All through the history of WWE, there's always been one guy around whom the company has revolved, for many years on end. Whether it was Bruno Sammartino, or Hulk Hogan, or Steve Austin or John Cena, each man was the focal point of a certain era of wrestling.
At No Mercy last year, we saw John Cena pass the torch to Roman Reigns. Although, in our estimation, he'd been 'the guy' long before this act, he officially became the face of this era on that day. WWE became the yard around which The Big Dog roamed, gnashing his teeth.
But what if Roman Reigns had never been born? Who would Vincent Kennedy McMahon have chosen as the company's leading superstar, had that been the case?
We look at 5 likely contenders for the top spot.
#5 Braun Strowman
If Braun Strowman continues at the same pace that he's going in, right now, he'll definitely be in contention as one of the greatest big men in wrestling history. Yes, he will be in the same conversation as The Undertaker, Kane and maybe even Andre The Giant.
While Strowman does not fit the mold as one of the traditional 'faces' of the company, he definitely has the skills and aura to perform at the top of the card at a very high level. The face that Vince McMahon allows him to perform an incredible feat of strength on a weekly basis proves just how much faith the man has, in the 'Monster Among Men'.
Strowman climbed to the top of the ladder after a fantastic feud with Roman Reigns. The only reason he's so low on the list, is the question of whether or not he'd be in the conversation had he never waged war with Roman Reigns.
In any case, Braun Strowman may just be the biggest star on RAW at present, after Roman Reigns, of course.
#4 AJ Styles
AJ Styles is a significantly smaller superstar than practically every other face of the company. However, this is the year 2018 and the audience is more 'evolved'. They've seen Conor McGregor, a reasonably small man, break every box office record. AJ Styles may have been a worthy contender for 'Face of the Company', had Reigns never been born.
Think about it. He's pretty much the face of SmackDown Live anyway, and perhaps the best in-ring performer in the whole roster, right now. Moreover, the reception he gets, two years after his debut is unmatched in the whole roster.
Would Vince McMahon have seen him in the same light as the fans? Perhaps not, and for this very reason, we've ranked him below the other three contenders for this post.
After all, despite the crowd support, Rey Mysterio and Daniel Bryan were never handed the coveted spot of 'WWE's Face'.
#3 Drew McIntyre
McIntyre's first run in WWE did not pan out like it should have. Much like his stable-mate, Jinder Mahal, McIntyre went to the independents, reinvented himself and is a much better performer now.
McIntyre has every attribute that it takes to be the face of the company. He has a great look and physique, perhaps one that is at par with Roman Reigns. Moreover, he's great on the microphone and gifted in the ring too.
We're certain that if he hadn't been injured while in NXT, he'd have been on the main roster already. And yes, his rise would be quite astronomical.
Had Roman Reigns never been born, with John Cena looking at Hollywood as his primary career, McIntyre would probably have been invited to the company much sooner.
#2 Charlotte Flair
There's a reason that WWE has been positioning Charlotte Flair in the history books as the top female superstar of all time. Not only is she 'genetically superior' because of her father, she's a one-in-a-million athlete. She's everything that Vince McMahon seeks in a top superstar. The only difference is that she's a woman!
In today's environment, where women's wrestling is seen at par with the men, Charlotte Flair would thrive as the top superstar. Much like Cena and Reigns, she hardly ever gets injured and can perform at a level unmatched. And yes, she can cut a much better promo than Roman Reigns ever could.
Let's all hail the Queen. Woo!
#1 Seth Rollins
When Seth Rollins cashed in his 'Money in the Bank' briefcase and became the WWE Champion, we thought he could usurp Roman Reigns as the face of the company. After all, he did have a great run as the cowardly, heel champion.
Sadly, an injury derailed all his momentum. Until recently, it seemed as if he'd been relegated to the mid-card, as a tag team superstar. Thankfully, such is not the case anymore.
Rollins is a great wrestler and more often than not, a pretty good promo as well. Reigns' Shield Brother is a man who has always been on the verge of greatness, without ever reaching his potential.
We'd love to hear your thoughts on the list, and whom you think would be ideal for the spot.
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