3 reasons why Roman Reigns was absent from WWE SmackDown

The latest episode of WWE SmackDown has concluded, and Roman Reigns' notable absence was one of the biggest surprises. The Original Tribal Chief did not appear on the show, despite this SmackDown being the fallout episode of Survivor Series: WarGames 2024.

In this article, we will explore three possible reasons why Roman Reigns was absent from WWE SmackDown this week.

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#3. Roman Reigns could be moving to RAW on Netflix

One potential reason for Roman Reigns’ absence from SmackDown could be his possible move to RAW ahead of its Netflix debut. Starting January 6, 2025, Monday Night RAW will transition to Netflix, and during the recent SmackDown episode, a 'Transfer Window' for superstars was announced.

This seems similar to WWE’s Superstar Shakeup, where RAW and SmackDown stars switched brands. Roman’s absence tonight on the blue brand might be a subtle hint at his impending move to the red brand. This could explain why he did not appear on SmackDown this week.

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#2. WWE might have written off Roman from television for a short time

Earlier, The OTC was advertised for the upcoming Saturday Night's Main Event but was later pulled from the show. This suggests that the Stamford-based promotion might have written Roman off television for the time being. As a result, The Head of the Table was absent from SmackDown this week.

Now, the Original Tribal Chief could make a one-time appearance on RAW’s Netflix debut or another major show, where his next direction in the Bloodline saga might be revealed.

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#1. WWE might have no plans for Roman Reigns following his victory

The Head of the Table defeated Solo Sikoa's Bloodline at Survivor Series: WarGames. However, The OTC’s absence afterward could be due to WWE not yet having concrete plans for Roman Reigns’ next storyline. To figure out those plans, it’s possible the Stamford-based promotion decided not to have Roman appear on the recent show.

This buys WWE some time to plan his booking for the coming weeks. Additionally, the former Undisputed WWE Universal Champion is not scheduled for the upcoming Saturday Night's Main Event either. This could explain why WWE didn’t see the need for his appearance this week.

It’s also worth noting that The OTC is not currently advertised for any upcoming shows. This could hint that WWE either has no immediate plans for him or is preparing for a surprise return. The Orignal Tribal Chief could make a dramatic comeback on RAW’s Netflix debut show, setting the stage for his next chapter.