Accepting Lesnar-Reigns and the mad genius of Paul Heyman

Leave it to Paul Heyman to subdue the intense anger of the WWE universe following another predictable and uneventful Royal Rumble.

A major snowstorm on the east coast, a blessing in disguise, caused WWE to move their Monday Night RAW broadcast from the XL Center in Hartford, CT to the HQ in Stamford. Instead of facing an angry crowd, Reigns faced Heyman. And it was Heyman who did all of the work, all Reigns had to do was show up.

It was originally supposed to be a sit down moderated by Michael Cole. However, Heyman would interject, “Do you mind if I’m the one who asks the questions here tonight…with all due respect.” Reigns answered with little hesitation, “I’ve got nothing to hide.” “Well, some would say that’s your first mistake – but that’s ok,” Heyman would retort.

“I’ve known your family longer than you’ve know your family,” Heyman continued. He’d go on to bring up multiple members of the Anoa’i family tree; his father Sika, his uncle Rikishi, Yokozuna, and his cousins Jimmy and Jey Uso (the current WWE tag team champions) and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

All Reigns had to do was stare, smile, and smirk while Heyman went on with his seemingly friendly diatribe. “Everything about you family is like a bird to air, it’s like a fish to water. It’s in a Samoan’s blood to go into the ring,” Heyman would explain.

Words like respect, words like proud would come out of Heyman’s mouth often as he had Reigns full attention. The tide would quickly turn as Heyman would bring up Reigns’ cousin, The Rock, and how Lesnar took the title from him back in 2002.

Heyman was kind enough to give Reigns fair warning,”…”The Rock” never asked for a rematch with Brock Lesnar. Because one match with Brock Lesnar was all “The Rock” could handle,” a silent Reigns cracks a smile. “And that’s the one thing I don’t get, that “The Rock” doesn’t tell you what you’re up against at WrestleMania,” Heyman asked. “Your blood doesn’t tell you not just who you’re fighting, but what you’re fighting.”

Finally, looking for a response out of his client’s WrestleMania opponent, Heyman would ask him how he would handle losing to Brock Lesnar. Reigns wouldn’t answer to Brock’s advocate. With all due respect, he would much rather face his opponent head on.

“I know who you are, I know what you are,” Reigns told the current reigning, defending WWE World Heavyweight Champion. “And I know exactly what I’ve signed up for,” the 2015 Royal Rumble victor continued. “I don’t think you do. I’m gonna beat you at WrestleMania. I’m gonna take that title. You know it. I know it. And if I can’t, I’m gonna take a piece of you with me,” Reigns promised.

Brock would leave his stool with his world title draped over his left shoulder to face the “anointed one.” They’d square up and shake hands. “Unlike him [Heyman], I don’t respect you,” Lesnar told Reigns. “But you will,” the challenger would respond.

Brock Lesnar versus Roman Reigns is your WrestleMania 31 main event. It’s time to accept it. It’s time to embrace it. It’s time to embrace the possiblities. Sure, saying Reigns is green on the microphone is a compliment. His cardio has come into question and he’s yet to give us a memorable match as a singles wrestler for the WWE. So why has he been given this spot above the Daniel Bryan’s, the Dean Ambrose’s, Dolph Ziggler’s and Bray Wyatt’s of the world? I don’t have that answer. All I know is that he’s been thrown into the deep end and he’ll have the opportunity to sink or swim. Also, what we have to remember is that WrestleMania isn’t the end all be all. Those same aforementioned fan favorites will be given their opportunities to headline future shows. They may even “steal the show” on March 29th in Santa Clara.