Ambrose come out and brawl with their opponents at Fast Lane until security separate them and Steph instructs security to remove them from the arena.

The main event is billed as a ‘tune-up’ match for Rollins and Big Show as they take on Ryback and Dolph Ziggler.

The match is a lot closer than The Authority had anticipated including several near falls for Ziggler and Ryback. In the end though Rollins pins Ryback following a Curb Stomp.

Post-match Rollins and Big Show take out their frustration on Ryback and Ziggler, continuing the beatdown. Reigns and Ambrose come down separate aisles (with no music playing) to attack Rollins and Show. RAW goes off the air in chaos with the four men brawling as Michael Cole yells “We’ll see you Sunday at Fast Lane!”

Fast Lane 2015

Main Event: Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns vs. Big Show and Seth Rollins (w/ J&J Security)

Rollins and Big Show make their entrances and look supremely confident heading into this match. Roman Reigns’ music hits and he makes his way to the top of the aisle as normal but instead of heading down the steps he stops, as does his music. He then thrusts his fist forward into The Shield pose… “SIERRA. HOTEL. INDIA. ECHO. LIMA. DELTA. SHIELD.” Ambrose comes out too, in his Shield gear, does the fist pose with Reigns and they make their way down the stairs.

Rollins and Show attack them at the bottom of the stairs but Ambrose and Reigns take a step back and then dive onto them. The four men brawl around the arena. The match never quite gets into a standard tag team match with the action completely frantic throughout. As the match is reaching a crescendo Reigns and Ambrose team up to double powerbomb Show through the announce table.

Rollins is laid out in the ring and he is recovering as Reigns and Ambrose complete the powerbomb. 

He sees that happen and is now terrified, he scrambles backwards and rolls out of the ring but Reigns and Ambrose have ran around the ring and cut him off. They beat him down and Ambrose throws Rollins in the ring. J&J Security get up on the apron which distracts the referee and allows Kane to beat down and then chokeslam Roman Reigns.

Ambrose, sick of their interference, punches Noble and Mercury to the floor but then Rollins hits a Flair-esque chop block on Ambrose. Rollins then runs off the ropes and Curb Stomp’s a prone Ambrose allowing him to pick up the victory (because of the design and pacing of the match it would only run for about fourteen minutes, no more).

Fast Lane ends with Kane and J&J Security holding a slightly dazed and thoroughly exhausted Seth Rollins up. Show is still laid out through the announce table, Reigns is down on the outside and Ambrose is unconscious in the ring.

1^st RAW after Fast Lane

Seth Rollins, Big Show, Kane and J&J Security come down to the ring in the final segment of the show. Neither they, nor Ambrose and Reigns had been seen all show up until this point.

Rollins cuts a promo talking about how he was the architect of The Shield, how he is the future of the WWE and is simply better than Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose COMBINED!”

The Shield’s music hits and Ambrose and Reigns make their way down separate aisles towards the ring. They climb over the guardrail and do the very Shield-esque thing where they hop up on different sides of the ring essential circling their prey like a pack of dogs would. Obviously they are outnumbered but this doesn’t matter to them as they (Ambrose in particular) are desperate to get their hands on Rollins & co.

A brawl ensues and all seven men are fighting. Ambrose is trying to get to Rollins but both members of J&J Security jump on him. He manages to push them off and hits a clothesline on Rollins that sends both of them over the top rope and to the floor on the outside where they continue to brawl, away from the ring and into the stands before eventually brawling backstage.

Meanwhile in the ring Kane, Big Show and J&J have turned their attention to Roman Reigns (by the time J&J had recovered from being attacked by Ambrose he and Rollins had disappeared hence why their focus is on Reigns and not the safety of Rollins). There is a momentary stand off until Jamie Noble makes the first move only to be met with a huge spear from Roman Reigns.

Kane, Show and Noble then take a step forward towards Reigns but Brock Lesnar’s music hits. The Authority backs off immediately and then split, rolling out of either side of the ring and making their way towards the timekeeper’s area.

Brock hops up on the apron, gets in the ring and gets in Reigns face. Reigns wants to fight and is right in Lesnar’s face too but Brock backs off and grins as Heyman raises the WWE World Heavyweight Championship and RAW goes off the air.

2^nd RAW after Fast Lane

Dean Ambrose opens the show and he’s livid. He says Rollins managed to escape last week, but he can’t duck Ambrose forever. He throws out a challenge to Rollins for Wrestlemania.

Rollins comes out to the top of the stage with Triple H and Stephanie flanking him. He says “Dean, I’ve already beaten you. I’ve beaten you several times. In fact I’ve never lost to you in a one-on-one match since I killed The Shield. I don’t need to fight you Dean, you’re beneath me!”

Triple H pats Seth on the back and he smirks before walking backstage.

