'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Despite the ongoing crisis, WWE successfully hosted WrestleMania 36 this past weekend. Roman Reigns was scheduled to be in a Universal Championship match against Goldberg at the event. However, the match did not take place as The Big Dog pulled out due to health concerns.
Reigns was replaced by Braun Strowman in the Universal Championship match against Goldberg. The Monster Among Men went on to defeat the WWE Hall Of Famer to become the new Universal Champion at WrestleMania 36. It was Strowman's first World Championship victory in the WWE.
At present, it is not clear when Roman Reigns will return to in-ring action, but we can expect to see him as soon as the current situation gets better.
Trending
Here are 5 opponents The Big Dog could face after he returns.
New Champs in WWE! More RIGHT HERE
#5 Shinsuke Nakamura
Roman Reigns and Shinsuke Nakamura have crossed paths very few times in the past. The first time the two of them met was during the 2018 Men's Royal Rumble match. Nakamura eliminated Reigns to win his first Royal Rumble match.
The two then met in a singles match for the Intercontinental Championship on SmackDown last year, which ended via disqualification after King Corbin attacked Roman Reigns, allowing Nakamura to retain the title. Although the match ended abruptly, it succeeded in highlighting the tremendous in-ring chemistry between the two. It indicated that if given ample time, Reigns and Nakamura can put on an amazing contest.
Shinsuke Nakamura is one of the best in-ring workers currently in the WWE. Ever since his feud with AJ Styles for the WWE Championship, The Artist has been involved in forgettable storylines. A long feud against a Superstar like Roman Reigns would definitely rejuvenate his career.
#4 Sheamus
Sheamus and Roman Reigns are no strangers to each other. Both of them were involved in a lengthy feud for the WWE Championship back in 2015. It started when Roman Reigns was scheduled to face Seth Rollins for the WWE Championship at Survivor Series 2015, but Rollins suffered a knee injury at a live event, which forced him to vacate the title.
A WWE Championship tournament took place, which Reigns won by defeating his Shield brother Dean Ambrose in the final round. Moments later, Sheamus cashed in his Money In The Bank contract on Reigns to become a four-time WWE Champion. However, Reigns was able to recapture the WWE Championship the following month by defeating Sheamus on an episode of RAW.
Sheamus then formed a Tag Team with Cesaro, which was known as The Bar. The Bar had a decent run, but Sheamus and Cesaro parted ways after The Celtic Warrior was forced out of action due to spinal stenosis. Sheamus made his return to SmackDown earlier this year in January, where he took out Shorty G. Upon his return, Sheamus expressed his displeasure at the state of SmackDown, and put the locker room on notice.
Since Reigns and Sheamus are both on the Blue brand, it is only a matter of time till the two former rivals cross paths again.
#3 John Morrison
John Morrison made his return to WWE in January this year after a gap of almost nine years. Upon returning, The Guru Of Greatness teamed up with his former tag team partner, The Miz. Morrison's first match after his return was against Big E of The New Day, which Morrison won with some assistance from the A-Lister.
Morrison and Miz eventually became SmackDown Tag Team Champions, when they defeated The New Day at Super ShowDown back in February. The two then successfully defended their titles inside the Elimination Chamber match at the namesake event. Morrison recently defeated Kofi Kingston and Jimmy Uso in a Triple Threat Ladder match to retain the SmackDown Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania 36 this past weekend.
Even though Morrison and Reigns haven't been on the roster together for long, there is some history between the two. Back in 2016, Morrison stated in an interview that he would love to wrestle Roman Reigns in 10 years, because by then he'd figure out how to work.
Earlier this year, Reigns took a shot at Morrison during a Twitter exchange between The Miz, Morrison and Reigns. Reigns sarcastically acknowledged Morrison's presence and promised a beating for him.
The seeds for an inevitable feud between Reigns and Morrison have been planted. Their personal tensions could even propel their feud to new heights.
#2 Sami Zayn
Sami Zayn is currently the reigning Intercontinental Champion in WWE, which he won at the Elimination Chamber PPV in a 3-on-1 Handicap match this year. The match saw Zayn, Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura face off against Braun Strowman, who was the Intercontinental Champion at that time. It was Zayn's first title win on the main roster. At WrestleMania 36, Zayn successfully defended the Intercontinental Championship against Daniel Bryan.
Ever since his incredible run in NXT, Sami Zayn had been left without a direction on the main roster. During the past few years, Zayn had to switch brands a couple of times. He has been involved in feuds which did no favor to his immense talent, and only disappointed his fans.
Sami has proved time and time again that he is a talented individual, with his series of great matches against opponents like Kevin Owens, John Cena and Seth Rollins. However, Zayn has never faced The Big Dog in a singles match. Having a long feud with someone like Reigns would definitely help boost Zayn's title run, and put him in the main event picture.
#1 "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt
"The Fiend" Bray Wyatt is one of the most dominant forces in WWE today. The Fiend has a twisted personality. He never forgets his former opponents, and seeks revenge against them.
From the start, The Fiend has been hunting down opponents who stood in his way before, like Daniel Bryan, Finn Balor and Seth Rollins. His victims suffer a change in personality after feuding with him. The Fiend's most recent victim was John Cena, whom he defeated at WrestleMania 36 in a bizarre Firefly Fun House match.
Bray Wyatt and Roman Reigns had an intense rivalry in 2015, which started when Wyatt cost Reigns the Money in the Bank Ladder match. They continued to feud for the most part of 2015, which came to an end when Reigns defeated him in a Hell In A Cell match later that year.
Since The Fiend mostly seeks revenge upon his former foes, it's only a matter of time till he comes after Roman Reigns, given the long history between the two men. Prior to the Super ShowDown PPV this year, Reigns stated that he would rather face The Fiend than Goldberg at WrestleMania 36.
Reigns and The Fiend are currently SmackDown's top Superstars. Once the two of them cross paths, things will only get more intense, given how well the two of them know each other. A feud between them has a very high possibility of happening.
