At the Elimination Chamber 2021 pay-per-view, Roman Reigns successfully defended his Universal Championship against Daniel Bryan. The latter had a brutal match inside the Elimination Chamber just before he faced Reigns, and The Tribal Chief ensured that he takes full advantage of his tired opponent.
However, Roman Reigns’ celebration was cut short as Edge entered the ring and delivered a Spear to put down the champion. It was soon confirmed that the Royal Rumble winner has decided to challenge the Universal Champion for a title match at WrestleMania.
In this article, we will take a look at five reasons why Edge decided to challenge Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship at WrestleMania 37.
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#5 Classic babyface vs. heel storyline between Roman Reigns and Edge
Roman Reigns is easily the biggest heel today, whereas Edge has become one of the most well-liked babyfaces ever since he returned to in-ring action. Reigns has been booked as someone who uses unfair advantages to beat his opponents, while The Rated-R Superstar is often shown as someone who relies on his determination to overcome all odds.
Roman Reigns and Edge will now have almost two months to tell the story of their feud. There is no doubt that both Superstars will play true to their character, and we will see a lot of altercations as we inch closer to WrestleMania. The creative will look to keep the momentum balanced between the two Superstars ahead of The Show of Shows.
Not to forget, we will see both Roman Reigns and Edge involved in a promising war of words. Add Paul Heyman into the mix, and we have an instant classic in our hands. Roman Reigns will stay true to his character by using his ‘influence’ to turn things in his favor while he is feuding with Edge.
This, in turn, will lead to The Rated-R Superstar being booked as a classic babyface who has to struggle against the disadvantages. It will make both Roman Reigns and Edge look strong and keep the WWE Universe divided over their support. Edge is no stranger to mind games, and Reigns has a wicked consultant on his side.
The WWE creative is not a big fan of pitting two babyfaces against each other, especially in WrestleMania. Instead, they will prefer two of the biggest names in business to represent two opposite sides in a memorable storyline. This will account for a storyline that will be remembered for the years to come.
#4 To script Edge's return on WWE SmackDown with a feud against Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns is the most dominant Superstar on WWE SmackDown, but that might change soon. Before Edge was forced to seek retirement from the in-ring action, his name was synonymous with SmackDown. The Rated-R Superstar had a dominating performance on the Blue brand. An extended feud with Roman Reigns will script Edge’s much-awaited return to WWE SmackDown in the coming weeks.
This time, it won’t be limited to mere promos and exchanges with other names on SmackDown. Instead, he will go toe-to-toe with Roman Reigns right where the latter has cultivated a reputation as a bully. Other SmackDown Superstars have tried to challenge The Tribal Chief’s position, but their aspirations often met with a disappointing fate.
Edge can change that narration in the storyline. Even if he spends a short time on WWE SmackDown, he will play a crucial role in balancing the power between the good and bad side of the roster. Roman Reigns hates to see his authority being challenged, and it will push him to orchestrate a more intense attack on his opponent.
#3 To set up a ‘Spear vs. Spear’ match between Roman Reigns and Edge
Roman Reigns might have done very well with Spear as one of his most effective maneuvers, but Edge remains the master of that move. As cliché as it may sound, the ‘Spear vs. Spear’ match at WrestleMania is bound to give us an unforgettable match at the biggest WWE show of the year.
Both Roman Reigns and Edge have already laid the groundwork for this match to unfold. The Tribal Chief delivered a Spear in the closing moments of WWE SmackDown last week, and Edge returned the favor at Elimination Chamber. The two Superstars have been associated with the move for long, and they will both try to assert their ownership on it.
This is not to say that we will see a ‘Spear vs. Spear’ stipulation in their match at WrestleMania. Instead, it would be an underlying narration while Edge and Roman Reigns continue their feud. Needless to say, Paul Heyman will ensure that the idea is sold well to appeal to both old fans and new.
#2 Edge with a shot at making history by defeating Roman Reigns at WrestleMania
Edge could defeat Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship at WrestleMania and script history by becoming the only WWE Superstar to win three different world titles. The Rated-R Superstar is a four-time WWE Champion and a seven-time World Heavyweight Champion.
Two months from now, he can get his hands on the Universal Championship after defeating Roman Reigns. This will give Edge his WrestleMania moment and a world title – something that he was forced to give up due to his career-ending injury. He has worked hard to step back inside the ring, and this victory will bring his return to a full circle.
Roman Reigns has held the title for a long time and could lose the gold at WrestleMania. Even if Edge drops his title four weeks after winning it, he will have a chance to bid farewell to the business on his terms. This was all that he wanted. This feud will feature two Superstars who have defied all odds to return to the squared circle.
Roman Reigns understands the desperate urge to fight against unexpected adversities. He will do well in assisting Edge in a wonderfully inspirational story about never giving up on one’s dreams. He made a surprise return at Royal Rumble, won the tenacious battle in the following year, and can now headline WrestleMania - a comeback story does not get better than this.
#1 Protects Roman Reigns as well as top babyfaces in WWE
Roman Reigns has been epic as a heel, and WWE SmackDown has struggled to build babyfaces that can pose a serious threat to the Universal Championship. Kevin Owens did his part when he feuded with The Tribal chief for over two months, but even he couldn’t get his hands on the title as Reigns always found a way out.
The creative would need an extensive build-up to establish another strong babyface on SmackDown. However, their work is half done when it is Edge who steps up to Roman Reigns. In fact, Edge will take it a step further by pushing Reigns to his limit in between their promos and other altercations.
Edge previously stated that if he will get a WrestleMania moment, he does not want to work as a part-timer. He informed the creative that he wants a serious run and will dedicate himself to the cause. Edge will also look to elevate other babyfaces while he is feuding with Roman Reigns.
The Tribal Chief is bound to rely on Jey Uso to do his dirty work, and Edge will need an ally. It could be Christian - who recently returned, or he could find someone else from the Blue brand. The Rated-R Superstar will go above and beyond to ensure that Roman Reigns looks strong after the feud is done and dusted.