Rusev, having beaten Cena at Fast Lane, is refusing to face him again at Wrestlemania and is instead focusing on Roman Reigns. Lana approaches Stephanie and says that Reigns disrespected Russia with his actions at the Royal Rumble and Rusev wants to crush him. Stephanie makes the match for tonight’s main event.

Reigns and Rusev battle each other very hard in the main event with neither man having the upper hand for long. Eventually though Reigns counters a Rusev attack into a Samoan Drop and then is setting up for the Superman Punch when Brock Lesnar’s music hits. Reigns is ready and waiting for Brock to come down to the ring but Brock never comes out, Reigns then turns into Rusev’s superkick and Rusev picks up the win. Remaining undefeated and protecting Russia’s honour.

3^rd RAW after Fast Lane

Dolph Ziggler vs. Seth Rollins opens the show as Ziggler continues his never ending pursuit to destroy The Authority.

Rollins is stomping on Ziggler in the corner but the referee pulls him off. Rollins immediately begins stomping on Ziggler again though and the referee has to pull him off again. Rollins returns to the stomping once more and this time the referee backs him up clean across the ring before going and checking on Ziggler. Dean Ambrose appears from under the ring and attacks Rollins, laying him out with Dirty Deeds. Ambrose rolls out of the ring and lays down next to it while ‘shushing’ the crowd. This allows Ziggler to cover him for the win.

After the break Rollins bursts into The Authority’s office and demands a match with Ambrose at Wrestlemania. Triple H attempts to calm him down saying “Remember the plan Seth, there is a bigger plot at play here”.

Paul Heyman comes out and cuts a promo championing Brock and running down Reigns. He eventually says “People talk about generations in wrestling. Randy Orton is a third generation wrestler, The Rock is a third generation wrestler. And you Roman Reigns come from a lineage like no other, a family of great wrestlers but that means nothing. Brock Lesnar is THE generation of wrestler. There was nothing like him before Brock Lesnar and there will be nothing like him after Brock Lesnar. Ladies and gentleman Brock Lesnar is the best incarnate and when Wrestlemania 31 comes to an end he will still be the reigning, defending WWE…”

Roman Reigns’ music hits.

Reigns comes down the stairs and into the ring. Heyman picks the mic up that he had dropped when Reigns’ music hit and says “I’m glad you’re here Roman…” but Reigns spears him. Reigns stands over Heyman staring at his lifeless body before his music plays again and he leaves the ring as RAW comes to its conclusion and Cole wonders what repercussions Reigns will face at the hands of Brock Lesnar. JBL says he doesn’t think Reigns cares.

4^th RAW after Fast Lane

Ambrose cuts another promo challenging Rollins to a match at Wrestlemania. Rollins comes down to the ring looking ready for a fight but once again he declines the offer. Ambrose says Rollins can decide the match type AND if Ambrose loses he will join Rollins’ personal security team (those last few words seem hard for Ambrose to say). Rollins rolls out of the ring, but then he smiles and accepts the match.

In the final segment Reigns cuts a promo (relatively short and to the point) saying that at Wrestlemania, he doesn’t care what nickname they attach to Brock Lesnar. “I will defeat the Beast Incarnate. I will conquer the conqueror, believe that.”

5^th RAW after Fast Lane (and final RAW before Wrestlemania)

Dean Ambrose vs. Kane

Ambrose wins after hitting the Dirty Deeds but Rollins attacks him immediately. He curb stomps Ambrose twice and then hits him with a Curb Stomp on a set-up steel chair (set up as in ready to sit on). Then he and J&J Security (or Shield 2.0 if you prefer) triple powerbomb Ambrose through the announce table.

Rollins then picks up the mic and announces that per their agreement he has decided what the match will be at Wrestlemania. A singles match… followed by a Falls Count Anywhere Match and then… if necessary a Hell in a Cell Match. Three Stages of Hell! He says he has specifically picked these match types because he knows he has the advantage. He has the advantage in a standard singles match because he is the better wrestler. He has already beat Ambrose inside of Hell in a Cell and the last time he faced Dean Ambrose in a Falls Count Anywhere match he put Ambrose out of commission for over a month. He will eviscerate Dean Ambrose at Wrestlemania to the point where Ambrose might not even be able to join his security detail because he might not be able to walk anymore.

The final segment is a contract signing for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship match. Paul Heyman comes out, surrounded by security and announces that Brock Lesnar is not here tonight and he is here to sign on behalf of Lesnar.

Reigns comes out and Heyman cuts a vitriolic soliloquy running down Reigns and describing exactly what he is facing in six days. He’s not facing a man, what he’s facing isn’t even human. He’s facing a beast, a machine, the unbreakable, unstoppable, undefeatable conqueror BROCK LESNAR. At Wrestlemania Roman Reigns is going to embarrass himself in front of the world and in front of his family when Brock Lesnar ends his pipedream of becoming the WWE Heavyweight Champion of the World. 

