The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry, a truth Vince McMahon has doubtless learned many times during 40 years in the wrestling business. Through injuries, defections, failed pushes and the Ultimate Warrior, WWE has had its fair share of aborted schemes. I’m here to tell you one of those failed plans will be Brock Lesnar Vs Roman Reigns in the main event of Wrestlemania 34.
Why do I make such a bold claim? Can I see the future? What sort of tea leaves do I use for my divination? The answer is simple: I have some previous when it comes to predicting the future of wrestling. Let me refer you to a year ago, where I predicted AJ Styles would win the WWE title, and six months later, when I said he’d be the face of the company (which he is – tell me someone more over than the Phenomenal One right now?).
So it is time for me to make my next prophecy. Lesnar and Reigns will not main even Wrestlemania 34, so says the Nostradamus of wrestling. Here’s why:
1. Reigns Heat
I was listening to a wrestling podcast recently (see, I am cool), and something the hosts said struck me. The way crowds respond to Roman Reigns has become Pavlovian. His music plays, we boo. He shows up in his dubious padded vest, we boo. He tries to talk and we tell him to “fuck off”. At a certain point it becomes part of the show. If you go to see live wrestling for the first time and everyone’s booing this one dude, part of the human condition makes you want to join in.
This article isn’t about whether Reigns should be the top guy, though. WWE have been in the “process” of crowning him as their top guy for so long, it’s easy to forget he’s actually main evented the last three Wrestlemanias. Most recently, WWE hoisted this on us at the very last moment. A cynical person might wonder if this was to avoid another three months of jeers and boos on the Road to Wrestlemania. And at this point, WWE would be foolish to expect anything less. Roman has his own kind of heat with fans. It’s unique. It’s “go away” heat, but Vince won’t listen until he has a toy he thinks is better.
Which is where our next point comes in.
2. The Smackdown Six
Eddie Guerrero, Edge, Chris Benoit, Kurt Angle, Rey Mysterio and Chavo Guerrero. Six men who, with Paul Heyman behind the scenes, created a golden age for Smackdown back in WWE’s original brand split. After the Superstar Shakeup, Smackdown is looking down the barrel of another golden era. With AJ Style, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Baron Corbin, Shinsuke Nakamura and Randy Orton, Smackdown Live will over the next year become the reason to watch WWE TV. Throw in a Rusev and a Luke Harper (and John Cena whenever WWE pays him enough to show up) and Smackdown’s already sharp writers have more than enough pieces to create something special come Wrestlemania season.
The US title already feels like a bigger deal than it’s been since Rusev last held it. Once the godawful mush between Orton and Wyatt is done, there’s a queue of guys who could kick a world title feud out of the park. Imagine Nakamura, Zayn and Corbin in main event title feuds. Hell, any pay-per-view bout Nakamura has for the next twelve months is going to be ticking off another dream match scenario. There’s one match, however, which Smackdown should hold off on until Wrestlemania 34.
3. Shinsuke Nakamura Vs AJ Styles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JklqPe_x3Wc
Like I said earlier, I predicted a while back that AJ Styles would be the next face of the WWE. And he is. Sure, WWE doesn’t really look at it that way, but tell me a more over star showing up on television every week? If AJ Styles were five years younger, it wouldn’t even be a conversation. He’s a better talker than Roman, a better wrestler than Roman, and the crowds love him like he saved Gotham City from Lex Luther.
As it stands, AJ is nearly 40 years old. We cheer him with an uneasy feeling in our stomach that his run at the top might not last more than a couple of years. But if rumours are true, and WWE is thinking of pitting him against Shinsuke Nakamura at Wrestlemania 34, his age and main event window become a nonentity. Sure, a lot of devoted fans remember how the two squared off at Wrestle Kingdom 10 last year. But for your average t-shirt buying WWE fan this will be something new. AJ Styles, the Phenomenal One, against the new, enigmatic, Shinsuke Nakamura.
Come next January, when the general mass of fans find out it’s an option, it won’t even be a contest. The WWE Universe will want Styles Vs Nakamura in the main event of Wrestlemania. Vince will push Roman out in front of jeering crowds and pretend like everything’s okay. He’ll have his writers come up with every way possible to get the guy over, and it won’t work (Reigns heat, remember). Vince is a stubborn man, but with the reputation of his business on the line, he’ll do what’s best.
4. Kenny Omega
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfJ0VUloB_Q
But, of course, Vince can weather any storm of fan hatred as long as he can send his photogenic champion onto Good Morning America the day after Wrestlemania. The thought of sending Nakamura out to represent his company in the mainstream likely gives him nightmares. Which is where The Cleaner comes into things.
Kenny Omega has a one year deal with New Japan Pro Wrestling, or so rumour says. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say there’s a better than even chance he signs with World Wrestling Entertainment once that contract expires. Omega is a driven guy who wants to be in a position to contribute to whatever company he’s with. If WWE let him do that, he’ll sign.
The other thing about the Bullet Club leader, of course, is he’s exactly the sort of larger than life character a new wrestling boom can be built around. Great look, exciting to watch in the ring and a compelling natural promo? Check, check and check. Who knows how quickly Vince will put two and two together and realise he has his new top guy, but it didn’t take him long to spot what he had in AJ Styles.
Not that I expect Kenny to sign in January and main event Wrestlemania in April. No one does that. But the Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer said recently that the only thing likely to change WWE’s mind about Reigns is them spotting another top babyface. Omega is that guy. WWE has a habit of not spotting potential megastars until it’s too late, but with Kenny it’s just too obvious.
With crowds still jeering Roman Reigns and salivating at the idea of Nakamura Vs Styles, WWE will be backed into a corner. Who gets to close Wrestlemania might come down to the wire, but when they see what they have in Omega they’ll give fans what they want.
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