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Clash of Champions 2019 began with Dolph Ziggler teaming up with Robert Roode to take on Universal Champion Seth Rollins and Braun Strowman for the RAW Tag Team Championships. It was a very fast-paced match, where two new Tag Team Champions were crowned.
Why would Vince McMahon allow Robert Roode to pin the biggest star in the company? In this article, I shall examine 5 reasons why he may have allowed this to happen.
Be sure to sound off in the comments and let me know your own theories and comments about this title change and about the decision. It's not everyone that the boss allows to pin the WWE Universal Champion.
Why did he make an exception in this case?
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#5 Real tag team vs. a makeshift tag team
I know that Ziggler and Roode came together only a few weeks ago. I also know that they came out of nowhere, and eclipsed the entire tag team division to surpass them and cut ahead of the line.
But they are a tag team unit driven only with the intention of winning the RAW Tag Team Champions as opposed to Braun Strowman and Seth Rollins, who are a makeshift tag team at best.
What WWE and Vince McMahon wanted to showcase with the finish is that Seth Rollins and Braun Strowman lacked the tag team chemistry to overcome a team that was on the same page, even if they were established singles performers in the main roster. Honestly speaking, this is a good sign for the tag team division because it's clear that actual tag teams will have the spotlight shine upon them in the weeks to come.
This is the reason why Vince McMahon allowed Roode to pin the Universal Champion. Nice and simple answer!
See WWE Clash Of Champions Results, Highlights of event, & more on WWE Clash Of Champions Results page
#4 To sow the seeds of discontent between Strowman and Rollins
How do you make two babyfaces build heat for their clash? There's obviously a professional rivalry between the two individuals, but is there a compelling reason for the two men to clash with full gusto in the main event of the night? Booking this loss was a great way to overcome the lack of storyline heat.
Not only was there a misunderstanding of sorts between the two men leading to the loss, the fact that Rollins was responsible for Braun Strowman losing his title must also weigh heavily on him. Now suddenly there's a reason for the two men to clash with utmost intensity because the last thing you want to do is make a monster angry even if you are Seth Rollins.
Hence, Robert Roode was a tactical component in telling a long term story, a genius move from Heyman and of course, Vince McMahon.
#3 The only man in the match who's not a top star
Braun Strowman used to be an unstoppable monster during his feud with Roman Reigns and one can argue that he's no longer at the same level that he once was. But he's still in the main event match with Seth Rollins which means that he's still a major draw.
Rollins is obviously the Universal Champion and therefore, he's the face of the company in many ways. Vince McMahon had him beat Brock Lesnar clean at SummerSlam, something very few people in history have accomplished, to be honest.
Honestly, Dolph Ziggler's accolades are enough to get him into the Hall of Fame someday too. He's achieved a lot and lasted longer than a lot more Superstars to become a very trusted lieutenant for Vince McMahon.
The objective of this match was to make Bobby Roode into the star that he deserves to be, which WWE accomplished and then some.
#2 A tag team loss doesn't affect Seth Rollins
At the end of the day, people have short memories and the fact that Rollins got pinned by Roode will not factor into the larger story. This is especially true because it happened off a miscue in a tag team environment, and he has a chance to redeem himself in the main event.
Seth Rollins is guaranteed to stay at the top of the card, and while he's been protected, he's never been protected as much as say, Brock Lesnar, who hardly ever takes a pin. Chances are that this will be the end of Seth Rollins' tag team exploits at least for a little while. And so Roode benefits and so does Ziggler, but Rollins isn't really affected.
Let's hope that Roode uses the momentum to take on actual tag teams and elevate them. The Viking Raiders and AoP could have great programs with this team.
#1 To build Robert Roode as a tag team specialist
Corey Graves made mention of the fact that Robert Roode is a tag team specialist elsewhere when Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode first came together as a tag team unit. This is obviously a reference to his time in TNA when he was a part of Beer Money with James Storm.
WWE has tried a variety of things with Bobby Roode, from making him a babyface and putting the US Championship on him, to having him grow a Rick Rude style mustache. None of that has worked but this incarnation seems to be working, at this point in time.
And this is why I personally believe that Roode is getting such a massive push in the Tag Team Division. Vince McMahon obviously wants to get things right with Robert Roode.
Expect Roode and Ziggler to be major players in the Tag Team Division.