Heyman asks Reigns what he’s going to do the morning after Wrestlemania? What’s he going to do when he wakes up in a hospital bed and his beautiful little girl Joelle comes up to him and asks him what happened? Why didn’t he bring the Championship home with him like he said he would? Why did they have to drive over to the hospital to see Daddy? “What are you going to tell her Roman? How are you going to explain to your daughter that Daddy failed? How are you going to explain to her that you broke your promise to her? How are you going to explain that you might never be able to hold her again? How are you going to explain that you…”

Reigns has heard enough and flips the table. He takes out every member of Heyman’s security team and grabs Heyman by the collar. He is about to punch Heyman when Brock’s music hits. Brock is here. And Reigns isn’t going to wait for him to come to the ring this time, he meets him on the ramp. The show goes off the air in pandemonium as both men brawl around ringside.

Wrestlemania 31

Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins – Three Stages of Hell

- Ambrose wins the singles match via Dirty Deeds

- Rollins wins the Falls Count Anywhere match when he dives off the stage to the floor next to the ramp with a Curb Stomp on Ambrose

- Ambrose wins the Hell in a Cell Match after a Curb Stomp on Rollins

Brock Lesnar © vs. Roman Reigns, WWE World Heavyweight Championship

Lesnar hits a few German Suplex’s on Reigns in the early goings. Later on Brock locks in the Kimura on Reigns but Reigns makes it to the ropes. The arm is clearly affected (his right arm) and as he stands up Brock picks him up for an F-5 but Roman slips out. He then does a left-hand variation of the Superman Punch but Brock no-sells it, hulks up and just yells at him. He hits another left-handed Superman Punch which staggers Lesnar but he is still standing. Roman decides to risk his arm and go for the usual right handed variation of the Superman Punch but Lesnar ducks and picks him up for an F-5 but Reigns slips out again and hits a spear on Brock. He used his right arm though and that is clearly affecting him. He gets to the cover straight away though, bearing through the pain and gets the 1, 2, 3 for the win and his first ever WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

Heyman is in shock and is dealing with an unconscious Lesnar on the outside. Reigns meanwhile is presented with the title. He tries to raise it with his right arm but he can’t even manage that, so he raises it with his left arm. He then collapses in the corner.

Seth Rollins’ music hits! He comes out with the entire Authority. He gets in the ring as Reigns stands up to meet him and smashes Reigns in the arm with the briefcase. He then Curb Stomps Reigns’ arm and then puts the briefcase under Reigns’ arm and Curb Stomps it again.

He’s cashing in his Money in the Bank contract! The referee makes it official and rings the bell but immediately Dean Ambrose’s music hits! He tries to make it down to the ring but is attacked by the entire Authority. Rollins hesitates for a second but then refocuses and goes for a Curb Stomp but Reigns moves. Rollins runs at him and Reigns tries to pick him up for the Samoan Drop but the pain in his arm means he can’t fully lift him. Rollins lands on his feet and feints to superkick Reigns in the face, Reigns gets up his hands to protect himself so Rollins superkicks him in the knee. With Reigns on his knees Rollins hits the Curb Stomp for the 1, 2, 3 to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

The Authority celebrate as Wrestlemania comes to its conclusion with Lesnar conquered, Ambrose down on the outside, Reigns down in the centre of the ring and Rollins hoisted high on the shoulders of Big Show and Kane raising the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

So there you have it. Mine and Jonathon’s continuation of our rebooking of Roman Reigns. Carrying on from the Rumble all the way to Wrestlemania.

This wasn’t a particularly fun thing to book since neither of us are big Roman Reigns fans, me in particular. But we both recognise that if pushed correctly he could be a big guy in WWE. So we used this booking as a continuation of the Royal Rumble match re-booking to try and find a way for Reigns to come into Wrestlemania in the best place possible reaction wise.

As I said in the conclusion to the Royal Rumble rebooking (which, once again, you can read here since this rebooking carries straight on from our rebooking there) there is no guarantee that this particular rebooking would be enough to get Reigns cheered. In fact given some of the reactions he has gotten over the past few months since his return I’m not sure any rebooking could get Reigns over in the way the WWE would like him to be. However, we do believe that this gives us the best possible chance of getting him to that position.

We hope you’ve enjoyed reading the fifth edition of the rebooking series. Stay tuned for much more. Me and Jonathon hope to have another one out in time for Wrestlemania itself. And if we can find the time after work and such to get it finished it will be great because it’s a big one. In the meantime, for updates and other things you can follow me (@watadam20) and Jonathon (@JLAspey) on twitter. Thanks for reading!